Cloverleaf Tour 2
To the forests near Nordkirchen
The cloverleaf tour 2 is 57 kilometers long and takes you to the forests near Nordkirchen. Over beautiful paths, past castles and palaces, you cycle through the Münsterland countryside from Lüdinghausen to Nordkirchen, Capelle and Ascheberg back to Lüdinghausen. As the Cloverleaf Tour 2 is a circular tour, you can join in anywhere. Simply follow the cloverleaf symbol with the number 2.
The former Arenberg forests now belong to the state of North Rhine-Westphalia. The oak-hornbeam forests around the Hirschpark, which bloom beautifully in spring with chickweed and primroses , and the no less impressive large areas of wild garlic around Haus Ichterloh are some of the most beautiful forest scenery that any nature lover can imagine! These areas have also been prepared for nature tourism as part of the Nordkirchen-Westerwinkel castle axis and invite you to relax and experience them. Both forests belong to the EU's Fauna-Flora-Habitat (FFH) areas.
Other areas around Nordkirchen Castle and in Ermen have been designated as nature reserves by the district of Coesfeld. The high proportion of old beech and oak trees is the basis for a rich bird fauna. This includes five species of woodpecker alone - middle-spotted, black, green, lesser spotted and great spotted woodpecker.
The route at a glance
- Length: 57 km
- Riding time: 4 hours
- Circular route
- signposted
- Start and finish at Lüdinghaus
Castles and fortresses along the way
Vischering Castle is the ideal Münsterland moated castle. With its round main castle in the middle of the moat, it is a popular excursion destination and photo motif. Vischering Castle is home to a museum dedicated to the history of the castle and, as the official portal to the Münsterland castles and palaces region, to the noble houses in the region. It is a five-minute walk from Lüdinghausen Castle, connected by the moated castle landscape. Lüdinghausen's old town can also be reached on foot in less than ten minutes.
Just a five-minute walk from the old town, Lüdinghausen Castle is a historical jewel and green oasis in the middle of the city. It was probably built in the 13th century as a knight's seat, was then owned by the church for a long time and is now a center for cultural and urban life. The Parc de Taverny and the moated castle landscape extend around the castle: green spaces that invite you to take a stroll.
Nordkirchen Castle is located in the middle of a spacious landscape park and is the largest and most important of the Westphalian moated castles. The baroque ensemble of extensive buildings, moats, gardens and parks with sculptures and a sumptuous interior is considered the "Westphalian Versailles" and a total work of art of international standing.
Westerwinkel Castle is one of the earliest baroque castles in Westphalia. The enclosed four-winged complex was built in the middle of the 17th century and changed hands several times. Today, it offers a high recreational value: the Westerwinkel Golf Club is located right next door, the 100 Castles Route leads cyclists directly to the castle and the Way of St. James is very popular with hikers.
Kakesbeck Castle is located three kilometers north of Lüdinghausen and is impressive for its size alone. Most of the current building dates back to the period between the 14th and 16th centuries, but its origins date back to around 800. In its heyday, the complex covered an area of almost one square kilometer, had five outer castles and, in addition to the walls, was protected by a good 30,000 m2 of water and a sophisticated system of moats, ramparts, bridges and gates. Since 1971, Kakesbeck Castle has been continuously renovated by its owners - it is now owned by a foundation.
Insider tip
The impressive Nordkirchen Castle is surrounded by a large park. Perfect for a picnic! From the picnic platform and the cozy wave loungers, you have a great view of the castle and nature.
Nature and beautiful villages along the route
Above all, you can experience a lot of nature along the route: Waters such as the Stever and the Klutensee, the variety of animals that can be discovered here and much more. The Biological Center is also located on Cloverleaf Tour 2.
You will also cycle through Nordkirchen and Ascheberg and have the opportunity to take a short stroll through the town and stop for a bite to eat.
Greylag geese breed on the moats of Vischering Castle. Originally released into the wild in our area for hunting purposes, they have become widespread. They are the ancestral form of the domestic goose.
The Klutensee is an approximately seven-hectare quarry pond on the outskirts of Lüdinghausen. The nature reserve invites visitors to hike or cycle along the circular hiking trail. Water birds that use the lake as a breeding ground can also be observed.
Biologisches Zentrum Kreis Coesfeld - has been providing environmental education in the region for years and invites visitors to take a tour of the gardens or attend various courses and workshops.
On your round trip, you will also visit Ascheberg, a town with a lot of Münsterland charm. Stop for a bite to eat!
