The nursery rhyme about the crooked man and his crooked house is met with baleful stares in Delbrück.
The town is quite proud of their crooked church. In 2008 a complete exterior renovation was done, and the spire was not straightened. Standing more than 65 meters high, the spire was built along with the rest of St. John the Baptist’s church in 1400.
Since then, the ground has settled and weather has twisted the spire, making it appear bent and crooked. Rather than being an embarrassment, it has become the landmark of the town. :-)
It’s quite funny, actually. Delbrück is part of the glacial plains of North Germany and was for many years a stone working and brick building center. Yet the town landmark is wood. It is visible for many miles around, and the Nordic Walking trails along the Boker canal that circles the town use it as a focal point.
However, the crooked finger of the spire isn’t the only thing worth seeing in Delbrück. The town also hosts a large festival in September called the Katharinenmarkt. It’s four days long and features a farmers market, craft booths, and carnival rides. The Ferris wheels are usually set up with a good view of the town and church so you can get some nice photos during your ride.
If you are not in Delbrück during fair season, you can still enjoy a pleasant stay here just by walking around. There are Roman excavations and museums about local history as well as some great nature trails.
Thanks to the ancient glaciers, there are many lakes and parks, too. Along with the Nordic walking trails that circle the town, you can also do regular trekking and cycling throughout the area.
