The Cloverleaf Route runs through the municipality of Hude and starts at Hotel Backenköhler in Stenum. This is the route’s specific connection to the municipality. Other cultural and landscape themes are associated with the wider Oldenburg destination. When looking for hotels in Hude (Oldb), you can consider your choice of accommodation and the selection of other travel themes separately: monastery history, walks, and a canoe route appeal to different interests.
The Cloverleaf Route in the municipality of Hude
The route runs through the municipality of Hude; its starting point is at Hotel Backenköhler in Stenum. These details are helpful for orientation at different levels: Hude refers to the route through the municipality, while Stenum is the named starting point.
Monastery history in the wider Oldenburg destination
Founded in 1232, the Cistercian monastery of Hude was called “Portus Sancte Marie” (“Harbor of Saint Mary”). It quickly developed into the spiritual, economic, and political center of the eastern part of the County of Oldenburg. This historical role went beyond the monastery’s religious function: its economic and political significance also shaped its position in the eastern part of the county.
The monastery ruins preserve the remains of a three-aisled basilica with a projecting transept. The church was originally over 57 meters long and over 24 meters wide. The floor plan and dimensions draw attention to two different aspects of the architecture: the layout of the church and its original dimensions.
The museum at Hude Monastery displays models illustrating the building’s history, archaeological finds, maps and texts on Cistercian history, and a scriptorium where visitors can write with a quill. The topics range from architectural development and archaeological finds to maps, the history of the order, and writing practices. The scriptorium highlights a different aspect from the models: writing with a quill.
Landscapes and waterways in the wider Oldenburg destination
The Pestrup burial ground south of Wildeshausen is an archaeological site of regional significance, set in a heath and pine landscape. It is the largest contiguous heathland area in the district of Oldenburg; short and longer walks are possible there. This destination brings together landscape, archaeological significance, and walking.
The Lethe nature trail has a different focus: the approximately three-kilometer circular trail passes through the Wardenburg Lethe lowlands. It starts at the Wardenburg watermill by the Lethe bridge and lies west of Wardenburg town center in the “Lethe” nature reserve. The two walking experiences thus differ in character: at the Pestrup burial ground, heath, pines, and archaeology accompany short or longer walks; the Lethe nature trail has a specified approximate length and circular route.
A 40-kilometer canoe route runs along the Hunte from Wildeshausen to Oldenburg. It passes through the Wildeshausen Geest, by sandbanks, steep riverbanks, and forests. Along the route there are 11 launch and landing points, 10 rest areas, and 11 interpretive trail signs. Compared with the approximately three-kilometer Lethe circular trail, the Hunte route is considerably longer and travels on water rather than on foot. Its length, course, and various stops give it a different character from the walking options in the wider Oldenburg destination.
Discover more destinations: Kirchhatten, Dötlingen, Großenkneten, Wardenburg, Oldenburg, Wildeshausen, Ganderkesee, Harpstedt.
Go to the wider travel overview: Oldenburg.
