The Ems spring in the Moosheide nature reserve is a seepage spring with numerous different water outlets. A wooden walkway offers a direct impression of this natural spring landscape. The Paderborn region combines nature watching with the development of information technology, architectural history and regional culture.
Springs, Water and Wetlands
The Steinhorster Becken presents a different waterscape. On both sides of the Ems, shallow-water ponds, islands, reed beds and wet grassland form a mosaic. It provides many migrating waders and waterbirds with undisturbed places to rest and feed. The Steinhorster Becken is considered the largest reserve in North Rhine-Westphalia deliberately planned and created by people for nature conservation; it did not arise from a previous use such as excavation sites, quarries or sewage farms.
The Krollbach bifurcation also puts water in the spotlight, but in a special way: at this rare fork, the Krollbach divides between two river systems. The Krollbach bifurcation adds another way in which water shapes landscapes and habitats to the seepage spring and the Steinhorster Becken.
Architecture, Technology and History
Schloß Neuhaus is located in the Paderborn district of the same name and is an example of early Weser Renaissance architecture. With its early Weser Renaissance style, Schloß Neuhaus adds an architectural highlight alongside the Paderborn region’s nature and water themes.
The Heinz Nixdorf MuseumsForum in Paderborn takes visitors on a 5,000-year journey through the development of information technology. This timeline extends from the first written characters and historic writing and calculating machines to early computers, modern robots and artificial intelligence.
In Wewelsburg, the district museum comprises the Historical Museum of the Prince-Bishopric of Paderborn and the Wewelsburg 1933–1945 Memorial and Documentation Centre. Its permanent exhibition, “Ideology and Terror of the SS,” covers the local history of the SS in Wewelsburg and the concentration camp there as part of a comprehensive account of the SS.
Dalheim Monastery brings together several aspects of a historic site: the monastic complex is almost entirely preserved, and the late Gothic cloister is lavishly painted. The site also includes monastery gardens covering around 20,000 square metres and 3,000 square metres of exhibition space. The monastery gardens cover many times the exhibition area; at the same time, the monastic complex and late Gothic cloister define the site’s architectural character.
Routes Between Nature and Culture
The 30-kilometre Viadukt Wanderweg circular trail around Altenbeken combines railway and nature experiences. After dark, 20 of the Altenbeken Viaduct’s 24 arches are illuminated.
For a longer cycling route, the Paderborner Land Route is a 250-kilometre circular trail linking cultural and historical sites with natural attractions across the Paderborn region. It runs almost entirely along dedicated cycle paths directly to the towns and municipalities of the Paderborn region. There, cosy cafés and country inns serve regional specialities, including bread, beer and asparagus.
Regional Traditions and Events
The Pader springs are also part of the region’s food culture, though in a historical context: their fast-flowing water was once an essential ingredient in Paderborn bread and the famous Paderborn beer.
Another recurring event is the Dalheim Monastery Market. It takes place every year at the end of August, with members of religious orders from across Europe offering monastic goods. If you plan to visit the market, check the exact event date before your trip.
Whether you are initially interested in spring landscapes and bird resting areas, architectural and technological history, or a route combining culture and nature, each of the places and themes described offers its own highlights. You can choose your focus based on which of these perspectives appeals to you most in the Paderborn region.
Discover more destinations: Bad Lippspringe, Salzkotten, Paderborn, Hövelhof, Herbram, Delbrück, Büren, Borchen, Bad Wünnenberg, Barkhausen, Lichtenau, Altenbeken.
Back to the regional travel overview: North Rhine-Westphalia.
