Discover Werl: Old Town, Churches and Cycling Routes

Werl offers a range of reasons to discover the town and its surroundings: a historic town centre, museums focusing on art and local history, churches and pilgrimage sites, as well as a spa park and themed cycling routes. You can plan your stay around your interests—with time for culture, a tree walk or a bike tour.

Historic Town Centre and Museums

Werl’s officially recognised historic town centre is ideal for a walking tour. Its defining features include restored half-timbered buildings, neoclassical façades, a castle ruin and numerous cobbled lanes. The varied architectural styles and streetscapes also make a walk through different chapters of the town’s history.

In the heart of Werl’s Old Town, near the provost church, is the Municipal Museum at Rykenberg, the Wendelin-Leidinger-Haus. A model there shows what Werl looked like in the 17th century. The museum also houses an impressive collection of paintings by Gaudenz von Rustige, who was born in Werl in 1810. The model and paintings offer two different perspectives: the town’s historical appearance and the work of an artist from Werl.

The Museum Forum of the Peoples focuses on a different subject. It contains more than 10,000 objects of non-European art and everyday culture and is considered Westphalia’s largest ethnographic museum. Those interested in art and everyday life beyond Europe will find a distinct theme here alongside Werl’s local and art history.

Churches and Pilgrimage

The Provost Church of St Walburga is a Gothic hall church dating from the 14th century. Its art-historically significant features include the monumental Cross Altar, the Three Kings winged altar, the Erbsälzer and Rosary altars, and the richly decorated court chair of the official court. The range of works mentioned gives a visit to the church a special focus on art history.

The miraculous image “Comforter of the Afflicted” is housed in Werl’s pilgrimage basilica. Werl’s pilgrimage church of St Mary of the Visitation was built from 1903/04 to 1906. These features give Werl’s religious history its own place in a visit to the town, alongside the museums and a walk through the Old Town.

Spa Park and Cycling Routes

Werl Spa Park dates back to the time when Werl was a saltwater spa; its origins reach back to the 19th century. On a tree walk, you can learn about native and non-native tree species. The park thus combines an insight into its history with a specific nature theme for a more relaxing activity.

For active days, there is the “Werler Kleeblatt” (“Werl Cloverleaf”): four themed circular routes through the Werl municipal area, each between 17 and 22 kilometres long. You can ride them individually or combine them. The routes follow quiet country and cycle paths through the countryside, offering views away from the main roads. If you are travelling with children, take the length of each route into account when planning together. As path conditions may change, it is worth checking the latest route information before setting off.

More to Discover in the Wider Soest Destination

The wider Soest destination offers additional cultural and landscape themes. The Osthofentor Museum in Soest provides an overview of the town’s more than 1,000-year history and its topographical development, with information panels, large-format text, photographs, graphics and a town model. The Museum Wilhelm Morgner with RAUM SCHROTH presents temporary exhibitions and a permanent exhibition of Soest Expressionist Wilhelm Morgner.

The Soest Feud also offers a special event highlight: the medieval festival takes place in Soest every two years and brings together more than 900 participants from 12 European nations. Check the event dates and programme before your trip. Leisure activities in the Soest district also include cycling, hiking, water sports, climbing, skydiving, gliding and relaxing in gardens. River floodplains, the fields and meadows of the Soest Börde, extensive woodland, villages and historic towns shape the region for visitors.

Choose Werl as Your Accommodation Destination

If museums or events in Soest are your main focus, consider Soest as a separate destination. This way, you can choose your search destination based on the places and themes you would like to discover during your stay.

Discover More Destinations

Discover more destinations: Anröchte, Soest, Erwitte, Bad Sassendorf, Lippstadt, Möhnesee, Welver, Lippetal.

Back to the main travel overview: Soest.