Discover Filsum: Moorland, Storks and Village History

Filsum’s old village center is considered a typical East Frisian clustered village, with historic farmhouses. This traditional village layout adds a rural accent alongside the natural attractions of the Filsum Moor and the Stork Route. St. Paul’s Church, equestrian sports and a hand-operated ferry also offer specific points of interest for a stay. If you’re looking for accommodation in Filsum, you can choose the town based on whether village history, landscapes, storks or equestrian sports match your travel interests. In the Leer destination, the castle, park and outer bailey form the three-part ensemble of Evenburg; the Bünting Tea Museum focuses on the cultivation, production and preparation of tea.

Moorland and Trails

The Filsum Moor is the remnant of a true raised bog. A circular walk leads around the moor; along the way, the route offers views of peat layers that accumulated over approximately 3,000 years and reached a thickness of around three meters. The peat layers make the landscape’s long formation tangible and give the walk a natural-history dimension. This route therefore focuses not only on the walking distance, but also on the geological scale of the moor.

Protected hedgerows provide a habitat for birds and small animals. This brings another natural feature into view alongside the raised bog: the value of these hedgerows as habitats.

Stork Route and Choosing a Distance

The Stork Route is considered well signposted and family-friendly. Along the route are nine information boards, stork nests and a nest model; there is also an observation tower with a telescope. Filsum Moor and Filsum Westerende are close to the route. The route details help you choose a distance: the Stork Route is 33 kilometers long, while the circular walk around the moor is five kilometers. The Stork Route’s family-friendly nature and the specific length of the moor loop offer different points of reference.

Village History and Equestrian Sports

The historic details in St. Paul’s Church come from different periods: the altar dates to around 1500, and the pulpit bears the inscription “Anno 1660.” The altar’s date is approximate, while the pulpit bears a specific year. This contrast gives the interior a tangible historical dimension without reducing both details to the same century.

An equestrian facility with a large indoor arena and outdoor areas adds equestrian sports to the natural and cultural attractions. Numerous high-level competitions take place there. For travelers interested in equestrian sports, this is a distinct focus alongside the moorland, village layout and church history.

Connections and Getting There

A hand-operated ferry connects Filsum and Holtland across the Holtlander Ehetief; it is intended for cyclists and pedestrians. If you plan to use the ferry, check the schedule in advance. Augustfehn and Leer are the closest train stations to the Stork Route.

Discover More Destinations

Discover more destinations: Westoverledingen, Uplengen, Neukamperfehn, Brinkum, Detern, Weener, Rhauderfehn, Nortmoor.

Return to the main travel overview: Leer.