Strackholt: Church, Hiking Trail and Hedgerows

Strackholt invites you to explore its local history and landscape together. The nearly 800-year-old St. Barbara’s Church, the East Frisia Hiking Trail and the hedgerow landscape along the circular route around the village give your stay a clear focus. If you are looking for a holiday apartment, consider whether you want your stay to centre mainly on these church and trail themes, or whether other aspects of the wider destination of Großefehn are also important to you.

A Church with a History of Construction

St. Barbara’s Church in Strackholt is a late Romanesque brick church. It was built in the second half of the 13th century; its present cross-shaped layout was created by extensions in the 19th century. Its details reveal this long history: the church has original round-arched apse windows, an altarpiece with wings dating from 1654, a baptismal font from 1280, an organ from 1799 and a Rococo pulpit from 1801. The different dates bring distinct phases of construction and furnishing into view, without limiting your focus to a single century. For travellers who enjoy discovering historic places through their architecture and furnishings, the church offers several specific points of interest.

Routes and Hedgerows

The East Frisia Hiking Trail passes through Strackholt. The 5-Mill Route continues along it to Spetzerfehn. This is distinct from the circular route around Strackholt, whose defining feature is its hedgerow landscape. Two different route connections are therefore in focus: the course of the East Frisia Hiking Trail and its continuation towards Spetzerfehn, and the hedgerows that characterise the circular route. Bahnhof Strackholt 1900 is located right on the East Frisia Hiking Trail. It serves homemade tarts and cakes—a distinct culinary highlight alongside the church and landscape.

More to Explore in the Wider Destination of Großefehn

The Timmeler Meer offers a different focus within the wider destination of Großefehn. This body of water covers 25 hectares and offers opportunities for swimming, motorboating and other water sports. A pedal boat and motorboat rental is available at the Timmeler Meer boat harbour; check local operating conditions before your visit. Four hiking trails of varying lengths in the health resorts of Timmel and Westgroßefehn can either be used with a walker or wheelchair, or have a signposted accessible alternative route. This allows you to take the different trail lengths and the mobility option described for each into account when planning.

The wider destination of Großefehn also offers culture and landscape history. The Fehnmuseum “Eiland” in Westgroßefehn explores the transformation from raised bog to today’s cultural landscape, as well as the history of sailing in the East Frisian fen settlements. Of the 19 windmills that once stood in Großefehn, five thatched gallery Dutch windmills are still operational. In the open garden “Thedas Tuun”, a wetland habitat provides protected living space for animals and plants. Visitors can learn more about the flora and fauna on group tours; advance registration is required. Check with the garden for current dates.

When looking for a holiday apartment, your preferred focus can help you choose where to stay: in Strackholt, the main attractions are St. Barbara’s Church, the East Frisia Hiking Trail and the hedgerow landscape. Water activities, the museum, windmills and the hiking trails described here are features of the wider destination of Großefehn. You can therefore tailor your search to the experiences that matter most to your travel plans.

Discover more destinations: Timmel.

Back to the destination overview: Großefehn.