Eckardtsheim: History, Hiking Trails and Gut Wilhelmsdorf

Eckardtsheim reveals itself through its local history, a historic walk and trails that showcase different sides of the destination. The “Historic Eckardtsheim” walk takes you to houses and special places with information boards documenting part of the town’s history. The Bullerbachtal Trail offers a different perspective: it is a designated regional hiking trail that also leads into the centre of Eckardtsheim.

History in the Townscape

The documented stops on the historic walk include Eckardtskirche, Thekoa, Wilhelmsdorf, the school, the Handwerkerhaus, the Sennekanzlei, Jericho, and the Begegnungs- und Freizeitzentrum. The information boards draw attention to different houses and special places; the walk therefore covers part of the town’s history rather than focusing on just one historic site.

Wilhelmsdorf in the Senne is a distinctive part of the area’s history: it was inaugurated on 13 August as a support facility for homeless men without work, and was Germany’s first workers’ colony. The “Temporäres LSG im Bereich Eckardtsheim” area is designated as a temporary landscape conservation area covering 81.5 hectares.

Hiking, Agriculture and Events

The Bullerbachtal Trail is 8.31 kilometres long. It follows a footpath shared with the Sennestädter circular hiking trail and leads into the centre of Eckardtsheim. Its official endpoint is at the organic farm shop on the grounds of Gut Wilhelmsdorf, after the route passes through the Eckardtsheim section. Route conditions and visitor services at the endpoint may change, so check them before setting out.

Gut Wilhelmsdorf offers guided tours introducing the history of Wilhelmsdorf and modern organic dairy farming. You should arrange tours in advance. Tastings are regularly held at the farm shop, and dates vary. The Wilhelmsdorf harvest festival is another seasonal highlight: it is celebrated every year on Thanksgiving Day together with the Zion congregation of Eckardtsheim. As specific dates change, it is worth checking the date of the event in question.

Getting Around During Your Stay

The Evangelical Eckardtskirche can be reached by bus routes 37 and 237; the “Pontus” stop is about 170 metres away. As routes and stops may change, check the latest transport information for your travel date.

When looking for accommodation, it helps to first decide what you want to focus on during your trip: the historic walk takes you to various places in the townscape, the Bullerbachtal Trail is a named hiking route, and Gut Wilhelmsdorf adds guided tours and tastings to the mix. Then compare the location of potential accommodation with your own plans. If you are planning a guided tour or a festival, allow for advance booking or a date that may vary.

Bielefeld: Culture and Hiking in the Wider Destination

The wider destination of Bielefeld offers other cultural and hiking attractions. Kunsthalle Bielefeld is a museum of modern and contemporary art. It opened in 1968 to designs by American architect Philip Johnson and presents collection and temporary exhibitions of 20th- and 21st-century art. It also offers a varied programme of events and educational activities.

Bielefeld’s Bauernhausmuseum, established in 1917, is Westphalia’s oldest open-air museum. Since reopening in 1999, it has presented rural life around 1850 and the natural, economic and political conditions of the time. For those who would rather focus on getting active, the Bielefeld section of the wider destination includes the Hermannsweg: this ridge trail runs along the crest of the Teutoburg Forest and directly through Bielefeld city centre; it is one of Germany’s ten best long-distance hiking trails.

Sparrenburg Castle was first mentioned in official records in 1256. During the one-hour casemates tour, visitors can learn about more than 750 years of the castle’s history and explore the 300-metre-long underground tunnel system; tours may vary by season. From the tower, panoramic views extend across Bielefeld and, in good weather, as far as the Wiehen Hills. Discover more destinations: Bielefeld.

Back to the wider travel overview: Bielefeld.