Germany is one of those countries that will never cease to amaze you. Every place you visit or see is just as beautiful as the next — and Recke in northern most part of North Rhine-Westphalia is no different.
The town’s four quarters sit along the foothills of the Teutoburg Forest and the Recke Moorlands. So, it doesn’t take a genius to figure out that this town is in some pretty wonderful countryside that should be on any hikers, cyclist, and fisherman’s to-do list.
There are also wagon rides available, party boat tours, an outdoor swimming pool, and an super tall observation tower in the forest.
Recke isn’t totally without sightseeing in the traditional sense. The Town Square has many old half timbered buildings that give it a true Old World feel; in fact, one of the town’s oldest inns is one of them.
For example, Altes Gasthaus Greve has been taking care of Recke’s visitors since 1823, owned by the same family for five generations. It’s cozy, comfortable, and its beer garden is perfect for an afternoon cocktail. Its buffet breakfast is pretty darn delicious, too.
Visitors will also find Recke to be a religious town with three churches named for St. Dionysis. The first being a Catholic Church located on Hopstener Straße, the second famous for its Baroque High Alter, and the third is the oldest of them all; built more than 1100 years ago in the 9th century.
Well, there are a few more churches. Sts. Philippus & Jacobus Church is in the neighborhood of Steinbeck and the stunningly simple Romanesque style Protestant Church is right at home on the Town Square.
It’s also no wonder with all this piety that Recke throws a large Carnival right before Lent with usually over 10,000 partygoers.
Believe it or not, Recke is also a good place to relax. At the Schwefelbad Steinbeck in the neighborhood of Steinbeck (who would’ve guessed) you’re able to enjoy a hot sauna, a therapeutic massage, some curative drinks, and sulfur bathing.
Recke offers visitors everything from great outdoor sports to a relaxing spa. Yea, those smaller German towns just keep getting better and better.
