Folks come to Hörstel for one thing — to go wandering.
With so many trails and paths that go through the area, which is at the north-eastern edge of the refreshing Teutoburg Forest, it is going to be difficult not to have at least one expedition when you travel through this town in North Rhine-Westphalia.
If you aren’t sure whether or not your legs are going to be able to carry you very far, you should opt for the shorter path that goes from the train station to the Gravenhorst Convent. This convent is the only complete convent left in northern Germany and is now an Art House.
On the six kilometer route, you are going to go past a memorial to victims of World War II, a strange modern art sculpture from a South African artist called “Waiting for the Barbarians” and another piece of art made out of wood from the German artist Marcel Kalberer.
Those who want to learn while they are walking will appreciate the geology nature trail at the Torfmoorsee (located on your way to the district of Bevergern). This is the biggest geology nature trail with explanations of some of the most interesting rocks in northern Germany. Anyone who wants to know whether a rock is metamorphic or not should go here.
While looking around at the rocks, you are going to notice the Torfmoor Lake itself. This man made lake was made in the 1970s when a nearby highway was being built and since then Hörstel has had a small beach for bathing and playing in the water and a place for boaters to sail in during nice weather.
Hörstel is on the Handelsweg, which is a 229 kilometer path that goes from Osnabrück in Germany to Deventer in Holland. It is also on the Hermannsweg which starts in Rheine and goes for 156 kilometers.
The weather might not always be ideal for wandering. If the weather isn’t cooperating, go to the Farm Machinery Museum. If a museum on preparing the ground for planting and which manure to use doesn’t teach you something you didn’t already know, then nothing will. ;-)