Discover Hude (Oldb): Cloverleaf Route and Excursions in the Oldenburg Destination
Accommodation in Hude
Routes in the Municipality of Hude
The Cloverleaf Route runs through the municipality of Hude and starts at Hotel Backenköhler in Stenum. This provides a specific route reference at the municipal level for planning your trip. The wider Oldenburg destination offers a variety of cultural and natural themes, including monastic history, heathland, lowland landscapes and a canoe route on the Hunte. When looking for a holiday apartment, it helps to first decide what kind of excursions you have in mind. Would you rather explore historic buildings and collections, plan walks or focus on a longer stretch on the water? Your preferred type of excursion can guide your choice of holiday location and apartment.
File:Bahnhof Hude (Oldb) mit RS30 nach Bremen (2025).jpg
Photo: JoachimKohler-HB via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Monastic History in the Wider Oldenburg Destination
Founded in 1232, Hude Cistercian Monastery was named “Portus Sancte Marie,” meaning “Harbour of Saint Mary.” It quickly became the spiritual, economic and political centre of the eastern part of the County of Oldenburg. The monastery’s history is thus linked to a specific role in the region at the time.
The monastery ruins preserve the remains of a three-aisled basilica with a projecting transept. The church was originally more than 57 metres long and more than 24 metres wide—dimensions that give an idea of the building’s size. The museum at Hude Monastery brings together different ways of exploring history: it displays models illustrating the building’s history, archaeological finds, and maps and texts about Cistercian history. There is also a scriptorium where visitors can write with a quill. Anyone interested in the past will find architectural, written and archaeological topics here.
Heathland and Lowlands in the Wider Oldenburg Destination
South of Wildeshausen lies the Pestrup burial ground, an archaeological site of regional importance set amid heathland and pine woods. It is the largest contiguous area of heathland in the district of Oldenburg. Both short and longer walks are possible there. The landscape and archaeological site go hand in hand: a visit combines views of the heath with a glimpse into the region’s early history.
The Lethe nature trail offers a different perspective on the landscape. The approximately 3-kilometre circular route passes through the Wardenburg Lethe lowlands. It starts at the Wardenburg watermill by the bridge over the Lethe, west of the centre of Wardenburg, in the “Lethe” nature reserve. The approximate distance and circular route provide clear guidance for anyone planning to include a walk in their excursion itinerary.
Canoeing on the Hunte
For an excursion on the water, the wider Oldenburg destination offers a 40-kilometre canoe route on the Hunte from Wildeshausen to Oldenburg. It has 11 launch and landing points, 10 rest areas and 11 information boards along the trail. The river route passes through the Wildeshausen Geest and by sandbanks, steep riverbanks and woods. The landscape and route infrastructure complement each other: the banks and woods shape the natural surroundings, while the launch and landing points, rest areas and boards provide specific points of reference along the route.
The distances show the difference between the excursion options: the approximately 3-kilometre Lethe circular route is a short walk, while the Hunte route covers 40 kilometres on the water. So, when looking for a holiday apartment, consider which type of excursion matters most to your trip—a walk, cultural history or a longer canoe route.
Discover More Destinations
Discover more destinations: Hatten, Oldenburg, Wardenburg, Kirchseelte, Wildeshausen, Harpstedt, Dötlingen, Ganderkesee.
To the wider travel overview: Oldenburg.
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