Lüdinghauser Eight

The Lüdinghausen Eight: The Castle-Gardens-Alleen-Way

The Lüdinghauser Acht takes you around Lüdinghausen and Seppenrade, and as the Lüdinghauser Acht is a circular tour, you can start anywhere. Simply follow the symbol with the bicycle and the number 8.

Choose between the gentle northern route or the more challenging southern route, both of which are a good 22 km long, or cycle the whole route if you are in good physical condition. On the northern route, enjoy the beauty of three moated
castles with their picturesque surroundings and experience the atmosphere of long avenues. Or let yourself be enchanted on the
southern route, be surprised by the landscape of Seppenrad Switzerland, the nature reserves and the rose garden. You can also experience the beauty of the Biological Center at Klutensee on both routes.

The cycle path is well signposted.

Castles along the route

In addition to the beautiful Münsterland landscape, you can also experience a great deal of culture on the Cloverleaf Tour 1. Four castles and fortresses line the route and they all have their very own charm. While you can also visit Vischering Castle from the inside, the other three can only be admired from the outside. But even that is worthwhile!

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.

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.

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.

Discover on the road

There is plenty to see and discover along the route: You will pass beautiful tree-lined avenues, orchards, the Klutensee lake, the biological center and much more.

Old oak avenue in Berenbrock. It connects Vischering Castle with the Klutensee lake. It is protected by the State Nature Conservation Act due to its importance for biotope and species conservation.

Birch avenue in the farming community of Elvert. The avenue, which looks special and picturesque in any light, is worth seeing at any time of year. Like all other avenues in NRW, it is also protected by the State Nature Conservation Act.

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.

Plümer Feld nature reserve - Enchanted, richly structured former clay pit. Tree frog occurrence and seven other amphibian species. The nature reserve is managed on a voluntary basis.

Orchards around Seppenrade - they are among the most characteristic and beautiful habitats in the area. Orchards are important habitats for many animal and plant species, e.g. a guarantor for the preservation of little owls in the region.

Seppenrad Rose Garden - Created almost 50 years ago by committed citizens on a former landfill site
the garden is still maintained on a voluntary basis today - over 700 different rose varieties are a
a magnet for visitors.

Seppenrad ammonite - The world's largest (!) ammonite was found in the village of Leversum in 1895. There is a replica in the village, the original is in the Natural History Museum in Münster.

Head niche grave at the Seppenrad church: A specially designed grave that is around 1,000 years old.

Seppenrader Schweiz nature reserve - a surprising landscape for the Münsterland with steeply sloping hills, deeply incised valleys and sweeping views of the Münsterland.

Chestnut avenue in Seppenrad Switzerland The avenue, which is visible from afar, connects the federal highways 235 and 474 and is an important element for the biotope network.

Lippsches Holt nature reserve - a protected woodland area with one of the most valuable wet meadows in the Coesfeld district, home to over 70 species of flowering plants.

Hof Grube - The oldest half-timbered farmhouse in northern Germany, whose roots probably go back 1000 years. The oldest preserved components date from the early 16th century, the buildings are privately owned and are currently undergoing extensive renovation.