Westerkappeln in the Tecklenburger Land might be but a small blip on the map, but it’s where you can learn more about the world we live in and where we came from.
There is more than 300 million years of natural history that can be learned in this small town that’s only a stone’s throw northwest of Osnabrück in Lower Saxony at the Nature Park Terra Vita. You’ll find plenty of lakes throughout the area and the town, not only because it borders the Teutoburg Forest.
Whether you choose to walk, hike, Nordic Walk, jog, or bicycle through the region, you’ll marvel at all of the forest’s wonders. Stop when you find the Große Sloopsteine, a massive prehistoric stone tomb.
A few thousand years later the residents of Westerkappeln built the Protestant Church, where the oldest part dates back to the 12th century.
Oh, wait… the Reformation didn’t come to Germany until the 16th century, so it wasn’t always a Protestant church. Though, it does have a massively big tower that was used as a military tower protecting residents from invaders.
Around the same time both the Manor House Cappeln and House Velpe were built. The Counts von Ravensburg and his peers lived in quite a bit of finery at these two 12th/13th century castles.
Also in Velpe (one of Westerkappeln’s three municipalities) is a still working Wassermühle that was built in the 1560’s. Besides still milling, there’s an art museum inside the mill. For sculpture art, there are a few wells in town decorated with rabbits, flowers, and owls.
Jump ahead another few centuries by checking out the town’s Tractor Museum. A good place to learn about the region’s farming.
Today, the town is pretty active. Enjoy a game of golf, tennis, swim in the municipal pool, or let the kids run around the playground.
It appears that Westerkappeln not only embraces the past, but looks towards the future as well.
