Discover Dinklage: Castle Forest, History and Trails

Dinklage offers different ways to explore history and nature: Dinklage Castle and the castle chapel tell of the town’s past, while the Castle Forest and wildlife park each have their own focus. Other highlights include church architecture, trails and the Schwege Mill.

Castle Forest and Dinklage Castle

Dinklage Castle is one of the oldest and most significant moated castle complexes in the Oldenburg Münsterland region. The Castle Forest, which stretches between the motorway, the town of Dinklage and the flood meadows southwest of the town, is also home to traces of the so-called Ferdinand’s Castle: its remains can be found in the forest, 500 metres east of the present-day castle grounds. The present castle and another historic site are therefore clearly connected, though they do not share the same history.

One biographical connection dates back to 1878: Clemens August Count von Galen was born at Dinklage Castle on 16 March, the eleventh child of Ferdinand Count von Galen and Elisabeth, née Imperial Countess von Spee. The castle chapel was built later, between 1841 and 1844, in the neo-Gothic style. These dates give the complex several historical points of reference—from its construction history to the family history of the Counts von Galen.

Church, Architecture and Courage Trail

In the town centre stands St. Catharina Parish Church, a three-aisled neo-Gothic church. August Hanemann from Münster built it in 1875/78; it was consecrated in 1884. Its 72-metre-high church tower is considered the tallest in the Oldenburg Münsterland region. The church thus provides a different architectural accent from the castle chapel: both are neo-Gothic, but their construction dates and scale differ considerably.

The Courage Trail connects St. Catharina with Dinklage Castle. Eight sculptures along the historic processional route explore different aspects of courage. Those interested in a cultural walk will find a theme here that is directly connected with both places. Another, longer option is the 24-kilometre pilgrimage route between Damme and Dinklage. It follows the life and work of Cardinal von Galen, is divided into four stages and offers reflections on the “cardinal” virtues at five stations.

Wildlife Park, Forest and Activity

In Dinklage’s Castle Forest, visitors can see fallow deer, goats, chickens, sheep and miniature pigs at close range in the wildlife park. The park is located in a 27-hectare protected landscape and serves both as a place for recreation and as a resource for environmental education for the local community. Wildlife watching and the protected-landscape setting make this outing different from the architecture and history around the castle and church.

There are also various ways to enjoy some active time outdoors. In the front section of the Castle Forest, a refurbished fitness trail with 14 stations covers a distance of 2.8 kilometres. Before your visit, briefly check whether the trail is available in this form. For a bike ride, the “From Castle to Castle” route leads through forests and meadows, connecting Dinklage Castle with Burg Hopen in Lohne. The two options differ in how you get around and in the route details provided: the trail is a loop with stations, while the cycling route links two named castles; no distance is specified here for the cycling route.

The Schwege Mill as a Place to Learn and Explore

The Schwege Mill is a learning venue for school classes. They can learn about how a mill works and is built, including its equipment; the school programme also covers various types of flour and how the ovens in the bakehouse work. The mill festival offers a different setting: various freshly baked stone-oven breads are available, and members of the Friends’ Association guide interested visitors around the mill. Check the event dates before visiting, as these activities are part of the mill festival.

Choose the Right Focus for Your Accommodation Search

When searching for accommodation, you can choose Dinklage based on the experiences that matter to you. The castle, chapel and St. Catharina represent architectural and cultural history; the wildlife park and Castle Forest put nature and wildlife watching centre stage. The Courage Trail, pilgrimage route and cycling route differ in their themes, how you get around and the route details given for each. These options can help you decide before searching which side of Dinklage you would like to get to know during your stay.

Discover more destinations: Bakum, Vechta, Neuenkirchen-Vörden, Lohne, Damme, Holdorf, Goldenstedt, Steinfeld.

Return to the main travel overview: Vechta.