Kluse – Cycling in the Ems landscape and history in Steinbild

Kluse lies on the River Ems. Two different themes can help you plan your trip: cycling through the Ems landscape and the history of the Madonna in Steinbild. This lets you tailor your stay more closely to a cycling tour, art and local history, or a combination of both interests.

Cycling in Kluse

The Dörpen-Ost cycle route passes through Kluse. You can also explore the Ems landscape around the village by bicycle. This gives you two different points of reference for planning your rides: a specifically named route and the broader surrounding landscape. Check the current route before setting off, as route details may change.

The Madonna of the Boatmen and the history of Steinbild

The art-historical landmark in Steinbild is the Madonna of the Boatmen. The sandstone figure is 1.40 metres tall and dates from between 1450 and 1480. Its design combines Gothic ideas with Baroque forms. The dating and the style describe two different aspects of the same Madonna: its place in time and the artistic influences it brings together. She was the patron saint of the boatmen and fishermen on the River Ems.

The Madonna’s rediscovery is also part of her history. She had been bricked up behind the high altar and remained forgotten for more than 250 years. She was rediscovered and uncovered in 1885. St. George’s Church in Steinbild was first mentioned on 7 December 1304. This first mention of the church predates the Madonna’s dating to 1450–1480 and provides a separate historical point of reference for Steinbild.

The Emsland as a wider travel destination

The Hümmling Nature Park covers around 580 square kilometres in the northeastern part of the Emsland district. In this wider travel destination, the Emsland, cycling and hiking trails pass historic sites, megalithic tombs and Schloss Clemenswerth; information stations line the trails. For hikers, the Theikenmeer loop is one of the nature park’s routes that meets the German Hiking Association’s quality criteria. The Kranichpfad leads for about 2.5 kilometres into the Theikenmeer nature reserve. The return journey follows the same route, making the total walking distance about 5 kilometres. The Kranichpfad features a viewing platform with panoramic views of Lake Theikenmeer and the Wehmer Dose moorland, as well as a birdwatching hut on the lakeshore.

The Emsland Route, meanwhile, is a 395-kilometre circular route through five landscapes: the Northern Ems Valley, Hümmling, Bourtanger Moor, Hasetal and Southern Emsland. It is very well signposted, mostly flat, paved and traffic-free, making it particularly suitable for beginners and families with children. The route connects 19 towns; any town in the Emsland along the route can serve as a starting or finishing point. This also lets you plan cycling in the Emsland based on the route’s length and the landscapes it passes through.

Discover more destinations: Lähden, Stavern, Holthausen, Niederlangen, Lingen, Werlte, Vrees, Geeste

Go to the wider travel guide: Emsland.