Quiet for the ears, the eyes are awakeWinding paths to cows and art
Forests, mountains and valleys characterise the landscape of the Teutoburg Forest around Nieheim. Far away from large cities and urban centres, the only sounds here are the beech forests and no traffic. So while your ears can simply relax, your eyes are alert and busy: There is simply too much to see on the Nieheim art trail. Ilonka and Silke certainly spotted something surprising on their tour of the ten-kilometre circular trail.
Art in the forest and on the meadowWind cradle, engagement ring and lots of nature
Art and nature are not opposites here, on the contrary: the works of art that can be discovered along the way have been specially designed for their location - and are therefore sometimes easy to overlook despite their size. So keep your eyes peeled on the way! Time and again, we have to turn off the main path onto small paths to reach the individual works. There is the wind cradle, for example, which hangs like a giant wooden hammock in the middle of the forest between the trees. We looked up at the right time for the oversized "Engagement Ring" artwork, which is stuck high up in the fork of a branch, otherwise we would have missed it. For "Encore", the silhouettes of musical instruments form an artistic orchestra. There are currently a total of eight works of art to discover on the Nieheim Art Trail, which changes from time to time. We enjoyed this type of exhibition: the search quickly creates a scavenger hunt atmosphere, which is why this tour can also appeal to families with children who are less keen on hiking.
Views of the surrounding areaLandscapes as if painted
We think beautiful views are one of the joys of a hike. The Nieheim Art Trail also fulfils this requirement - despite the thick clouds and fog that initially hung over the treetops during our hike. Hills, hedges, fields and individual villages nevertheless offered an idyllic landscape. Very pleasant: the views come without any strenuous ascent. We decided to use the energy we had saved to take a detour into the valley and visit the village of Erwitzen. However, the pub there is only open at weekends.
Music and game from the local forestManor with history
At the start and finish of the circular route, a large farmstead catches the eye and is also well worth a visit. The historic Holzhausen estate, with its many different old buildings such as the sheepfold, rent office and barn, not only offers beautiful photo opportunities, but also a point of sale for game from the local forest if you book in advance by telephone. Incidentally, the buildings of the listed old farmstead are transformed into an extraordinary concert hall every year for the "Voices" festival.
A maxi swing, a tower with a great view and the culinary offerings in the historic centre of Nieheim are reasons to take a longer break from hiking.
Our favourite places
- Maximum swinging pleasure: halfway along the route, a large swing not only offers the opportunity to put your feet up, but also a beautiful view of the landscape and art: the scaffolding of a wooden boat protrudes from the roof of an old barn in the middle of a cow pasture.
- Culinary delights in Nieheim: fancy a coffee, cake or cheese? There are various places to stop for refreshments in the historic centre of Nieheim, such as the German Cheese Museum or a show dairy that produces Nieheim cheese and many other varieties.
- Attack at the tower: The old Holsten tower is studded with spears, turning it into the "Attack at the Tower" work of art. After a short climb to the top, we also had a beautiful view of Nieheim, which lies at the foot of the mountain.
