Warendorf: Old Town, State Stud and Emssee

Warendorf combines a rich historic townscape with the North Rhine-Westphalian State Stud and the Emssee. In the old town, house façades and museums span centuries; at the Emssee, a spacious park and a former arm of the Ems shape the landscape. There are also cycling routes and the annual stallion parades. You can tailor your stay to culture, equestrian history, water or cycling.

Old Town and Local History

Warendorf’s historic old town includes more than 600 listed properties. A cohesive ensemble of historic house façades showcases buildings from six different centuries. The Decentralised Warendorf City Museum brings together five museum sites in the old town. The Bentheimer Tower is a striking testament to the medieval town fortifications: it dates from the 13th century and can be recognised by its barred window openings and loopholes. The only surviving one of the five original structures in the fortification ring built around 1300, it recalls the town’s former defences. The tower can only be viewed from the outside.

Museums and the State Stud

Since 2014, the West Prussian State Museum has welcomed visitors to the former Franciscan monastery on the eastern edge of the old town. Its permanent exhibition is on the upper floor. The former monks’ cells serve as galleries and form stops along a historical tour. Both the building and its former use are therefore part of the visit.

The North Rhine-Westphalian State Stud was founded in 1826 by the Prussian King Frederick William III. During opening hours, you can explore the extensive grounds and historic stables on your own or as part of a guided tour. Check opening hours before your visit. The town’s history and the State Stud offer different points of interest: historic house façades and museums on the one hand, and the stables and history of an institution founded in 1826 on the other.

Emssee, Park and Cycling Route

The Emssee is around 1.4 kilometres long, lies in a spacious park and includes a former arm of the Ems. Emssee Park has become a popular local recreation area for Warendorf residents. The water and park offer a different focus from the historic old town; the lake should not be confused with the longer cycling route along the Ems.

The EmsRadweg runs through the Warendorf municipal area. It follows the Ems from Hövelhof in the Senne region to the river’s mouth in the North Sea near Emden. When planning, you can choose between a stay focused on local history and the Emssee, or a cycling route that extends far beyond Warendorf.

Getting There and Autumn Events

Warendorf has two connections to regional rail services: Warendorf station and the Einen-Müssingen stop. Regional train 67, known as “Der Warendorfer,” currently runs hourly between Münster and Bielefeld. Check the timetable before travelling, as this transport information is a practical guide, not a guarantee for your travel date.

The annual stallion parades are also among Warendorf’s autumn attractions. In the wider Warendorf destination area, more than 100 stallions are presented in 20 professionally narrated displays over three days at the end of September. If you are planning your trip around the parades, check the current event dates before travelling.

The Wider Warendorf Destination Area

Beyond the town itself, the wider Warendorf destination area offers further landscapes and cultural attractions. The Feldmark recreation area lies northeast of Sassenberg and covers a total of 114 hectares. Within the area, Feldmarksee has around 13 hectares of water and a bird sanctuary island. An extensive network of walking trails with a fitness course passes an adventure playground and a foot bath. At weekends and by arrangement, sailors, surfers and pedal-boat users can enjoy their hobbies at the boathouse and landing stage. Bear this schedule in mind when planning your visit.

In Telgte, the RELíGIO Museum presents religious life across 1,500 square metres of exhibition space, from Bronze Age grave goods to today’s religious diversity. The Telgte Lenten Veil is also housed there: measuring 4.40 by 7.40 metres, it is one of the largest Lenten veils in Westphalia. The permanent exhibition at Liesborn Abbey Museum includes a digital monastic library. You can virtually leaf through the pages of the Liesborn Gospel there; a transcription in Carolingian minuscule and a German translation are also available. In Freckenhorst stands the collegiate church of St. Boniface, a five-towered church dating from the late 11th century and one of Westphalia’s most significant Romanesque religious buildings.

The routes also vary in focus. The Warendorf riding route is part of the 1,000-kilometre Münsterland riding route. It offers varied riding and walking trails through the Münsterland countryside for different ability levels. The WerseRadweg is 123 kilometres long, runs with gentle gradients through the southern district of Warendorf, and has observation towers, 34 information panels and regularly spaced rest areas with tables and benches. There are railway stations and car parks at many points along the cycle route; you can travel and take your bicycle by train or car. The 230-kilometre eastern loop of the 100 Castles Route passes through the district of Warendorf; there are 14 shelters with tables and benches along the route. These regional options complement the town’s attractions without equating them with a single route.

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To the wider travel overview: Warendorf.