Rinteln combines natural attractions with historic discoveries: the Hohenrode floodplain landscape is all about waterways and resting birds, while the town offers Weser Renaissance architecture and history. Viewpoints, walking paths, guided tours and events each offer a different focus. When planning your trip, you can first decide whether you would rather focus on the landscape, culture or a little of both.

Floodplain Landscape and Viewpoints

The Hohenrode floodplain landscape is located in the Hohenrode district of Rinteln. It covers 115 hectares and was created through renaturalisation during gravel extraction. Its waterways have developed into an important resting and wintering area for birds. A four- to six-metre-high observation tower provides an unobstructed view across the lake landscape. Hohenrode thus combines expansive views of the landscape with an area of significance for birdlife.

The Jahrtausendblick offers different views: It is 250 metres high, has 156 steps and offers views into the adjacent active quarry, the Weser Valley and the North German Plain. The Klippenturm is about 20 metres high and stands on Luhdener Klippen mountain in the Wesergebirge, at an elevation of around 300 metres above sea level. There is also a place to stop for refreshments there. Local circular hiking trails and the Weserbergland Trail pass directly by the tower. The Paschenburg has a viewing terrace at a height above the river comparable to that of no other place in the entire Weserbergland region.

If you prefer to explore Rinteln on a longer route, the WeserErleben cycling route is another option: It starts and ends at the Hohenrode floodplain landscape and includes an interactive stop on the history of the town in Rinteln. The Historical District Walks pass through all of Rinteln’s districts and take in sights, historic places and viewpoints. They range from 2.4 to 11.5 kilometres in length. The distance provides a concrete comparison when choosing a route; the destinations described range from history to landscape.

Town History and Weser Renaissance

Guided tours of Rinteln explain the secrets of Weser Renaissance architecture. Visitors see oriel windows, gables, fan rosettes and colourful half-timbering from this architectural period, which ran from 1520 to 1620. If you prefer to experience culture through historical characters, you can consider the costumed tours on offer: Babette and Margaretha share stories from the 17th century.

The Eulenburg Museum is housed in a castle residence dating from the 16th century and takes visitors on a journey through 800 years of history. Its main themes include beliefs in witches, science, university history and the history of Rinteln. The organ at St. Nikolai offers a different historical highlight: It dates from 1621 and is the centrepiece of numerous musical events. In the Rinteln district of Möllenbeck, the monastery is considered one of the best-preserved late medieval monastic complexes in Germany.

Routes, Events and Day Planning

The rail-bike offers another way to explore the area. In Rinteln, you can ride a rail-bike on the Extertalbahn’s 18-kilometre rail network. A rail-bike specially developed for the purpose takes you from Rinteln to the Exter Valley; the route runs from the Weserbergland to the Lippe Uplands and crosses two federal states. This makes the rail-bike a separate activity to consider alongside walking and hiking trails.

Event dates also vary: The Irish Folk Festival takes place every year in June at the late medieval monastery complex in Möllenbeck. The Rinteln Old Town Festival traditionally starts on the second Friday in August in the heart of the town centre and ends on Sunday. If you are planning your trip around an event, check the latest dates and programme in advance.

When looking for hotels in Rinteln, you can use your planned priorities as a guide: town tours, the museum and music offer a different focus from viewpoints, hiking trails or the rail-bike. When considering a specific accommodation, check how its location suits the places and events you plan to visit.

Discover more destinations: Obernkirchen, Hagenburg, Bad Eilsen, Bad Nenndorf, Apelern, Meerbeck, Schaumburg, Stadthagen.

Go to the main travel overview: Schaumburg.