Barkhausen: Dry Valley and Alme Cycle Path

Discover Barkhausen through its distinctive nature and cycling themes: the dry valley is an evolving landscape project, and the Alme Cycle Path passes through the village. The history of the medieval settlement of Barkhusen adds another dimension. Which of these aspects you want to shape your trip is a good starting point for further planning.

Barkhausen Dry Valley and Its Nature

The Barkhausen Dry Valley was created in 2016 and shaped over a length of 360 metres and a width of 40 to 90 metres. The larger project continues to be developed. A monitoring survey in 2021 recorded more than 90 species of aculeate Hymenoptera from the wild bee fauna in the area. Surveys in 2023 and 2024 also show that many threatened bird species use the dry valley as a habitat or search for food there. The findings offer insight into different groups of species and the valley’s ecological significance.

Barkhausen is also linked to the history of the medieval settlement of Barkhusen, which disappeared in the 15th century. In Barkhausen, nature themes informed by recent surveys sit alongside a local history that reaches far back into the past.

Cycling on Different Routes

The approximately 68-kilometre-long Alme Cycle Path passes through Barkhausen, following the largely nature-protected Alme Valley from its source to its mouth. GPS data for the route can be downloaded free of charge from its website and the Teuto_Navigator tour portal. Before planning a future ride, check whether the data is still available there.

Another cycling tour through the Paderborn countryside is the signposted West Loop PB 4. It is about 34 kilometres long, goes to Wewer and continues through the western Paderborn countryside to Lippesee. This makes it about half the length of the Alme Cycle Path. Comparing the distances offers an initial guide when choosing a tour: one route follows the Alme from its source to its mouth, while the other goes via Wewer towards Lippesee.

Paderborn: Springs, History and Technology

Paderborn itself also offers further themes to consider when planning your trip. More than 200 Pader springs rise in the city centre; the Pader rises in Paderborn and is considered Germany’s shortest river. The Pader spring area below the cathedral and Abdinghof is protected as a historic garden. This landscape of springs is a distinctive focus within the Paderborn destination.

The Museum in the Imperial Palace presents the history of Paderborn and Westphalia from the 6th to the 12th century. One focus is Charlemagne’s palace, which Charlemagne had built in 777 above the Pader springs as the first and only palace he built in Saxony. The permanent exhibition at the Heinz Nixdorf MuseumsForum spans a different period: it covers 5,000 years of the past, present and future of information technology, from cuneiform writing to calculating and typewriting machines, the internet and robotics.

Choose the Right Focus for Your Accommodation Search

First consider whether the Alme Cycle Path, nature in Barkhausen or cultural attractions in Paderborn should shape your stay. If you have varied interests, you can weigh the cycling and cultural themes according to the kind of trip you want.

Discover More Destinations

Discover more destinations: Lichtenau, Borchen, Herbram, Salzkotten, Hövelhof, Bad Wünnenberg, Bad Lippspringe, Delbrück.

Back to the main travel overview: Paderborn.