Bad Westernkotten offers a range of options for your stay: brine at the Hellweg-Sole-Thermen, walking trails and traces of salt and architectural history. When planning your trip, you can first decide whether you would mainly like to explore the thermal baths, take a walk through the surrounding area or visit the sites of cultural history. The trails vary considerably in length.
Brine and facilities in the spa gardens
The Hellweg-Sole-Thermen offer bathing in Bad Westernkotten natural brine at 32 to 34°C. Their water area covers more than 1,300 m²; there are also six textile-free themed saunas in a 1,200 m² sauna area. The brine baths and sauna area are therefore two specific options to consider during your stay.
The spa gardens also offer a range of facilities for outdoor activities. The Kneipp facility has foot and arm pools, which are filled with Bad Westernkotten brine water from April to October. The barefoot path has eight sections with different natural materials, including one area with original Bad Westernkotten bathing peat. The fitness trail consists of nine pieces of equipment offering a variety of sporting challenges.
Walks by distance
The approximately 6 km Muckenbruch March leads through the spa gardens and along the Forellenweg. Cross the bridge over the Gieseler and continue to the Muckenbruch nature reserve and peat extraction area; the return route runs through the town centre and along the Kurpromenade to the fountain in front of the Hellweg-Sole-Thermen. The route thus includes sections in the spa gardens, by the Gieseler and in the Muckenbruch.
For a shorter circular walk, the approximately 3 km Historical Landwehr Circular Walk is an alternative. It follows a preserved section of the Landwehr, built around Westernkotten in 1506. The approximately 7 km Lobetag procession route starts at St. John the Evangelist Church and leads to four Lobetag lime trees: the Josefslinde, Friedhofslinde, Antoniuslinde and Franziskuslinde. The stated distances offer a practical way to compare these routes; the church and lime tree stops also serve as landmarks along the procession route.
The Muckenbruch natural area
The Muckenbruch nature reserve lies east of Bad Westernkotten, nearby. It covers 92 hectares between Westernkotten and Bökenförde, in former floodplains of the Gieseler, the Pöppelsche and the Flachsröte. The area includes a small calcareous fen and embedded spring areas. This rare combination of habitats gives the Muckenbruch its own distinctive landscape character, in addition to being the destination of the march of the same name.
Salt history and technical monuments
The two graduation towers were added to the town of Erwitte’s list of monuments at the end of 1984 and are considered cultural-historical or technical architectural monuments. Another testament to the area’s technical history is the Schäferkämper watermill, a technical cultural monument with two overshot water wheels. The Königssood was originally a royal salt-boiling site and remained Westernkotten’s economic centre until 1845.
The Wunderkammer in the Kurhalle and the Kornspeicher offer further insights. The Wunderkammer displays exhibits from nature, history, technology and art. The Kornspeicher is a two-storey half-timbered granary from the late 17th century, originally from the historic Weringhof in Bad Westernkotten. Together with the graduation towers and the Königssood, these places complement the focus on brine with different aspects of local history and architectural heritage.
Bus connection
Spa guests can travel free of charge on bus route R61 between Erwitte, Bad Westernkotten and Lippstadt. Check the current information on free travel for spa guests on the R61 before setting off.
For the broader travel overview: Erwitte.
