Tracks that open up new paths

Fossilised dinosaur footprints in a steep rock face provide an unusual introduction to the Osnabrück destination. At the Bad Essen-Barkhausen dinosaur tracks, the visible footprints are part of an experience area with two dinosaur replicas, detailed information panels and a circular trail. So if you are interested in the tracks, you will find more here than just a single view of the rock.

The signposted Dinosaur Trail is a 16-kilometre circular hiking route. This offers two different ways to explore the subject: the experience area with its tracks and stations, and a longer route on foot. Its length and circular layout give you a clear idea of what to expect when deciding whether to focus on a visit to the site or a longer hike.

Museums offering different perspectives

At the Kalkriese Museum and Park, exhibits on the Battle of the Teutoburg Forest are presented using multimedia and are open to visitors. The Tuchmacher Museum Bramsche offers a different perspective on craftsmanship: fluffy wool blankets are made on working machines that are over 100 years old. Here, the focus is not just on the finished product, but also on how it is made using historic machines.

The Museum in the Monastery in Bersenbrück traces the history of its building through three periods. The permanent exhibition shows its use as a monastery from the 13th to the 18th century, as an administrative office and district administration in the 19th century, and as a museum in the 20th century. This sequence makes it possible to follow the building’s changing uses over time.

A visit to the Schnippenburg Museum in Ostercappeln can also include a guided tour. A public tour takes place year-round on the first Sunday of each month at 2:30 pm. In addition, themed tours and educational museum activities can be booked at the three sites: the museum, the archaeological site and the Iron Age house. Check the date before your visit if you plan to join the public tour.

Forest, geological history and a view of the castle

In Bad Iburg, the treetop walk combines a forest experience with insights into the geological history of the Teutoburg Forest. The path offers an immersive forest experience along almost 600 metres of walkway. Its accessible entrance tower is over 30 metres high and provides panoramic views of Iburg Castle and the Teutoburg Forest. The path and its associated exhibition pavilion also offer insights into the region’s geological history and are part of the UNESCO Global Geopark TERRA.vita.

Iburg Castle is the only surviving hilltop castle in the Osnabrück region. Together with the view from the entrance tower, it offers a change of scene between sweeping landscape views and a striking historic building. Those particularly interested in nature and geological history can focus on the exhibition pavilion; the castle offers a distinct perspective on Bad Iburg’s historical heritage.

Brine and cycle route

Bad Rothenfelde combines historic structures with a specific stretch to explore: its two graduation tower complexes date from 1777 and 1824 and form a large open-air inhalatorium. In the historic brine passage, 50 metres can be walked with dry feet over wooden walkways and metal grates. The dates and different surfaces offer two distinct points of interest without the need for a longer hike.

For a cycling trip, the 115-kilometre DiVa Tour offers a different scale. It runs between Bramsche and Bad Essen and combines leisurely cycling along the Mittelland Canal with a route between these two towns. The tour is connected to public transport: trains operated by WestfalenBahn, NordWestBahn and Deutsche Bahn, the Bremen tram system, and buses operated by Stadtwerke Osnabrück. Check the connections before setting off.

Discover more destinations

Discover more destinations: Badbergen, Rieste, Quakenbrück, Osnabrück, Melle, Bad Laer, Georgsmarienhütte, Bramsche, Bissendorf, Belm, Bad Rothenfelde, Bad Iburg, Bad Essen, Ankum, Alfhausen, Gehrde, Bippen, Menslage, Fürstenau, Bersenbrück, Hagen Am Teutoburger Wald, Hesepe, Glandorf, Wallenhorst, Atter, Bohmte, Ostercappeln, Hilter Am Teutoburger Wald, Eggermühlen, Dissen Am Teutoburger Wald, Merzen, Nortrup and Hasbergen.

See the overarching travel overview: Lower Saxony.