Spreading north from the Ruhrgebiet to the border with Lower Saxony sits the cultural Coesfeld District. Filled with museums, moated castles, medieval villages and theaters—there is plenty to keep everyone entertained.

The area is closely linked to the ancient bishopric of Münster and to Saint Ludger. The first bishop of Münster apparently founded the district capital—Coesfeld—himself and amongst many other buildings and structures, there is a cathedral named in his honour in Bitterbeck, with its impressive towers.

Amongst the 100 or so preserved castles and palaces in this region, you will find two magnificent examples here in Lüdinghausen.

The overwhelming Burg Vishering—one of the largest in northern Germany—and the imposing red-brick Schloss Nordkirchen further south. There are no defensive hills to build castles on here, so they were defended with great moats and towers.

Dülmen houses a quarter of the Coesfeld District’s population as it is an attractive business location. It is also the setting for the Dülmener Sommertheater, which attracts thousands of visitors every summer to enjoy the live performances.

And in autumn there is the international Figurentheatertage—a very popular puppet theater and exhibition.