Writings about the town of Dülmen have been found dating as far back as 889, so it is an ancient spot indeed.
It is located in the southern part of Münsterland, a region known for containing more than 100 castles. Many of these are connected by beautiful and well-kept bicycle paths. If you love castle ruins, biking, or both, you will want to spend some time riding the mostly flat, rural terrain to see the unparalleled scenery.
There are many “bike and breakfast” inns that will enable you to ride for a day or two if you wish, but 1/2-day trips emanating from Dülmen can be equally enjoyable.
Castle Ahaus (in Ahaus) and Castle Nordkirchen (in Nordkirchen) are two of the most famous structures in the area, but lesser known sites can be just as breathtaking.
There are many attractions within the town itself. Lüdinghauser Tor is part of the original fortification built around the town in 1311 and is a popular local landmark. Unfortunately, about 90% of the town was destroyed by bombings during WWII.
But, the people rebuilt their hometown following a plan that enabled them to preserve the traditional charm of the town square and recreate much of the original architecture. The old city towers still stand as a testament to the rich history of the area.
The town offers cultural events to locals and visitors during every season of the year. Dülmener Sommer is the highlight for the townspeople, and brings theater groups to the market square throughout the summer. You can see comedy, drama, tragedy, and farces performed by talented actors from around the area. Summer music nights are also held which feature bands and musicians performing open-air concerts.
In the fall, the focus of the shows changes to puppet performances when Figurentheatertage is held. Cabarets and children’s shows are the main events during the winter, and spring affords a bounty of gorgeous scenery to be enjoyed.
