At the foothills of the Teutoburg Forest in the northern Münsterland, near Steinfurt, is the fascinating town Neuenkirchen (Westphalia).
Be aware this isn’t a town with an overabundance of medieval churches or castles to visit, but that’s quite alright. In fact, it’s a relatively modern place and what it lacks in quantity of historical sites, it definitely makes up for it with quality of other things.
The landmark of Neuenkirchen is the Catholic Parish Church Anna, built in 1899 (it’s built on the spot of a 12th century original) and to simply say that it’s stunning is an understatement. One of the inspirations for this double towered New Romanesque style church is the 13th century Abbey Church Maria Laach in Glees.
Since Neuenkirchen sits at the Teutoburg Forest that should be your next stop after seeing P.C. Anna. A hike along the sandstone rock formations, like the Doerenther Cliffs or sitting by the “Squatting Woman” (a rock formation that looks like a squatting woman), will have you clearing your head of all your worries in no time.
There was once a famous battle that took place here in the forest back in 9 A.D.; the Hermannsdenkmal Memorial stands here dedicated to that epic battle.
For more time outside the Offlumer See is just the right spot. The lake isn’t a totally natural formation, as it was created by the craters left behind from mining. No matter how it got here, it’s great for swimming and/or fishing. Don’t let winter stop you from enjoying Offlum Lake, when it freezes go ice skating.
The cafe that just recently opened here is an excellent place to grab a bite after working up an appetite playing on the lake. You’ll find some picturesque biking trails around the lake, too. If you ride over to the village of Wettringen you’ll find a 500 year old farm, one of the oldest in all of Westphalia. Now, that’s quality!
