Hoya: Castle History, Museums and Weser Cycle Route

Hoya combines a medieval castle history with museums, a cultural centre and a landscaped park. The Grafschaft Hoya Local History Museum is located in the old town on the right bank of the Weser, next to the Martinskirche cultural centre. There is also the museum printing works and a circular route of around 50 kilometres along the Weser Cycle Route. This gives you different ways to plan your stay: focusing on the town’s history and culture, or taking a cycling tour between Hoya and Verden.

Castle history in Hoya

Hoya Count’s Castle was built around 1213 as the ancestral seat of the Counts of Hoya, in the form of a moated castle. Today, it houses an exhibition on the history of the counts and the castle. The combination of architectural history and exhibition makes the castle a practical place to visit for anyone who wants to learn more about Hoya. The restored complex also houses the Tourist Information Office. If you plan to use its services, check the current service conditions before your trip.

Printing and St. Martin’s Church

The Hoya museum printing works displays historic printing presses and book-printing equipment. It gives an insight into the more than 500-year history of letterpress printing. School students can print for themselves at twelve workstations. If you would like to include this hands-on activity in your plans, check the arrangements for visits in advance.

The Martinskirche cultural centre, Hoya’s landmark, stands on a former island in the Weser. The main parts of the present-day church date from 1750. Today, the Martinskirche is used for concerts and readings; civil wedding ceremonies can be held there for up to 100 guests, with the option of having refreshments. The Martinskirche can only be entered as part of an event or guided tour. As the events programme may change, check the latest listings if you are planning a visit.

Bürgerpark, market and Weser riverbank

The 33,000-square-metre Bürgerpark is located at the eastern edge of town. Exotic trees and its design in the style of an English landscape garden give it its character. The park also contains the remains of a former arm of the Weser, which once served as a natural defence for Hoya Counts’ Castle and the old town centre. Here, landscaped parkland meets a remnant of the river’s earlier landscape.

A weekly market selling regional products is held in the old town. Check the current date if you are planning your visit around the market. South of the old town, on the left bank of the Weser, there is a motorhome stopover and a marina; both are within walking distance.

Culture or cycling: planning your stay

The approximately 50-kilometre Hoya–Verden circular route follows the Weser Cycle Route between the two towns. Visitors who come to Hoya for its castle history, local history museum and museum printing works can make these the focus of their stay. For a cycling trip, Hoya is one of the stated endpoints of the circular route; check the route conditions before setting off.

Discover more destinations: Hämelhausen, Gandesbergen, Bücken, Schweringen, Warpe, Hoyerhagen, Eystrup, Hilgermissen.

Go to the main travel overview: Grafschaft Hoya.