Höxter: Half-timbered houses, Corvey and the Weser

Höxter combines a townscape shaped by Weser Renaissance half-timbered buildings with culture along the banks of the Weser and Corvey’s Carolingian heritage. Whether you want to explore museums and architecture, follow paths by the river or plan longer cycling tours, the different options give your stay its own rhythm.

Half-timbered houses, town history and art

Numerous magnificent Weser Renaissance half-timbered buildings continue to shape Höxter’s townscape. The town rampart also tells the story of the old town: it dates back to the Middle Ages, and the town wall is visible in many places. The historic walking tour in Höxter is 4.51 km long; check the route details before setting out.

The Museum im Hütteschen Haus is housed in a historic monument of Weser Renaissance architecture dating from 1565 in central Höxter. It has a professional collection of more than 15,000 objects from the past 140 years. The Forum Jacob Pins presents a permanent exhibition about the artist, who came from Höxter, including a film about his life, paintings, woodcuts and his tools. Part of the exhibition also documents the fate of Höxter’s Jewish residents.

Corvey: Carolingian heritage and culture

The Carolingian Westwork and the Civitas Corvey are located on the banks of the Weser, on the outskirts of Höxter. Corvey is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The Westwork is the only surviving building from the Carolingian period; partially excavated archaeological remains of the original imperial abbey complex have also been preserved. This contrast brings the site’s long history to life, while making clear that the two remnants have not been preserved to the same extent.

The Princely Library in Corvey houses around 75,000 volumes in 15 rooms. Its bookcases date from the late Classicist and Biedermeier periods. At the foot of the Carolingian Westwork, the Remter Garden features a wide variety of roses, perennials, and vegetable and medicinal plants. The gardens and library thus complement the architectural heritage with very different experiences.

The newly designed permanent exhibition “The Millennium of the Monks” opened in Corvey for the 2024 season. Media stations and precious exhibits bring the Golden Age of the monks to life. Check the exhibition’s current presentation before your trip. Music also has a long tradition here: every year in May and June since 1954, the Corvey Music Weeks have brought renowned ensembles and soloists from Germany and abroad to the Imperial Hall and Corvey Abbey Church. The program may vary from one edition to another, so check the dates of the concerts you are interested in.

Weser paths, garden park and archaeology

The Huxarium Garden Park connects the historic half-timbered town with the World Heritage Site at Corvey. The Weser promenade runs between the old town and Corvey and offers several types of path: a widened main path, a narrow riverside path along the historic towpath and a high-level path with a broader perspective. This lets you plan different types of routes during your stay instead of treating the promenade as a single route.

The Huxarium Garden Park has three large playgrounds and a marble run, and is a family-friendly day-trip destination. The Archaeological Park features augmented reality displays: on smartphones or tablets available to borrow, you can view the Market Church, the stone Weser bridge and medieval scenes. Check in advance whether loan devices are available. During live excavations, visitors can take part using trowels and uncover hidden history. Opportunities to participate may vary; ask about current options before your visit.

Höxter is also an important point of reference for cyclists: Corvey lies directly on the Weser Cycle Path and the R1 European Cycle Route between Höxter and Holzminden. The Weser Cycle Path leading to Höxter is passable and signposted along its entire length on both sides of the river. This information can help you plan a cycling tour as a focus in its own right, alongside a town walk, museums and strolls by the river.

Cycling tours in the Höxter district

The Höxter district also offers longer regional tours. The 65-kilometre Nethe Cycle Path follows the Nethe from its source to its confluence with the Weser and runs between Bad Driburg and Höxter. The Monastery Gardens Route is about 315 kilometres long, well signposted, and leads through the Höxter district’s cultural landscape, as well as landscapes and places of interest between the Weser, Egge Hills and Teutoburg Forest. It starts at Marienmünster Abbey and can be cycled in five stages of 52 to 67 kilometres each. Along the route, 28 Bible posts make it a pilgrimage route. The 4.51-kilometre town walk and these multi-day cycling options represent different scales of travel planning.

When looking for accommodation in Höxter, it helps to decide on your main focus first: would you like to experience town history and culture above all, or also include longer cycling tours in the district? You can then plan your stay around the day trips you want to take, without conflating exploring the town with the regional stages.

Discover more destinations

Discover more destinations: Steinheim, Brakel, Warburg, Gehrden, Beverungen, Willebadessen, Bad Driburg, Marienmünster.

Back to the main travel overview: Höxter.