Herzebrock-Clarholz: Monastery History and Trails
Accommodation in Herzebrock-Clarholz
In Herzebrock-Clarholz, the history of the monastery can be seen at specific places: at Clarholz Church, along paths through former monastery grounds, and in cultural offerings. There are also walking and cycling tours. The different route lengths and event dates give you options for planning your stay around your interests.
Monastery History at Several Sites
Built in the 12th century, the Clarholz Monastery Church of St. Lawrence is the oldest surviving building in the district of GĂĽtersloh. The bells also tell the story of the monastery era: two of the four known bells have been preserved at St. Lawrence. One of them is the oldest surviving bell, the Angelus bell from 1320.
Other historical points of interest can be found in Herzebrock and Clarholz. The Caspar-Ritter-von-Zumbusch Museum is located in Herzebrock, in the birthplace of Caspar Clemens Zumbusch. Today, civil wedding ceremonies are held in the provost’s building in Clarholz, which also occasionally hosts concerts, readings and other cultural events. The themes therefore range from church architecture and bell history to the legacy of Zumbusch and contemporary cultural uses.
Walking and Cycling Routes
The approximately five-kilometre hiking trail in Herzebrock passes the former Benedictine convent, its reconstructed garden and the neighbouring church square. Part of it follows the Prälatenweg. A longer option is the approximately eight-kilometre circular route, which also partly follows the Prälatenweg and can begin and end at the former Premonstratensian monastery in Clarholz. The route lengths help with day planning; the routes also differ in the sights along the way and in the possible starting and finishing points.
For a cycling tour, the R 18 circular cycle route is another option: it is just under 18 kilometres long. Clarholz market square is a suitable starting point.
Plan Cultural Events
A literary walk through the Herzebrock monastery garden takes place every year. At various sites around the former monastery grounds, readings of poetry or prose are accompanied by musical performances. The Friends of Clarholz Provostry also offer a walk once a year, either along the Kerkherrenweg or the Prälatenweg.
On certain days of the year, the Friends of the Provostry offer open guided tours lasting 45 to 90 minutes. Check the current dates before your trip; for open tours, you should also confirm availability. This lets you plan around the event dates without confusing the walks and tours with the trails described as permanently available.
A Look at the Wider GĂĽtersloh Travel Destination
The wider Gütersloh travel destination offers a distinct regional perspective on nature. Since 23 March 1975, large parts of the district of Gütersloh have been designated as a landscape conservation area. The Boomberge nature reserve, with its nutrient-poor sandy habitats, is the district’s most significant inland dune area; Holter Wald is one of its largest contiguous forest areas. In the district of Gütersloh, nature reserves are the strictest category of protection: their primary purpose is to protect nature, and only secondarily to provide people with recreational space. These regional themes complement the monastery sites and trails in Herzebrock-Clarholz without conflating them with other landscapes.
If you would also like your trip planning to include regional landscape themes, consider the wider GĂĽtersloh travel destination.
Discover more destinations: Rheda-WiedenbrĂĽck, GĂĽtersloh, Rietberg, Marienfeld, Werther, Halle/Westfalen, Langenberg, SchloĂź Holte-Stukenbrock.
Go to the wider travel overview: GĂĽtersloh.
