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There are more than 300 km of walking and cycling trails in Senden (Westphalia) and its surroundings.

Even when you will be in Senden only a short time you shouldn’t miss the chance to make a trip to the nature reserve, Venner Moor. A great place to wander around and get lost. And inside the town there are two big parks: the municipal park and the castle park.

Apart from walking and cycling there are a lot of other outdoor activities that you can enjoy. Read on…

On a hot day the big swimming pool Cabrio Senden with a giant slide, a mud bath and sauna, is the place to go. Other options are midget golf, canoeing and sailing. If you’re up to the challenge there is even a climbing center with an non-too original name, “Great Wall.”

Tired of all this walking, climbing and swimming? How about a visit to one of the many castles in the neighborhood? The Senden Castle, built in 1350, is the obvious first choice. It is a very evocative and imposing building built on a big island and protected by a wide moat.

Another great castle, a bit further afield, is the Nordkirchen Castle in Nordkirchen, which is dubbed the Versailles of Westphalia.

In the center of town you can visit the Ruhr house (Haus Ruhr). Its origins go back to the 13th century, and it was once the residence of the nobility of Senden. Now it’s an archive which contains centuries-old documents and manuscripts. The book collection of Jodocus Hermann Nünning is also kept here.

Always wanted to learn how to bake bread in a traditional way? Here is your chance. There is a traditional bakery which organizes workshops. You’ll learn how to bake bread like they did it in this region for centuries. At the end of the workshop you can feast on your own bread and traditional spreads.

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Geseke is an old town in North Rhine-Westphalia. It was a member of the Hanseatic League — one of the most important trade organizations in Medieval Europe. In the late Middle Ages Geseke reached its apex.

Unfortunately there’s not much left of that glorious past, although a couple of half-timbered houses give the center of the town some charm.

To get an idea of the size of the medieval town take the footpath that was laid at the exact place where once the town walls stood.

Although Hellweg means “light road” and not “road to hell,” for a lot of women the Hellweg to Geseke was the road to hell. In the 17th century scores of women were burnt on the stake in Geseke. Isn’t it a crux the townspeople still celebrate a Hexenfest, a Witches Festival, every year?

Anyway… The St. Cyriakus Church, the Thoholte house, the baroque church of the Franciscan Monastery, and the Hellweg museum are well worth a visit if you happen to spend some time in this town.

The Eringerfeld Castle (8km from downtown) is worth a detour for two reasons: firstly to visit the International Museum for Folk Textile Art, and secondly to dine and sleep in the castle. The castle has been turned into a luxury hotel and the restaurant offers a “knight menu” that will give you the chance to savor original medieval dishes.

The 17th century baroque castle is one of the most beautiful in this area of Germany. Who would forfeit the chance to eat and sleep like the 18th-century nobility, if only for one day?

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