Hövelhof is a hip modern family friendly town that’s been around for a good thousand years.
Your first stop to see once you arrive here in Hövelhof should be the Ramselhof — a 12th century farm and the oldest within town — for a chance to see what life was like hundreds of years ago. The connected farmhouse with courtyard isn’t quite as old, it only dates back to the 18th century. The house is private property but the owner allows for marriages to be held here once a month.
Another building that’s a few centuries old is the Hunting Seat or Jagdschloss, a mansion built by the Prince Bishop of Paderborn in 1661, makes for a great photo op!
The Homeland Center is also a great stop for some local crafts. You’ll be tempted by the smell of the fresh baked bread coming from the bakery. Yummy! :-)
The kids are surely not going to want to spend any time in a classroom while on vacation, but Hövelhof has the Village School Museum housed in a 200 year old building with a collection of some 1200 school books. So here they’ve got a strong wish to go back to school.
For some local scenery and a chance to enjoy the fresh countryside air, moorlands, and meadows, get over to the Senne Nature Reserve. There are also many bicycle routes within town, each well numbered for the Heath, the Mill, or even Team Hövelhof’s circuit. If you don’t want to rent a bicycle to enjoy the great outdoors, the town has great Nordic (and jogging) paths within the forest.
It’s not all exercise and museums here in Hövelhof, though, there are some exiting festivals here too! On the first weekend in October, everyone gets out to enjoy the annual Folk Festival. Then there’s the Spring Celebration on Hövelmarkt (the marketplace) on April 30 and May 1st. And finally, September is the month for the town’s Harvest Celebration.
Sounds like a nice town for many people? :-)
