Alpen: Church, Bönninghardt and Nature

A trip to Alpen can focus on the area’s cultural history or on the natural and everyday history of Bönninghardt. The Protestant church represents a distinctive period in architectural history, while the Plaggenhütte hut brings earlier living conditions to life. The woodlands of Bönninghardt add another option for hiking and family outings. Choose your focus according to your interest in church architecture, historical everyday culture or the landscape.

Church and Monument in Alpen

The Protestant church in Alpen was built in 1602–1603. It is considered the oldest early Baroque church building on the Lower Rhine and, at the same time, Germany’s oldest Reformed parish church. These two classifications refer to different aspects: the building’s place among early Baroque churches on the Lower Rhine and its significance among Reformed parish churches in Germany.

A bronze monument to Electress Amalia of the Palatinate stands beside the church. The two sites represent separate cultural themes: the church building’s architectural history and the monument to the Electress. Visitors interested in Alpen can explore the church’s construction date and architectural context, and take in the neighboring monument as another distinctive feature of the area.

The Plaggenhütte and the History of Bönninghardt

The Plaggenhütte hut on Bönninghardt illustrates earlier life through its construction and furnishings. Its walls are made of timber and stacked turf sods. Old farming tools and the interior furnishings add to this insight. The construction and objects offer different clues: the walls show which materials were used to build the hut, while the tools and furnishings illustrate earlier life on Bönninghardt.

The historical story reaches back to the first settlers, who arrived on Bönninghardt around 1770. They and their descendants lived there in very poor conditions until the beginning of the 20th century. This history adds concrete dates and living conditions to the hut’s structural features and furnishings. For travelers who want to include everyday history as well as architecture in their plans, Bönninghardt offers a different focus from the church in Alpen.

Woodlands and Sweet Chestnut Trees

The woodlands of Bönninghardt are suitable for hiking and family outings. The area is also home to old sweet chestnut trees, known as “house trees”; their frequency is considered unique. Another named spot is the forest playground, which is also located on Bönninghardt.

These topics offer different focuses: hiking and family outings describe what the woodlands are suited for, the old sweet chestnut trees shape the landscape theme, and the forest playground offers another option for an outing. When planning your trip, you can weigh architectural and everyday history against nature and woodland recreation.

More to Explore in the Wider Wesel Destination

Within the wider Wesel destination, the LVR-Archaeological Park Xanten is located on the site of the Roman city of Colonia Ulpia Traiana. It is Germany’s largest archaeological open-air museum. The LVR-Roman Museum displays numerous original finds from the Roman city and the two legionary camps. The finds tell the story of the city’s founding, heyday and downfall.

The Archaeological Park and Roman Museum regularly host demonstrations, festivals and a variety of activities for visitors to watch and take part in. Specific dates and offerings vary; if you have a particular program in mind, it’s best to check the latest information in advance.

Another attraction in the wider Wesel destination is Bislicher Insel in Xanten. It is one of the last near-natural floodplain landscapes on the Lower Rhine, and large areas are protected. In winter, the area provides a home for several thousand Arctic geese, especially greater white-fronted geese and barnacle geese. Along the route, three observation huts offer views over the water and, with a little luck, the chance to spot numerous bird species.

The examples differ mainly in subject and season: in Xanten, Roman urban history and a regular program take center stage; at Bislicher Insel, the focus is on the protected floodplain landscape and winter birdlife.

Discover more destinations: Hünxe, Voshövel, Kamp-Lintfort, Dinslaken, Wesel, Voerde, Xanten, Neukirchen-Vluyn

Back to the main travel guide: Wesel.