Schlangen (which actually translates to Snakes) has just about anything and everything you could ask for in a small German town. There’s good local German cuisine, a beautiful nature area, and more history crammed in than a high school textbook. Not too shabby, huh?
The only thing you’re not going to find is a theater of some sort. That’s all right, Schlangen is just between Detmold and Paderborn so everyone just heads over there.
Other than that, you’ll find just about everything else right here.
Like what? Oh, how about the Dorfmuseum und Alte Schmiede Mötz with over 5000 exhibits on agriculture, crafts, and textiles and original furnishings. The museum is open 3pm-6pm on the 3rd Sunday of the month.
Then over at the Heimathaus Oesterholz-Haustenbeck there’s more than 1,100 years of history under one roof (the building alone is a piece of village history — a 200+ year old farmhouse).
Another piece of Schlangen’s history is the Burgruine Kohlstädt. Well, it wasn’t always in ruins. The castle was built around 1050 and stood for more than 700 years before it was torn down in 1770.
The castle is part of the southern Teutoburg Forest Nature Park, where you’ll also find many walking paths, hiking trails, bicycle tracks, and caves to explore. Nearby you’ll also find the Haustenturm, once an observation tower now a nesting site for many birds.
When you’ve made your way back to town, you still have more sightseeing to do. Don’t miss the Rathaus (Town Hall), the Catholic Church St. Marien, and the Evangelical Church whose foundations are that of the original 9th/10th century original.
All this activity sure works up a hearty appetite, so here’s your chance to try the Lippischer Pickert. This regional pancake looking dish is made with flour, potato, currants, and raisins; and eaten with sausage, jam, and butter. Yummy!
With all this wonderful stuff to see, do, and eat — you’ll never once miss that missing theater. ;-)
