Stemshorn: Schäferhof and Moorland Sheep

Stemshorn has a tangible connection to nature: the shepherd at the Schäferhof uses Diepholz Moorland Sheep to manage the landscape in the “Ochsenmoor” and “Westliche Dümmerniederung” nature reserves. Sheep farming, Moorland Sheep and the management of these protected areas are all part of a clearly defined connection here. This makes the town interesting if you want to experience the landscape not only as a backdrop, but also in the context of how it is managed.

Schäferhof and Landscape Management

For orientation, the precise connection matters: the shepherd at the Schäferhof in Stemshorn uses the animals in the two nature reserves named above. As a holiday theme, this gives Stemshorn a different focus from a stay devoted solely to museums or water sports. If you are interested in nature conservation, you will find a tangible link here to two named nature reserves and a distinctive breed of sheep.

Saturday, Sunday and public holidays are listed as opening days for the Schäferhof café. Check the current opening hours before your visit so you can plan your stay accordingly.

More themes in the wider Diepholz travel destination

The district of Diepholz encompasses two tourism regions and two nature parks. The wider Diepholz travel destination offers a range of options, from nature and water experiences to museums. The following attractions complement Stemshorn’s specific connection to landscape management with other themes from the district.

Water and history at the Dümmer Museum

The Dümmer Museum Lembruch presents the nature, landscape and culture of Lake Dümmer in the past, present and future. The “Life in Water” research station provides a detailed explanation of the ecology of the Dümmer ecosystem. The Stone Age exhibition offers a historical perspective on the region: original objects dating from 4,000 to 2,000 BC and reconstructions bring the Stone Age at Lake Dümmer to life. Water ecology and past ways of life thus offer two distinct ways to explore the area.

The museum offers a two-hour discovery tour for families and smaller groups of fewer than 15 people, school classes, and groups of up to 25 people. It focuses on life in the waters of Lake Dümmer and uses hand nets, a plankton net, a thermometer, a questionnaire and a microscope. The set duration and clearly specified target groups help with planning; the content focuses on examining the body of water.

Moorland, cycling and waterways

In the Diepholz moor, a moorland discovery trail approximately two kilometres long, with ten informative stations, leads through the moor ecosystem. The nature park description invites visitors to experience it in every season. In Wagenfeld, the Moorwelten is a multimedia experience centre devoted to moorland and climate. The moor railway stops directly at the Moorwelten and takes visitors to the “Moorpadd” nature trail and the walking paths in the Neustädter Moor.

The district of Diepholz also offers plenty of guidance for recreational cyclists: a cycle-route signposting system directs them along approximately 1,700 kilometres of routes. This is separate from the Hunte River Cycle Route, which runs for 137 kilometres from Elsfleth to Lake Dümmer. Canoeing on the Hunte is also possible, covering approximately 105 kilometres from the Osnabrück region to Oldenburg. The two Hunte activities therefore differ in both mode of travel and stated distance. Lake Dümmer, meanwhile, offers numerous recreational opportunities for sailors and surfers.

Culture at the Syke District Museum

The Syke District Museum, with the Gesseler Gold Hoard Forum, offers another perspective on the district. As the district’s museum of cultural and social history, it presents everyday life from the Stone Age to the threshold of the present day. This gives it a different focus from the Dümmer Museum Lembruch, whose themes explicitly include the nature, landscape and culture of Lake Dümmer.

Choose a focus for your holiday apartment

When looking for a holiday apartment in Stemshorn, you can first consider what you want to shape your choice of destination: the Schäferhof and landscape management in nature reserves, or a stay in which museums, moorland, cycling and water are key themes in the wider Diepholz travel destination. This comparison can help you decide what kind of holiday you want without treating the different offerings as equivalent.

Discover more destinations: Sudwalde, Süstedt, Heiligenrode, Diepholz, Kirchdorf, Mellinghausen, Lembruch, Asendorf.

Back to the main travel overview: Diepholz.