Obernkirchen: Hiking, Nature and History

Obernkirchen offers a variety of themes to consider when planning a trip: scenic trails, dinosaur tracks, local art, and traces of collegiate and industrial history. If you are looking for a hotel in Obernkirchen, it helps to consider which of these themes you want to shape your stay. Destinations range from the viewpoint at the Bismarck oak to a bike tour of about 25 kilometres, so they differ not only in subject matter but also in format.

Hiking Trails, Views and Nature

At the Bismarck oak, the viewpoint on the mountain tour offers views towards the Schaumburg Forest and the Wiehen Hills. The Sonnenbrinkbad and the car park at the golf course are starting points for the 2-Bäche-Weg. This gives you different reference points when planning for these two named trails.

The Dinosaur Tracks nature trail features themed stops: its nine information stations cover dinosaurs, forests and nature, as well as sandstone quarrying. Near the track slab, former Brake Shaft 7 now serves as a bat roost. A ramp leads to the track slab and is suitable for visitors with pushchairs or walking aids. If specific mobility requirements are important for your visit, check the conditions on site.

Collegiate History, Art and Sandstone

The Schafstall is a granary that was incorporated into the wall of Obernkirchen Abbey around 1350. Its function as a granary and its connection with the abbey wall offer a tangible point of reference for the town’s older architectural history.

The sculpture trail runs through Obernkirchen and features works created at nine completed sculptors’ symposia. Unlike a single historic building, several works of art shape a route through the town. The museum’s municipal exhibitions also include the Bornemann-Schlosser workshop from 1830, the historic garden of the Brockmann family, and the old watermill on the Aue in Vehlen.

Obernkirchen sandstone connects the town with places further afield: it was used in Minden Cathedral, Cologne Cathedral and the Peace Palace in The Hague. This makes it possible to link a local material with buildings in other places.

Industrial History and Far-reaching Views

The entrance to the Liethstollen dates from 1902; the briquette factory is dated 1906. For a broader perspective on industrial history, consider the approximately 25-kilometre “Industrial History in Schaumburg Land” cycling tour. It visits former industrial sites and traces more than 500 years of hard-coal mining. Along the route, there are repeated views across the wide Schaumburg Plain.

The golf facility in the Liethbachtal also offers wide-ranging views across the North German Plain. If you plan to include it, check the conditions in advance.

The difference in format is particularly clear when planning your trip: the sculpture trail runs through the town, the cycling tour is around 25 kilometres long, and the dinosaur tracks are presented across nine stations.

Discover more destinations: Haste, Hagenburg, Auetal, Lauenau, Rinteln, Hülsede, Hohnhorst, Wiedenbrügge.

For the regional travel overview: Schaumburg.