Discover Lotte: Megaliths, Mills and Waterside Routes

Lotte is associated with the hilly landscape of the Tecklenburger Land, rich in forests and meadows. Between waterside paths, wide-open views and historic buildings, there are many different reasons to explore the area. On foot, take a circular walk around Niedrighaussee; by bike, explore Lotte on a much longer circular route. The area also has impressive traces of history, from the Stone Age to its former border. When looking for a place to stay, it is therefore worth first considering whether you would like to focus your visit on nature trails, a longer bike tour or cultural history.

Along the water, with wide-open views

The Sloopsteener Seerunde starts at the Großen Sloopsteinen and follows idyllic waterside paths around Niedrighaussee. Along the way is a natural beach where walkers can take a break by the water; conditions there may vary seasonally. To finish, the route offers wide-open views between the edge of the forest and meadows. The water, forest edge and open green spaces give the walk a variety of scenic impressions, while keeping it connected to the lake. The Sloopsteener Seerunde can be reached by public transport. Check current connections before setting out and trail conditions before you start walking.

The Lotter Acht: a cycling route with a choice of stages

The Lotter Acht offers a different scale: this approximately 52-kilometre cycling loop passes through all of Lotte’s districts. It can be completed in one day or in two stages, depending on your fitness and stamina. The route lists the town hall square in Wersen and Haus Hehwerth in Alt-Lotte as designated starting points; you can also start anywhere along the route. This allows you to plan your day in different ways: as one continuous tour or in two sections. Unlike the Seerunde, which goes on foot around Niedrighaussee, this route focuses on cycling through all of the districts.

Megaliths, a mill and traces of history

The Große Sloopsteine megalithic tomb in Wersen dates back to the Funnel Beaker culture and is estimated to be from around 3000 BC. It is considered the best-preserved megalithic tomb in Westphalia. The site is in a 1.5-hectare, lightly wooded grove that was designated a nature reserve in 1938. An LWL VR app offers a virtual view of the Großen Sloopsteinen and shows how the tomb stones are returned to their original positions. Check in advance whether the digital application is available.

Mühle Bohle in Wersen also connects several aspects of local history: it is more than 300 years old, is among the listed mills and is recognized as an extracurricular learning site. Another distinctive feature is the Evangelische Kirche Lotte: its tower leans westward. The former customs building, Altes Zollamt Lotte, was built around 1830 and is a listed building. It documents the former border between Prussian Westphalia and the Kingdom of Hanover. Together, these buildings offer different ways to explore Lotte’s history, from an old mill to a former political border.

Getting there and finding a suitable place to stay

You can reach Lotte by car via the Osnabrück-Hafen exit on the A1 or the Lotte exit on the A30; check current road conditions before setting out. The nearest railway station is Lotte-Halen, on the Oldenburg–Osnabrück railway line, around eight kilometres from the town centre. Check current train connections before your trip. When planning, also take your journey and the starting points for each route into account.

Discover more destinations

Discover more destinations: Nordwalde, Metelen, Ladbergen, Ibbenbüren, Lienen, Neuenkirchen, Lengerich.

Back to the main travel overview: Steinfurt.