Vellinghausen: Castle and Remembrance

Vellinghausen combines a distinctive castle with the commemoration of an event from the Seven Years’ War. The wider Welver destination offers additional historical, natural and active pursuits. When choosing accommodation, you can therefore ask yourself whether your trip should be shaped primarily by Vellinghausen’s history or whether you would also like to include nature and cultural experiences in Welver.

Castle and Battle Commemoration in Vellinghausen

Built in 1300, Vellinghausen Castle is known as a landmark of the twin village of Eilmsen–Vellinghausen. It is privately owned and occupied. Its historical presence is most evident in the castle’s exterior appearance.

Another historical connection leads back to 1761. Vellinghausen is associated with a battle from the Seven Years’ War; a memorial monument stands at Löwenwäldchen. The castle and monument offer different points of focus: the castle represents an earlier period of architectural history, while the monument commemorates a specific wartime event. Together, they offer travelers interested in cultural history two distinct ways to explore the place.

History in the Wider Welver Destination

The history of the battle can also be explored elsewhere in the wider Welver destination. The local history museum in the former bakery and brewery of Welver Monastery houses an extensive collection of local history. This includes a diorama of the Battle of Vellinghausen, created with around 3,000 tin soldiers. The model presents the conflict on a different scale and connects local history with a specific depiction of the battle.

A separate perspective on architectural history can be found in Kirchwelver, also within the wider Welver destination. Kirchwelver is a former monastery village. The Romanesque church was probably built in the 11th or 12th century and expanded by Cistercian nuns in 1240, when a tower was added. It subsequently served as a monastery church. For more than 100 years, the Reformed congregation and the Catholic nuns’ monastery shared the church. In 1700, the nuns consecrated a new Baroque monastery church. These different building and use phases give Welver’s history a distinct focus alongside the castle and battle commemoration in Vellinghausen.

Nature, Hiking Trails and Cycling Routes in Welver

In the wider Welver destination, the focus shifts from historic buildings to protected habitats. The Ahsewiesen nature reserve lies on the boundary between Welver and Lippetal. Wet and damp meadows, reed beds, hedges and small bodies of water form a variety of habitats. They serve as breeding, resting and overwintering grounds for waders and waterbirds; amphibians, dragonflies and species-rich grassland communities also find a habitat here. In the Ahsewiesen, then, the focus is not on a single building but on the interaction between different habitats.

There are six circular hiking trails in Welver, ranging from 2.5 to around 14 kilometers; the routes are marked on site. A large information board at the parking lot in Kirchwelver shows the hiking trails. The different route lengths offer flexibility when planning a shorter or longer hike. Check the trail markers on site before setting out.

Cycling routes also vary in theme and length. The 30-kilometer northern cycling route in Welver is designated as a Cultural Route and passes historic cultural sites in the municipality. A family-friendly short cycling route is just under 10 kilometers long and leads through the Staatsforst, also known as Reiherwald, to Haus Nehlen in Berwicke. The Avenue Cycle Route between Unna and Welver ends just a few hundred meters from the geographical center of Westphalia. A memorial stone on the edge of the village of Scheidingen, in the direction of Illingen, marks the center of Westphalia; the site is within the municipality of Welver.

Consider which of these themes you want your trip to focus on, and tailor your accommodation search to that priority.

Discover more destinations: Rüthen, Soest, Anröchte, Werl, Warstein, Lippetal, Möhnesee, Ense.

Back to the main travel overview: Soest.