Höxter between the Weser, World Heritage and cycling routes

Höxter combines history on the Weser with cycling routes, art and nature. Nearby is Corvey, a UNESCO World Heritage Site; in the town, the medieval rampart and the Weser promenade shape the scenery. There are also different options when planning a cycling trip: from a route between Bad Driburg and Höxter to multi-day routes through the Kulturland Kreis Höxter.

Cycling routes between the Nethe, the Weser and monastery gardens

The 65-kilometre Netheradweg follows the Nethe from its source to its confluence with the Weser and runs between Bad Driburg and Höxter. The first stage of the Weser Cycle Route covers 71 kilometres from Hann. Münden along the Weser to Höxter. The route lengths and courses offer different points of reference for planning a tour, but do not describe comparable routes.

The Kloster-Garten-Route covers a much greater distance: it is about 315 kilometres long, well signposted and runs through the Kulturland Kreis Höxter, across varied landscapes and past attractions between the Weser, Egge and Teutoburg Forest. The starting point is Marienmünster Abbey. The route can be cycled in five stages of 52 to 67 kilometres each. Along the way, 28 Bible posts make the cycling route a pilgrimage tour. This means a shorter river route and a multi-day route with named stages offer clearly distinct approaches to planning.

Town history and Corvey

The town rampart is a medieval wall around Höxter’s old town; the town wall is visible in many places. The Weser promenade was redesigned as part of the 2023 State Garden Show and invites visitors to take a break by the river after a stroll around town. In this description of the town experience, historic traces and the river landscape sit side by side.

Corvey, with its magnificent abbey church and unique library, is nearby. The Carolingian Westwork and Civitas Corvey are located east of the town, on the western bank of the Weser in North Rhine-Westphalia, near the border with Lower Saxony. The Höxter-Corvey Museum presents 1,200 years of cultural history in the rooms of the former princely-bishop’s residence at Corvey.

The Jacob Pins Forum adds its own cultural note: the art museum makes the work of Jacob Pins, a German-Israeli artist from Höxter, accessible to the town’s residents and visitors from across Germany. Part of the exhibition documents the fate of Höxter’s Jewish residents. The combination of art and local history gives a visit a different focus from Corvey’s architectural and cultural history.

Nature and finding your way on the water

The district of Höxter combines culture, nature and active holidays amid the hilly low-mountain landscapes of the Teutoburg Forest and the Weser Uplands. Under the name “Erlesene Natur,” numerous protected areas of European importance invite visitors to explore. The landscapes described include beech forests rich in orchids, unusual rock formations, natural streams, colourful nutrient-poor grasslands, juniper heaths and moors. Cyclists can explore a diverse range of flora and fauna along the Nethe, Emmer and Beber.

For getting out on the water, there are four canoe landing stages in the Höxter area: Höxter-Wassersport, Höxter-Altstadt, Corvey and Lüchtringen. The first two are within walking distance of the town centre and are suitable for visiting the historic old town. You can also experience the river landscape from the boats of the “Flotte Weser”; operator and service offerings may change.

The Huxarium Garden Park connects the historic half-timbered town with the World Heritage Site at Corvey. The grounds extend from the rampart, along the flower-lined town wall and the riverside promenade, to the Baroque palace in the Weser bend, and include, among other features, the Remter Garden and an archaeological park. Park features and events may change; if you are planning to visit specific attractions, check the latest information.

The “Entdeckertour Kreis Höxter” app adds a digital dimension to your exploration: it uses GPS to recognise when you have visited a place. Once you have visited six of the ten favourite places on the tour, a certificate is automatically made available to print. The app also offers 3D models, games, puzzles, and images and videos; an augmented reality feature brings special attractions virtually to life. Digital features may change with software updates.

Discover more destinations: Bad Driburg, Brakel, Willebadessen, Nieheim, Marienmünster, Höxter, Beverungen, Gehrden, Steinheim, Merlsheim, Warburg, Borgentreich.

Go to the main travel overview: North Rhine-Westphalia.