Werther (Westf.): Discover Art and Trails

Circular routes with different focuses

The Werther circular hiking trail, or RW for short, is around 31 kilometres long and connects the town centre with all the districts. The 4.85-kilometre Böckstiegel Trail has a different focus. Together, the two routes offer distinct hiking experiences: a longer route linking the town centre and districts, and a shorter trail centred on Peter August Böckstiegel.

Along the Böckstiegel Trail, 17 bright red steles mark places that repeatedly inspired the artist to create paintings and feature in his work. The trail passes the Peter August Böckstiegel-Haus Museum. There is also a named route for cyclists: the approximately 20-kilometre R13 cycle route crosses Werther’s territory, including Rotingdorf, Rotenhagen, Häger and Arrode, and partly runs through Bielefeld.

The Arminius Spring is a resting place along the way for those who like to take their time and enjoy the journey. A scent stele invites visitors to consciously experience the aromas typical of the forest. This stop offers a different experience from the longer hiking and cycling routes: here, the focus is on a sensory impression, not the length of a route.

Art trails in town and countryside

The ever-growing Werther Sculpture Trail leads from the town park to HAUS WERTHER. Its history is linked to the “Skulpturenpfad Werther 2003” art event: works by artists from the region were installed for this event, stretching from the town park along the Mühlenwiese to the HAUS WERTHER civic meeting place.

The Peter August Böckstiegel-Haus Museum opened on 7 April 2018 on the grounds around the artist’s former home in Werther. Since 2008, the Peter-August-Böckstiegel Foundation has been responsible for introducing the public to the artist’s life and work, preserving and promoting his work, and making the artist’s house accessible to the public. Check current visiting arrangements before your visit.

Other steles in Werther mark the locations of former photographers and offer a glimpse into the past from their perspective. Together with the steles along the Böckstiegel Trail, they make local connections and artistic perspectives a common thread for discovering Werther.

Guided tours and a regional perspective

Guided tours of the town can be booked with one of ten trained guides; group requests can be accommodated. Arrange dates directly with the guides. There is also a tour for deaf people, during which visitors can see the sights with the help of background information on an iPad provided by the town, including as part of a group. The iPad is loaned out by prior reservation; please make the necessary arrangements with the town.

The wider Gütersloh destination also has a story to tell about its landscape. Large parts of the Gütersloh district have been designated a landscape conservation area since 23 March 1975. The Boomberge nature reserve, with its nutrient-poor sandy habitats, is the district’s most significant inland dune area; the Holter Wald is one of its largest contiguous forest areas. Erlenbruch, together with the neighbouring Schloßwiesen, is also a popular local recreation area for tourists and residents.

When looking for a holiday apartment in Werther, the mix of activities you have planned for the day may be the deciding factor: RW and R13 offer different types of routes for hiking and cycling, while the Böckstiegel Trail, museum and guided town tours turn the focus to art and local history. Consider which of these themes you’d like to centre your trip around.

Discover more destinations

Discover more destinations: Schloß Holte-Stukenbrock, Verl, Herzebrock-Clarholz, Harsewinkel, Rietberg, Steinhagen, Gütersloh, Borgholzhausen.

Back to the main travel overview: Gütersloh.