One of the benefits of living in Germany is that all those cute little towns with timber frame buildings are on our doorstep. Not so long ago, we went to Tecklenburg, a lovely little town built on the southern ridge of the Teutoburg Forest. It has a largely intact medieval townscape, winding streets, and great views in every direction. I looked up some hikes and found one about that led through the town, through the valley that separates the two parts of the town, back up towards the castle ruins, and down the flat land south of the ridge, where we unexpectedly found a water castle.
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| View from the top of the town to the north-east |
It was a warm day, the last one with good weather before a week of rain was forecast. We didn't take into account that it would be 27 degrees though, and in hindsight shouldn't have worn long trousers. Fortunately I had a new backpack and brought some drinks with me.
Arriving in Tecklenburg is the first of many joys. Coming from the motorway you drive towards the hill, then take a sharp left turn and drive alongside the ridge for a couple of kilometres, agricultural land and meadows on both sides, forest on the top of the hill. Then the road turns up the hill, and suddenly you're on the top, with wide views over the Münsterland. There's ample parking space - paid, but cheap (bring coins or install an app such as Easypark). Then up the hill on your left - there's a small vinyard halfway up the slope. Through a series of winding streets you then enter the centre, and will probably pause in awe. All those lovely white houses, some timber frame, all ancient. Cobbled streets, a big old tree in the Market Square... it's all there.
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View from Café Rabbel
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The market square (Markt) is where our walk began. At Café Rabbel, to be precise. A bit of an upscale "Konditorei", it has plenty outside seating, plenty indoors too, and a lot of tasty pastries and cakes to choose from. There are some really nice shops on the Market Square too, absolutely worth a visit.
After a lovely but slightly expensive cup of tea (€ 9-ish for two Assam teas) we set off for our walk. I had to rely on written directions so we may have cut some corners here and there, but the gist was a walk through Tecklenburg, around the castle ruin, down the hillside on the south and to the water castle, then back up the hill where our car was parked.
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| Slowly descending down those picturesque cobbled roads towards the valley in the middle |
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There's a small nature reserve in the bottom of the valley.
Imagine living there and looking out over this from your garden. |
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| The other side of the hill in front of us, a forested space with a spa area |
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And Tecklenburg itself behind us, buildings huddled together on the top of the hill.
We went down this meadow, and then up again back to town |
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| And gosh were those little streets steep. |
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We had to take a break every couple of minutes.
(Also because it was so unexpectedly hot) |
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| Absolutely worth the effort though, just look at all those cute white houses |
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| Quick peek into someone's side garden. So lovely. |
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Then, further down the hill on the other side of Tecklenburg.
We took the steep path on he left, fully aware that we'd have to climb back up at the end of our walk.
On the right was a gorgeous garden that for privacy reasons I didn't take pictures of, but I did make sure to express my appreciation to the owner who was on his knees weeding among his roses. |
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| And there it is, Haus Marck, a water castle. |
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| Lovely outbuilding too |
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| A "Wasserburg" means it's surrounded by water on all sides, and can only be reached via a drawbridge. |
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| A long walk through the forests surrounding Haus Marck later, we went back up the hill (that steep, narrow path, remember). This was our reward at the top. What a view. |
