Rahden is the northern most town of North Rhine-Westphalia. It just celebrated its 975th birthday but yet is still modern with prime fashion shops and cafes.
Everything here just screams for you to get outside and enjoy the countryside especially at the Museum Yard, a real working 19th century farm. Don’t forget to try some of the scrumptious butter cake baked in the old stone furnace.
You’ll need all that energy when you travel around town on the hand trolley. Using old railways tracks, you can “cycle” yourself around to some of Rahden’s area attractions (the tracks go on all the way to Lower Saxony).
Pedal past the “Large Stone,” a 350 ton rock from the days of the last Ice Age. There are even castle ruins to explore along the trolley route.
Rahdener Castle, a 14th century fortress, somehow managed to survive countless wars, but was leveled by a fire in 1878. The best part of the ruins (besides the incredible workout!) is that it’s something the entire family can enjoy since trolleys hold from four to twelve people.
A more simple walking path on the city’s “round course #11” will take you through the countryside, past half timbered houses, and past the town’s most famous windmill. Built in 1650, it worked for 300 years before it was shut down in 1953 (and restored to its former glory in 1983).
The Round Course also takes you to the Parish Church Johannes built in 1353, becoming Protestant in the 16th century during the Reformation. It received a more ornate “Baroque” facelift in 1789, while the modern “facelift” takes place annually, during the Church Festival held every March.
Rahden also hosts the Prussian Ströhen Market (held in September), the extra large (and obligatory ;-) Christmas Market, and the “Rahden Steams” Festival (German: Rahden kocht über). Can you think of a more delicious way of enjoying some great local cuisine? :-)
