Discover Balge

Balge is a place for travellers who like to look closely as they explore: Romanesque features have been preserved in several parts of St. Bartholomew’s Church, and the Maple Tour passes late Romanesque churches in Balge and Marklohe. This brings together a specific church building and a cycling route with a church-focused theme. When looking for a holiday apartment, it helps to distinguish between the two: should the church in Balge itself be the cultural centrepiece, or would you mainly like to plan a cycling tour? Check whether the Maple Tour is accessible before setting out; this is not guaranteed.

Church architecture and the Maple Tour

Parts of St. Bartholomew’s Church probably date back to around 1200. The tower, main part of the nave, baptismal font and altar slab have largely retained their original Romanesque form; the choir was added later. So the building’s history is reflected not only in its approximate age: Romanesque features have been preserved in several specified parts, while the choir marks a later addition.

The Maple Tour passes late Romanesque churches in Marklohe and Balge. By linking the route to churches in two explicitly named places, it offers a broader perspective than looking at a single building. For cyclists, this is a different way to explore the subject than focusing solely on St. Bartholomew’s Church. When looking for a holiday apartment, you can weigh up your priorities: are you mainly interested in the Romanesque features in Balge, or would you also like to plan a cycling tour that includes churches in Balge and Marklohe? Check the conditions for the Maple Tour before setting out.

Culture and activities in the wider Nienburg travel region

In the wider Nienburg travel region, Nienburg Museum offers a different focus from the church in Balge: across three historic buildings, it presents the development of the Middle Weser region from the arrival of the first people to the present day. Its main building is the Fresenhof, a manor house dating from the 16th century. The museum also includes the Asparagus Museum, the Biedermeier Garden and a lapidarium; the Neoclassical villa offers deeper insights into the 19th century. Nienburg thus centres on a broad sweep of history and several museum buildings, while St. Bartholomew’s Church in Balge is defined by its preserved Romanesque features.

The wider Nienburg travel region has other distinctive examples of architectural and cultural heritage. Schinna Monastery, in the village of Schinna in the municipality of Stolzenau, is a listed building of significance beyond the region. Loccum Abbey is a monastic house built in 1163. In Bücken, the collegiate church of St. Maternian et St. Nicolai houses important art treasures, including a triumphal cross from 1230 and richly illustrated stained-glass windows from the 13th century.

The Münchehagen Dinosaur Park may also appeal to travellers with young children. More than 300 dinosaur footprints can be seen there, bearing witness to a time around 140 million years ago. The park offers activities for children to take part in, particularly those who are young, including the excavation of a 25-metre-long skeleton. This is a clear departure from the focus on churches and historic buildings: here, the emphasis is on traces of Earth’s history and a hands-on activity for young children.

Cycling and water-based activities in the wider Nienburg travel region

There are also different points of reference for planning a cycling trip. The Maple Tour is characterised by late Romanesque churches in Balge and Marklohe. A 23.6-kilometre circular route on the Weser Cycle Route runs between Landesbergen and Stolzenau. Check the route conditions before setting out.

In the wider Nienburg travel region, Flotte Mittelweser offers circular, experience and charter cruises on the Weser and Aller, departing from Nienburg or Verden. For specific planning, check the operator’s timetable. This allows you to take different interests into account when choosing your stay without combining churches, cycling routes and boat trips into a single excursion.

Discover more destinations: Nienburg, Marklohe, Heemsen, Mittelweser, Steimbke, Liebenau, Pennigsehl, Rehburg-Loccum.

Back to the wider travel overview: Nienburg.