Hopsten: Tödden History and the Heiliges Meer

Hopsten combines a historic town centre with the natural landscape around the Heiliges Meer. Old Tödden and half-timbered houses shape the centre; the Romanesque parish church of St. George and the Tödden Column provide tangible points of reference for the town’s history. In the Heiliges Meer nature reserve, the focus is on sinkhole lakes and diverse habitats. This gives you several different options when planning your trip: local history, pre-arranged guided tours and routes through nature.

Tödden History in the Town Centre

The Tödden Column stands in the heart of Hopsten’s town centre and was erected in 1956 in memory of the Tödden. Together with the old Tödden and half-timbered houses, it shapes the historic character of the centre. The Romanesque parish church of St. George is also part of this town centre. The memorial column, church and traditional architectural styles thus offer different points of interest for a walk through the town’s history.

Another place to gain historical insights is the Old Brewery on the Holling farmstead. Historical objects are on display there, including an old shoemaker’s workshop and a hairdressing salon. Guided tours are offered by prior arrangement. The Old Brewery is therefore a separate item for your itinerary that you can arrange in advance, rather than a place to assume you can visit spontaneously.

Haus Nieland and Personal Guided Tours

Haus Nieland, also known as Poggeburg, was built by Hermann Pogge, described as the most influential Tödden wholesale merchant of his time. The house became known through the Poets’ League of the Werkleute, founded there in 1912.

The owners give personal guided tours of Haus Nieland by prior appointment. You can arrange a time by calling 05458 936866. Guided tours of the legendary Heiliges Meer with the Hopsten local history society are also available by prior appointment; the number given for these is 05458 1386. Both options require advance arrangements, but focus on different things: a house and its history, or the nature reserve.

The Heiliges Meer: Sinkhole Lakes and Habitats

The Heiliges Meer in Hopsten is a nature reserve covering about 260 hectares and associated with the municipalities of Hopsten and Recke in the district of Steinfurt. Over thousands of years, a chain of sinkhole lakes formed there as underground salt deposits collapsed. In addition to the naturally formed lakes, the habitats described include heathland and woodland communities in both dry and wet locations. The geology and diverse natural areas make this excursion a different kind of experience from the historic houses in the town centre.

From late March to the end of October, the LWL Museum of Natural History offers a free exhibition at the Heiliges Meer. It covers the formation of the sinkhole lakes and the habitats, plants and animals in the nature reserve. If you plan to visit the exhibition, bear in mind this seasonal period. The natural area and the exhibition thus offer two different ways to explore the subject: the landscape and its habitats outdoors, and their origins and natural history in the museum.

Cycle Routes and Places to Visit Along the Way

The 25-kilometre Heiliges Meer cycle tour passes through Hopsten and the Aabauernschaft, through the nature reserve and through the Staden farming community. Its length and the sections named give you concrete points of reference for planning your ride. The St. Anna Route, by contrast, is described as a circular route through the municipality of Hopsten and the town of Hörstel. It leads to the Heiliges Meer nature reserve, along the Mittelland Canal, to Lake Hertha and through the Ostenwald forest to the St. Anna pilgrimage chapel in the Breischen farming community in Hopsten.

At the St. Anna pilgrimage chapel on the Breischen, the route description connects with a religious tradition: many worshippers make a pilgrimage there every August. The two route descriptions have different emphases. The Heiliges Meer tour is specified as 25 kilometres and names its sections; the St. Anna Route is a circular route that passes several named destinations and goes through two municipal areas.

An Activity Exploring Tödden History

The Hopsten Tödden Diploma introduces participants to Hopsten’s Tödden history through an entertaining programme combining games and learning. After passing the test, participants receive a Tödden Diploma. The activity is aimed mainly at groups and clubs—a key difference from the guided tours described above, which require an appointment or advance booking. Groups planning a visit can consider this as a separate way to engage with local history.

Discover more destinations: Lienen, Metelen, Altenberge, Wettringen, Hörstel, Ibbenbüren, Lotte, Ladbergen.

Back to the main travel overview: Steinfurt.