The forests near Nordkirchen: Wilderness forest and European protected area
Wilderness forest: North Rhine-Westphalia has taken almost 8,000 hectares of state-owned old beech and oak forests out of forestry use in order to create the primeval forests of tomorrow. Forests that are allowed to develop naturally and uninfluenced. All the trees here reach their natural age, i.e. they live for hundreds of years instead of being harvested when they are barely more than 100 years old. This is an important contribution to the preservation and restoration of biodiversity, as old forests with tree hollows and decaying wood are particularly rich in species. The Davert is a focal point of this project in Münsterland.
European conservation area: In order to slow the decline in biodiversity, the European Union supports nature conservation in the member states through its own laws: the Birds Directive (1979) and the Fauna-Flora-Habitat (FFH) Directive (1992). The aim is to create a network of protected areas to ensure the survival of endangered animal and plant species. There are 518 FFH and 28 bird sanctuaries in North Rhine-Westphalia. Together they account for 8.4% of the state's surface area. Action plans are drawn up for each area and for each species. The success or failure of the work must be reported to the EU every six years. The moorland landscape in the Venne and the Davert forests are part of the FFH areas in Europe
English oak-hornbeam forest - in the most beautiful bloom of the chickweed. These forests were once typical of the wet soils of the Münsterland. Today they are rare and endangered and are therefore protected here as an FFH habitat by not being used for forestry.
Wild garlic beech forest - beautiful forests not only when they bloom in May. FFH habitats that are protected here by the state of NRW by not being used for forestry.
A natural abundance of old and dead wood is characteristic of forests that are not used for forestry. This brings back the species richness that the commercial forest lacks.
Middle spotted woodpeckers live more secretly than the great spotted woodpeckers, which are similar to them. Because they are more difficult to chop, they need old trees with coarse bark, especially old oaks. The population is one of the five largest in North Rhine-Westphalia.
The deer park - a scenic jewel and no less important for nature conservation. First a game enclosure, then a wild pony stud farm - today valuable, extensively used pastureland sheep
Small kingfisher - a beautiful butterfly of damp deciduous forests. Its caterpillars live on honeysuckle.
GPS track cloverleaf tour 2
Download flyer cloverleaf tour 2
By bus and train to the bike tour
Castles along the route
In addition to the beautiful Münsterland landscape, you can also experience a great deal of culture on the Cloverleaf Tour 2. Five castles and fortresses line the route and they all have their very own charm, including Nordkirchen Castle, the "Westphalian Versaiilles".
Vischering Castle: Vischering Castle is the ideal Münsterland moated castle. With its round main castle in the middle of the moat, it is a popular excursion destination and photo motif. Vischering Castle is home to a museum dedicated to the history of the castle and, as the official portal to the Münsterland castles and palaces region, to the noble houses in the region. It is a five-minute walk from Lüdinghausen Castle, connected by the moated castle landscape. Lüdinghausen's old town can also be reached on foot in less than ten minutes.
Lüdinghausen Castle: Just a five-minute walk from the old town, Lüdinghausen Castle is the historical jewel and green oasis in the middle of the town. It was probably built in the 13th century as a knight's seat, was then owned by the church for a long time and is now a center for cultural and urban life. The Parc de Taverny and the moated castle landscape extend around the castle: green spaces that invite you to take a stroll.
Nordkirchen Castle lies in the middle of a spacious landscape park and is the largest and most important of the Westphalian moated castles. The baroque ensemble of extensive buildings, moats, gardens and parks with sculptures and a sumptuous interior is considered the "Westphalian Versailles" and a total work of art of international standing.
Westerwinkel Castle: Westerwinkel Castle is one of the earliest baroque castles in Westphalia. The enclosed four-winged complex was built in the middle of the 17th century and changed hands several times. Today, it offers a high recreational value: the Westerwinkel Golf Club is located right next door, the 100 Castles Route leads cyclists directly to the castle and the Way of St. James is very popular with hikers.
Kakesbeck Castle: Kakesbeck Castle is located three kilometers north of Lüdinghausen and is impressive for its size alone. Most of the current building dates back to the period between the 14th and 16th centuries, but its origins date back to around 800. In its heyday, the complex covered an area of almost one square kilometer, had five outer castles and, in addition to the walls, was protected by a good 30,000 m2 of water and a sophisticated system of moats, ramparts, bridges and gates. Since 1971, Kakesbeck Castle has been continuously renovated by its owners - it is now owned by a foundation.
