West Münsterland’s top five attractions
1st place: Hohe Mark Nature Reserve
There’s plenty to discover and explore here: you can walk or cycle through the lush green woods and meadows, river valleys and fields and visit the romantic castles, palaces, windmills, watermills, Windmühlen, and farms all set in the most picturesque landscape. Hohe Mark nature reserve is well worth a visit to experience the fascinating interplay between nature and culture. http://www.naturpark-hohemark.de/
2nd place: The Zwillbrocker Venn ...
... is an attraction particularly worth visiting. Woods, moor lands, marshes and water all combine here to create a unique nature reserve and bird sanctuary home to over 100 different species. Every year these shallow provide the habitat for the largest inland breeding colony of black-headed gulls comprising some 16,000 birds. It is also home to Europe’s northernmost breeding colony of flamingos which today counts some 40 pink and Chilean flamingos that add a touch of the exotic to the indigenous flora and fauna. http://www.bszwillbrock.de/natur-in-zwillbrock/
3rd place: The wild horses at the Merfelder Bruch
A herd of wild horses has inhabited the land some 12 km west of Dülmen, in the Merfelder Bruch for centuries. These 300 or so animals form today the last remaining breeding herd of horses living in the wild on mainland Europe. 150 years ago when the Dukes of Croy created this sanctuary that today covers some 350 ha they were instrumental in saving this herd from possible extinction due to the eroding of their homelands through increased cultivation and partitioning. http://www.wildpferde.de/
4th place: Schloss Raesfeld and the zoological garden
The densely wooded grounds surrounding the Schloss are particularly popular with those seeking a little tranquillity and repose. Extensive mixed woodlands bordering the Dämmerwald nature park. Lengthy circular walks, parts of which are laid out as nature walks, take you passed delightful ponds to the ruins of an old mill and bothy and to the source of the Wellbrock which later together with two tributaries forms the river Issel.
http://www.gemeinde-raesfeld.de/magazin/artikel.php?artikel=159&type=&menuid=14&topmenu=2
4th place: Gerleve Abbey
Benedictine monks have lived and worshipped in west Münsterland for over a hundred years. Today their community at the abbey numbers 49 monks. The church is open daily from 5.15 a.m. to 8.45 p.m. The services are well attended by people wanting to listen to the Gregorian chants used by the monks to pray to God and to help them feel closer to Him. The abbey guesthouses continue the age-old tradition of Benedictine hospitality even to this day. http://www.gerleve.de/
5th place: Nature Reserve
The Kuhlenvenn forms one of the leading nature reserves in the district of Borken. The biotope is a haven for endangered animals and plants some of which are already on the Red List. The meadows are home to curlews, lapwings and oystercatchers as well as to a variety of duck species and numerous other water birds all of which can be observed from the hides. The shallows and mudflats often provide habitat to such migrating waders as the common greenschank and the ruff. An early evening visit gives visitors the chance to hear an amazing number of song birds that inhabit the hedgerows and with just a little bit of luck you might even catch a glimpse of little owls.
