Leer: Springs, Mills and Medieval Art

Leer is a district of Horstmar whose local attractions appeal to a range of travel interests: the spring landscape along the Leerbach and the history of churches, mills, crafts and moated castles. Visitors interested in nature and architectural history will find specific points of interest to help plan their trip—from a spring hollow with several springs to medieval works of art in the church.

Springs and the Leerbach

The important Jannings Spring, a natural monument that feeds the Leerbach, is located in the Herrenholz nature reserve. South of the village of Leer, the Jannings Spring and nearby Schwarthoffs Spring are also found in the Leerbach area. The Jannings Spring is a spring hollow measuring 8 to 10 metres across, with up to 14 springs along its edge. This detailed description makes clear that the site is more than just a single named spring: it is a distinctive feature of the landscape.

The historic Schmeddings Mill and Wennings Mill are also located along the Leerbach. Schmeddings Mill was powered by wind and water, while Wennings Mill was a watermill. Visitors interested in the use of water and the history of mills can consider these buildings alongside the spring landscape: both are connected to the Leerbach, but tell different stories. The NaTourismus Route passes the clear spring of the Leerbach on its way to the Altenberg ridge.

Church art, moated castle and crafts

The Church of Ss. Cosmas and Damian was built around 1200 on the grounds of the Fronhof Leheri, which belonged to Werden Abbey on the Ruhr. The church’s furnishings include a crucifix dating from around 1300, regarded as its oldest surviving work of art. There is also a rare medieval vault painting from around 1400. These approximate dates span several centuries, allowing the church’s history and artworks to be viewed as distinct aspects that followed one another over time.

Another historic building is Haus Alst, a moated castle built in 1624 in the Alst farming community in Leer. The surviving Reeperbahn offers a different point of interest: for many years, strong ropes were laid there, including ropes for ships. Together, these places represent different facets of Leer’s history—religious art, seigneurial architecture and a craft whose products were made for shipping.

Horstmar as a wider travel destination

Horstmar itself also has its own historical highlights. The old town has a clearly structured medieval layout, with the church and town hall at its centre. The square old-town plan is defined around its outer edges by former fortified castlemen’s courts. The Schlosstor, also known as the Burgtor, is the only one of Horstmar’s four former town gates still standing and is considered unique in Westphalia. These features belong to Horstmar’s old town and add to the picture of the district of Leer’s history without replacing its local attractions.

Another example from Horstmar is the Merveldter Hof. Built in 1561 as a magnificent three-wing complex in the Dutch Renaissance style, it features the distinctive Specklagen technique. Visitors interested in architectural styles can compare this Horstmar building with the older landmarks in Leer: the church, Haus Alst and the Merveldter Hof represent different building periods and types.

Choose the right focus for your trip

Check the location details of potential accommodation to see which options suit your planned stay. If the NaTourismus Route is important to your plans, check its current route in advance.

For the wider travel overview: Horstmar.