Discover Dorsten: Cycling routes, nature and culture

Dorsten offers different ways to spend time outdoors and enjoy culture: the Roman-Lippe Route passes through the town on a long-distance route, a planet trail runs along the Wesel-Datteln Canal, and the Jewish Museum Westphalia explores Jewish religion and culture. Other attractions include Lembeck Castle, paths along the Lippe and a circular hike to Dorsten Lock. This gives you a choice of cycling stages, nature trails and cultural destinations when planning your trip, without every day needing to have the same focus.

Cycling: long-distance route, access point and paths by the water

The Roman-Lippe Route runs from Detmold to Xanten, covers a total of 295 kilometres and passes through Dorsten at kilometre 251. Dorsten railway station is an access point for the BahnLandLust cycling route from Dorsten to Coesfeld. The surrounding cycling network is part of the Radrevier Ruhr node system; Dorsten’s recreational routes also include towpaths along the Lippe and the canal. This offers a choice of different planning options: a long-distance route with named endpoints, a cycling route accessible from the railway station, and paths by the water.

Paths by the canal and in nature

The Dorsten Planet Trail runs for 3.2 kilometres from the Hochstaden Bridge along the Wesel-Datteln Canal; eight planet markers line the route. The 7.3-kilometre A1 circular hiking trail follows the Lippe to Dorsten Lock, where you can watch boats being raised or lowered through a height of nine metres. At around five kilometres, the family trail in Hervester Bruch is between these two routes in length. Its nature experience focuses on the ecological history of the landscape. The northern part of Dorsten is also part of a nature park.

Culture and history

The Jewish Museum Westphalia invites visitors to discover Jewish religion and culture from a regional perspective, in both historical and contemporary contexts. All exhibition and event spaces are accessible to wheelchair users and people with reduced mobility. Lembeck Castle in Dorsten combines a Baroque moated castle with an English garden, parkland and an on-site museum; the garden’s appearance may vary depending on the season. The Old Town Hall is a Renaissance building dating from 1567. Guided cycling tours focusing on the history of grain and hikes through Emmelkämper Mark in Deuten add to the range of excursions. Check dates and availability in advance.

More options in the wider destination of Recklinghausen

The wider destination of Recklinghausen has an equestrian trail network of more than 300 kilometres across the district. More than 100 kilometres of riding trails run through the forests of the Haard. The Ruhr Festival is an annual cultural event in Recklinghausen. The Dragon Bridge connects the district park in Recklinghausen-Hochlarmark with the Hoheward spoil tip.

The different routes and themes give you concrete ideas, without every day of your trip needing to look the same.

Discover more destinations: Herten, Waltrop, Datteln, Recklinghausen, Hervest, Castrop-Rauxel, Gladbeck, Oer-Erkenschwick

Back to the main travel overview: Recklinghausen.