Sögel Between Baroque, History and Nature

Sögel brings together Baroque architecture, fascinating local history and outdoor activities. Clemenswerth Palace, the Romanian Orthodox church and trails through forests and meadows give the town a variety of distinct facets. You can focus your stay on culture, plan time outdoors or combine different interests.

Baroque Architecture and Local History

Clemenswerth hunting lodge is a star-shaped Baroque ensemble with an extensive park and is considered unique in Europe. The ensemble includes eight pavilions, one of which is a chapel, as well as a stable block and a belvedere. The complex dates back to the 18th century and is exceptionally well preserved. Its distinctive layout and individual buildings make a visit to the palace an opportunity to explore Baroque architecture and its design.

Clemenswerth Palace offers a range of programs that present Baroque life in different ways. “Baroque for All the Senses” features fragrances, Baroque music and dressing up. A treasure hunt is aimed at adults: at various points around the palace grounds, they solve tasks to find a treasure chest containing a hunting trophy. If you are planning to take part in a program, check the latest booking details in advance.

A very different sight is the Romanian Orthodox church in Sögel. It is the first Romanian Orthodox church in Lower Saxony, built entirely of wood, and can accommodate 200 worshippers standing. It is also the largest Romanian Orthodox church of its kind in Germany. Visits are offered as part of a short guided tour, making the building’s construction and dimensions part of the experience.

The European History Trail also passes through Sögel: 46 steles, arranged in chronological order, are spread over a distance of about 3,500 meters. The trail begins at the market square near the tourist information office. At its center, the Forum Sögel e. V. History and Future Workshop presents history with a wider regional context through interactive activities for visitors to see, hear and experience. On a guided tour, you can learn how events in Germany affected life in the Hümmling region. Other key topics include the Second World War and the lives of Sögel’s Jewish residents.

Sögel Heritage House comprises a Heuerhaus, a coach house and a stone bread oven. The park-like Fehn meadow, with its pond, invites you to take a walk and offers a peaceful green setting alongside the historical sights.

Routes, Water and Activities

The nearly eight-kilometer Elector’s Circuit starts at the Baroque Clemenswerth hunting lodge and passes through varied forests and meadows, including along the Nordradde River. For a much longer bike ride, the Hümmling Megalithic Tour is a different proposition: it is 55.2 kilometers long, rated very easy and listed as taking 3 hours and 40 minutes. Sögel is one of its main starting points. Check local conditions and trail signs before setting off.

You can rent bicycles and e-bikes at Bike Park Koopmann in Sögel. The availability and composition of the rental fleet may change, so check the current selection before renting. The Rot-Gold Sögel 1926 e. V. tennis club has seven outdoor courts. Guests can also rent one of the three indoor courts on request, subject to availability.

Sögel Forest Pool has a toddlers’ pool, a non-swimmers’ pool and a swimmers’ pool, two diving towers at heights of 1 and 3 meters, a slide and a playground. These facilities provide several practical points to consider when planning a day at the pool; check the latest opening hours before your visit.

Horse-drawn wagon rides through the wooded Hümmling region are available for groups around Sögel. Drinks on board and a sociable picnic in nature are included. For a different kind of activity, the Sögel indoor shooting range lets guests try laser rifle shooting in a shooting cinema, aiming at moving or stationary targets on a video screen measuring about 10 by 3.5 meters.

If you are traveling with a dog, Sögel has an approximately 1,500-square-meter off-leash area in the Püttkesberge industrial estate, near the A + W Training Center. The address is Püttkesberge 13, 49751 Sögel. Check the location locally before your visit.

Choose based on the day’s activities you actually plan to do.

Discover More Destinations

Discover more destinations: Lingen, Dersum, Stavern, Herzlake, Walchum, Fresenburg, Holte, Twist.

Go to the main travel overview: Emsland.