Essen’s (Oldenburg) history is reflected in a range of buildings, while the Hase offers opportunities for walks, cycle tours and canoeing. There is also an annual event at Diekmann’s Mill and seasonal historic train rides. When looking for a holiday apartment, this raises a practical question: should your stay focus primarily on local history, outdoor activities or a specific event?
Local history and buildings
The Heimathaus, also known locally as “Brands Scheune”, is the oldest fully preserved farmhouse in Essen. It is located on Peterstraße in the old town centre. The parish church of St. Bartholomäus offers a different architectural accent: it was inaugurated in 1875 after five years of construction, is built of bricks in the Gothic style and is aligned north to south. Together, the house and church offer two different ways to explore the town’s history.
A special event is the opening of Diekmann’s Mill to visitors. The Essen local history association has opened it every year on Whit Monday since 1990; the association is also a founding member of the Lower Saxony Mill Day. If you would like to plan your trip around this day, check the current year’s visiting arrangements in advance.
Exploring the Hase
In Essen, walks along the Hase flood embankment and cycle tours on an extensive network of cycle paths offer opportunities to enjoy the outdoors. Alongside the buildings, routes through the countryside are another option to consider when planning your trip.
A canoe trip connects Essen/Oldb. centre with Löningen: it starts in the heart of Essen (Oldb.) and passes through a scenic and ecologically fascinating stretch of the Hase. Check the current launch arrangements before setting off. Essen/Oldb. is also a boarding and disembarking point for historic train rides through the Hasetal valley. As train services are seasonal, check the current timetable if you want the ride to determine your travel dates.
More to explore in the wider Cloppenburg travel destination
The wider Cloppenburg travel destination offers additional cultural and landscape experiences. The Cloppenburg Museum Village – Lower Saxony Open-Air Museum uses around 60 historic buildings to provide a vivid insight into the living conditions of the rural population of north-west Germany from the late Middle Ages through to the 1980s. This offers a long historical perspective alongside Essen’s specific local and architectural history.
Also in the wider Cloppenburg travel destination, the museum ship “Angela von Barßel” is ready for excursions. The Angela von Barßel e. V. association offers bookable trips and special excursions; check the booking arrangements before your trip.
The ThĂĽlsfelder Talsperre is a reservoir fed by the Soeste, located in the town of Friesoythe and the municipalities of Garrel and Molbergen. It was built between 1924 and 1927. The reservoir area and its surroundings have been protected as a nature reserve since 1938 and have also been designated as a Natura 2000 site (FFH area) since 1999. The ThĂĽlsfelder Talsperre nature trail has 14 interactive stations; before setting out for a walk, it is worth checking local conditions.
The Soeste lowlands can also be explored from Cloppenburg via AmbĂĽhren. The landscape there is shaped by many rare plant and animal species, extensive grassland areas and near-natural woodland and marshland. The Dwergter Sand woodland and heathland area in Molbergen covers around 2,000 hectares and offers an extensive network of cycling, walking and riding trails. These landscapes complement the activities along the Hase in Essen with further nature experiences in the wider Cloppenburg travel destination.
Discover more destinations: Garrel, Saterland, Emstek, Molbergen, Bösel, Cappeln, Lastrup, Lindern.
Back to the wider travel overview: Cloppenburg.
