Greven is a mid-size town in the Steinfurt district and a suburb of Münster. Located along the Ems River and surrounded by countryside, this is an excellent environment for anyone who loves the great outdoors.
The floodplain topography (and multitude of parks) lends itself well to biking. Greven’s tourism department even offers a “bicycle station” from which you can “check out” a bike for the day and return it when you’re finished. There are a couple of organized bike tours as well, the Emsauenweg and the One-hundred castles route.
Citizens of Greven care deeply about the natural beauty that surrounds them, so much of the area is given special protective status. In the Gimbte district, the Bird Europe Reservation Rieselfelder exhibits water birds from Northern Europe. A deer park, Nötleberg, may be found in the district of Saerbeck. Both native and non-native species call this park home.
Unspoiled nature isn’t hard to find either. The Waldsee lake is a good place to go for some outdoor swimming. The cliffs at Dörenther Klippen will have you gazing up at the dizzying heights. And Teutoburg Forest provides hiking trails for the adventurous traveler.
If you prefer a paved sidewalk to a rugged path, you’ll enjoy the town’s more cultural and historical features. The church of the town from the twelfth century is a must-see. Some notable features are the sundial along the southern wall, which dates back to 1616. The interior boasts a crucifixion sculpture made by the Münster master Philipp Gröninger in 1722.
In the narrow lanes of Greven, you’re almost certain to stumble upon a market or street fair. Every Wednesday and Saturday, the marketplace hosts a farmer’s market. If you miss either of those, head to the district of Reckenfeld, which holds another one on Thursdays.
Flea markets take place the first Saturday of the month, except for those cold, dark winter days of December through February.
