Discover Stuhr: Heiligenrode and Gut Varrel

Stuhr offers a variety of points of interest for a stay: historic buildings, an artists' residence, a bakehouse and places by the water. When looking for a hotel in Stuhr, you can choose your itinerary based on whether local history, cultural activities or relaxation is your priority. Local highlights include St. Mary's Church and the mill complex in Heiligenrode, as well as Gut Varrel, Silbersee and the Reisegarten. This lets you choose the focus of your stay rather than treating all the destinations as a single sightseeing itinerary.

History in Heiligenrode

St. Mary's Church in Heiligenrode was built in the late 13th century and belongs to the former Benedictine monastery, founded in 1182. The mill complex is located on the Klosterbach and includes a watermill first mentioned in 1182 as well. The date 1182 therefore refers to two separate historical events: the founding of the monastery and the first mention of the watermill; it is not the year the church was built.

Maintained by the Heiligenrode Mill Association, the mill is still operational and attracts many visitors. Check the current visiting arrangements before your visit.

Since 1989, the artists' residence run by the municipality of Stuhr in Heiligenrode has temporarily provided living and working spaces for numerous scholarship holders in painting and sculpture. While the residence focuses on temporary accommodation and workspaces for scholarship holders, the bakehouse represents a recurring local tradition. The local heritage association's baker regularly fires up the old oven and bakes bread and cakes. Baking dates may vary; please enquire if you would like to plan your visit around one.

Gut Varrel: History and present-day use

Gut Varrel is a picturesque estate on the banks of the Varreler Bäke; its origins are thought to date back to the 14th century. The estate barn was built in 1903, covers around 620 square metres and, following its restoration, has become a popular cultural and sporting venue for Stuhr. Exhibitions are also held in the manor house today. Events and opening times may change; enquire about the current programme in advance.

Gut Varrel can be reached via Varreler Feld, where a large car park is available. Arrangements at the site may change depending on how it is managed, so check the current situation before visiting.

A stay focused on cultural history offers several points of interest: in Heiligenrode, the monastery, church and mill complex take centre stage; Gut Varrel combines its historic estate with cultural and sporting activities in the barn and exhibitions in the manor house.

Relaxation and planning your visit

At Silbersee, the DLRG has supervised swimming on behalf of the municipality of Stuhr since 1971. Check the current conditions when planning a day of swimming. The Reisegarten on the Mühlenwiese in Heiligenrode is a destination for excursions, a rest stop and a local recreation area, as well as a place for peace, relaxation and socialising. The two places appeal to different interests: swimming is the main activity at Silbersee, while the Reisegarten is associated with peace and socialising.

The focus of your travel plans will therefore vary too: local history and cultural activities are complemented by relaxation and swimming. Choose your hotel in Stuhr based on which of these aspects of the destination you want to shape your stay. For visits that depend on timing, such as exhibitions, baking dates or visits to the mill, it is advisable to check the current arrangements in advance.

Discover more destinations: Syke, Heiligenrode, Freistatt, Lemförde, Neubruchhausen, Asendorf, Süstedt, Sulingen

Go to the main travel overview: Diepholz.