Schloß Holte-Stukenbrock offers a range of options for your stay: forest trails and nature watching, the Ems springs, historic sites and recurring events. To plan your trip, you can first decide whether you mainly want to spend time outdoors, join a guided tour or schedule your stay around an event. This also makes it easy to include individual attractions in your itinerary.
Explore forests, moors and waterways
The Holter Wald is a contiguous forest area of around 670 hectares. The Sennebäche, Öl and Landerbach streams flow through the area. As a stepping-stone biotope in the otherwise sparsely wooded Westphalian Bay and a designated Flora-Fauna-Habitat area, the forest combines natural landscapes with protected habitats. The Holter Wald has hiking, cycling and horseback riding trails; the Holter Waldweg offers a short loop through the northern part of the forest. This route takes about 1.5 hours.
The Furlbachtal also offers a variety of ways to experience its landscape. Rare plants such as cotton grass, sundew, marsh rosemary and cranberry grow in the moor. Birds spotted in the valley include the black and great spotted woodpeckers, white-throated dipper, kingfisher, stock dove, woodcock and grey wagtail. The moors are also home to rare dragonfly species, including the bog hawker and small whiteface. The “Romantisches Furlbachtal” circular hiking trail is marked with a blue kingfisher; the hike can be extended via the Furlbachpfad, marked with a coloured kingfisher.
Another option for an outdoor walk is the 5 km Ems-Erlebnisweg. It runs alongside the Ems springs in the Moosheide nature reserve. The uppermost Ems spring, in the Stukenbrock-Senne district, is a seepage spring that flows year-round. There are two visitor boardwalks at the Ems spring: one is reached via wooden steps, while the other is above the spring and has step-free access. This second boardwalk is also easy to reach by bicycle, stroller or wheelchair. The Holter Wald is also home to an oak known as the “1,000-year-old oak,” an exceptional natural monument. Check current trail conditions before setting out on a hike.
History and memorial site
Holte Hunting Lodge was built between 1608 and 1616 in the Renaissance style by Count Johann III and his wife, Countess Sabina Katharina of Rietberg. It was built on the remains of “Haus Holte,” which burned down in the 14th century. The building’s history offers a historical counterpoint to the city’s nature and hiking destinations.
The approximately two-hour guided tour of the Stalag 326 (VI K) Senne memorial site begins in the permanent exhibition in the former detention building and ends at the Soviet War Dead Cemetery of Honour. It takes place on Thursdays from 2 to 4 p.m., except on public holidays. You must register at least 48 hours in advance. The meeting point is at the police school gate at 1:45 p.m.; a valid identity card is required. Check the details before your visit.
Pollhans and Safariland
Pollhans is an annual event: on the third weekend in October, more than 350 showmen set up their attractions at Pollhans-Platz. The festival includes a market, party tents, a trade fair and a farmers’ market. If you want to plan your stay around Pollhans, take this weekend into account when planning your trip.
Safariland Stukenbrock combines a wildlife zoo with 600 exotic animals, an amusement park with 30 rides and attractions and live shows, and the “Kattas Welt” indoor play park. Check which offerings are currently available before your trip. This will help you take relevant dates and interests into account when choosing your accommodation and planning your excursions.
Discover more destinations: Gütersloh, Marienfeld, Langenberg, Harsewinkel, Steinhagen, Rietberg, Versmold, Borgholzhausen.
Return to the main travel overview: Gütersloh.
