The Vechta District was under control of the clergy for 500 years, emerging in the 19th century as Oldenburger-Münsterland, a name still used often to describe it. Today, you can still see traces of the past throughout the district, but community emphasis is most definitely on the here and now.
Vechta District Map
Towns & Villages in the Vechta District
Visit Vechta and you will find no lack of opportunities to enjoy yourself, from walking, cycling and horse riding to drinking, dining and shopping. The town’s six-day Stoppelmarkt Fair has been held each August since 1298, drawing more than half a million visitors nowadays for the rides, stalls, stands and tents of more than 500 vendors!
Travel southwest to the district’s second largest town, Lohne, where you will find an interesting Museum of Industry. Then go to Dinklage, famous for its 10th-century castle, rebuilt in 1667. And in Steinfeld, you can see mills with waterwheels, a collection of old fire wagons, and a replica of Leonardo da Vinci’s “Last Supper” carved out of wood at the Parish Church of St. John.
Deep down south, you will find plenty to do in the town of Damme. There are bike trails for riding, Nordic walking paths for exercising, and outdoor pools for swimming. There is a museum devoted to 200 species of birds found around nearby Dümmer See (a.k.a. Lake Stupid). And delicious restaurants, pubs and cafés are just waiting for your order. ;-)
