Lathen: Mill, Outdoor Pool and History

Lathen can be explored from several perspectives: a historic mill, an outdoor pool and places of remembrance offer reasons for very different kinds of holiday days. There are also destinations in the surrounding area and routes across the wider Emsland travel region. When looking for a holiday apartment, it is worth first considering which of these experiences you want to shape your stay.

Mill History, Church and Remembrance

Hilter Mill is a working historic building almost 200 years old. Millers guide visitors through the mill, explain its technology and tell its story. If you plan to take a tour, check the visiting arrangements in advance. This makes a visit to the mill more than just a look at an old building: technology and history take centre stage.

St. Vitus Church in Lathen also offers a glimpse into the past; its history dates back to the Middle Ages. The official memorial to the victims of the Transrapid accident provides a different, sombre note. It is located in Lathen below the track, not far from the Transrapid Visitor Centre. Two roughly hewn stones and a metal plaque between them bearing 23 crosses make up the memorial. The mill, church and memorial differ greatly in subject and character, offering different ways to explore the town’s history.

Water and Other Excursions

Lathen outdoor pool has a 25 × 11-metre swimming pool with a maximum depth of 3.40 metres. It also has a 1-metre diving board, a 3-metre diving tower and a toddler pool with spray fountains. Seasonal opening times may vary, so check the current hours before planning a day of swimming.

In the immediate area, miniWELTEN Lathen in Lathen-Niederlangen displays a private Playmobil collection: around 3,000 figures can be seen across 280 square metres. Visiting times may change, so it is a good idea to check the schedule in advance. The 40-kilometre “Ross und Rad” circular route offers a different way to get active. It runs through the Lathen collective municipality and combines cycling and horse riding. The route is therefore an offering at the collective municipality level, not simply a circular route through Lathen.

Emsland: Routes and Landscapes on a Larger Scale

Looking to the wider Emsland travel region, you will find more nature and cultural experiences. Hümmling Nature Park covers around 580 square kilometres in the northeast of the Emsland district. Cycling and hiking trails with information stations pass historic sites, megalithic tombs and Clemenswerth Palace. The Theikenmeer loop is one of the nature park’s routes that meets the quality criteria of the German Hiking Association.

The Kranichpfad walking route is described in detail: it leads about 2.5 kilometres into the Theikenmeer nature reserve; the return journey follows the same route, making about 5 kilometres in total. An observation platform offers panoramic views of Lake Theikenmeer and the Wehmer Dose moorland; there is also an observation hut on the lakeshore. For a different scale, the 395-kilometre Emsland Route is a circular route through five landscape regions: Northern Ems Valley, Hümmling, Bourtanger Moor, Hasetal and Southern Emsland. It connects 19 towns; places along the route can serve as start and finish points. The route is mostly flat, paved and traffic-free, and very well signposted. These characteristics, along with its particular suitability for beginners and families with children, are relevant when planning a regional cycling trip.

Clemenswerth Palace also adds to the region’s cultural offerings: the palace park covers 42 hectares and includes the Gloriette, the garden house of Elector Clemens August. These examples from the Emsland are on a different geographical scale from the sights in Lathen. When looking for a holiday apartment, you can first decide whether your plans focus mainly on Lathen’s culture and outdoor pool or on excursions and routes across the wider Emsland.

Discover More Destinations

Discover more destinations: Walchum, Meppen, Geeste, Dörpen, Lehe, Salzbergen, Emsbüren, Düthe.

For the wider travel overview: Emsland.