Bad Westernkotten: Discover brine, moorland and history

There are several ways to discover Bad Westernkotten: natural brine, a nearby moorland area, and traces of the history of salt production and the town give a trip a range of themes. Walking trails also connect the landscape with historic sites. When planning your trip, consider whether you want to focus mainly on the brine experience, nature or cultural monuments.

Natural brine and sauna facilities

The Hellweg-Sole-Thermen offer bathing in Bad Westernkotten natural brine at 32 to 34 °C. The water area covers more than 1,300 m²; there are also six textile-free themed saunas in a 1,200 m² sauna area. This puts different aspects of a visit to the spa in focus: the brine pool and the sauna areas. When looking for accommodation, this distinction can help you decide what you want to focus on during your stay, without filling your day’s schedule with additional activities in advance.

Moorland and walking trails

The Muckenbruch nature reserve lies east of Bad Westernkotten, in the surrounding area. It covers 92 ha between Westernkotten and Bökenförde and extends across former floodplains of the Gieseler, the Pöppelsche and the Flachsröte. Distinctive landscape features include a small calcareous fen and springs within it. This rare combination of habitats makes the area a notable natural feature of the surrounding region.

The Muckenbruch-Marsch, approximately 6 km long, runs through the spa gardens and along Forellenweg. The route crosses a bridge over the Gieseler and continues to the Muckenbruch nature reserve and peat extraction area; the return route passes through the town centre and along the spa promenade to the fountain in front of the Hellweg-Sole-Thermen. The circular trail thus connects sections of the park, the town centre and the moorland.

For a different historical focus, consider the approximately 3 km-long Historic Landwehr Circular Walk. It follows a preserved section of the Landwehr, built around Westernkotten in 1506. The approximately 7 km-long Lobetag procession route starts at St. John the Evangelist Church and leads to four Lobetag lime trees: the Josefslinde, Friedhofslinde, Antoniuslinde and Franziskuslinde. The approximate route lengths differ considerably, so your choice may depend on whether you want to plan a shorter walk or the longer route to the lime trees.

Salt history and technical monuments

The two graduation towers in Bad Westernkotten were added to the town of Erwitte’s list of monuments at the end of 1984. They are regarded as monuments of cultural history and technology. The Königssood also tells the story of salt production: originally a royal saltworks, it was Westernkotten’s economic centre until 1845.

The Schäferkämper watermill and the granary offer further insights into the history of technology and architecture. The watermill is a technical cultural monument with two overshot waterwheels. The two-storey granary is a half-timbered building dating from the late 17th century and originally came from the historic Weringhof in Bad Westernkotten. The Wunderkammer in the Kurhalle displays exhibits from nature, history, technology and art. The cultural theme therefore ranges from historic economic practices to a variety of collection areas.

Spa gardens: Kneipp treatments, barefoot path and exercise

The spa gardens combine time outdoors with a range of specific activities. The Kneipp facility has foot and arm pools, which are filled with Bad Westernkotten brine water from April to October. The barefoot path consists of eight sections with different natural materials, including one area with original Bad Westernkotten peat used for bathing. Those interested in exercise can find nine pieces of equipment with different sporting challenges on the fitness trail. The seasonal Kneipp facility and the other park features each offer their own focus.

Erwitte as a wider travel destination

The wider travel destination of Erwitte offers additional historical and landscape-related themes. Erwitte Castle was first mentioned in official documents in 1273. By prior arrangement, the Erwitte Local History Association 1973 e. V. offers guided tours of Erwitte’s old town. The Pöppelsche valley, designated a nature reserve, stretches along the western edge of Eikeloh, a district of Erwitte. These places and activities are distinct aspects of the Erwitte travel destination and should not be confused with the sights in Bad Westernkotten.

Accommodation and getting oriented

When choosing accommodation, it is worth first deciding on your preferred mix of brine, landscape and culture. The routes described differ in their approximate length and destinations; the Kneipp pools are filled with brine water seasonally, from April to October. Spa guests can travel free of charge on bus route R61 between Erwitte, Bad Westernkotten and Lippstadt. Check the current timetable and visitor information before travelling.

For the wider travel overview: Erwitte.