Cloppenburg between the Museumsdorf, reservoir and Soeste
Accommodation in Cloppenburg
Cloppenburg combines insights into northwestern German history with varied landscapes and opportunities to spend time outdoors. The Museumsdorf showcases rural living conditions over many centuries; at the Thülsfelder Talsperre and in the Soeste lowlands, nature and landscape take centre stage. Other attractions include trails through Dwergter Sand, an adventure playground and excursions aboard a museum ship. Which of these aspects interests you most may also influence your choice of holiday apartment and where to stay.
History at Cloppenburg Museumsdorf
Cloppenburg Museumsdorf – the Lower Saxony Open-Air Museum – offers a vivid insight into the living conditions of the rural population of northwestern Germany through around 60 historic buildings. The period covered extends from the Late Middle Ages to the 1980s. This means the focus is not just on a single building or period, but on how rural everyday life changed over a long span of time.
If you would like to include culture in your trip, the Museumsdorf offers a tangible starting point: its buildings bring different historical ways of life to life. This sets it apart from nature experiences at the reservoir or in the Soeste lowlands, and can help you decide which interests to prioritise during your stay.
Thülsfelder Talsperre and the Soeste lowlands
The Thülsfelder Talsperre is a reservoir fed by the Soeste and built between 1924 and 1927. It is located in the city of Friesoythe and the municipalities of Garrel and Molbergen. The area and its surroundings have been protected as a nature reserve since 1938; since 1999, the area has also been designated a Special Area of Conservation (SAC). The natural setting and the reservoir’s history can be seen as two distinct aspects of the same landscape.
The Thülsfelder Talsperre discovery trail has 14 interactive stations. They add a special experiential element to the walk; check local conditions before setting out. A different perspective on the landscape can be found in the Soeste lowlands, which you can explore from Cloppenburg via Ambühren. Numerous rare plant and animal species, extensive grassland and natural woodland and marshland areas shape the landscape there. While the reservoir and its stations are the focus at the lake, the open, natural areas define the experience in the Soeste lowlands.
Trails, playground and excursion
The approximately 2,000-hectare woodland and heathland area of Dwergter Sand in Molbergen has an extensive network of cycling, hiking and riding trails. This distinguishes it from the single discovery trail at the reservoir: here, the focus is on a large area with different ways to explore it. When planning your trip, you can weigh up whether you prefer a route with interactive stations or a larger area with trails for various activities.
In Petersfeld, the “Reservistenfort” adventure playground features a climbing pyramid, bridges, climbing frames, a carousel, an adventure swing and a dual zip line. The individual features may change. The museum ship “Angela von Barßel” is ready to operate excursions; the Angela von Barßel e. V. association offers excursions and special trips that can be booked. Check the booking arrangements before your trip.
When choosing a holiday apartment, it may help to decide first which activities you want to focus on: culture at the Museumsdorf, scenery at the reservoir and along the Soeste, or trails in Dwergter Sand.
Discover more destinations
Discover more destinations: Molbergen, Cloppenburg, Garrel, Friesoythe, Barßel, Cappeln, Essen, Löningen, Petersfeld, Saterland, Lindern, Bösel, Lastrup, Emstek.
Go to the main travel overview: Lower Saxony.
