Discover Höxter: cycling routes, the Weser and culture

Cycling routes with different highlights

The 65-kilometre Netheradweg follows the Nethe from its source to its mouth in the Weser, running between Bad Driburg and Höxter. It offers a riverside route connecting two towns. If you are interested in this route, its length and course can provide a concrete guide for planning your own tour.

The Kloster-Garten-Route is on a different scale: it is about 315 kilometres long, well signposted, and runs through the Kulturland district of Höxter and landscapes and attractions between the Weser, Egge and Teutoburg Forest. It starts at Marienmünster Abbey. The route can be cycled in five stages, each between 52 and 67 kilometres long. Along the way, 28 Bible posts make it a pilgrimage route. The stage lengths give you a concrete point of reference when comparing this type of trip with a shorter riverside route.

The first stage of the Weser Cycle Route also leads to Höxter: it runs 71 kilometres along the Weser from Hann. Münden and ends in the town. When looking for a holiday apartment, it is therefore helpful to first consider whether you see a riverside route, the longer Kloster-Garten-Route or both cycling routes as the starting point for your trip.

Corvey and Höxter’s cultural history

Höxter is home to the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Corvey, with its abbey church and library. Nearby, on the western bank of the Weser to the east of the town, are also the Carolingian Westwork and Civitas Corvey; the site is in North Rhine-Westphalia, near the border with Lower Saxony. The Höxter-Corvey Museum presents 1,200 years of cultural history in the rooms of the former princely-bishop’s residence at Corvey. Here, the World Heritage Site and the region’s historical development are the focus of a range of cultural insights.

In town, the Jacob Pins Forum is dedicated to the work of the German-Israeli artist who was born in Höxter. The art museum makes his work accessible to the town’s residents and visitors from across Germany. Part of the exhibition also documents the fate of Höxter’s Jewish residents. The town rampart, meanwhile, is a medieval fortification around the old town; the town wall is visible in many places. Those interested in art, Jewish history or historic town fortifications will find different aspects of Höxter’s culture here.

Nature, the river and quiet moments

The district of Höxter encompasses the hilly upland landscapes of the Teutoburg Forest and the Weser Uplands, combining culture, nature and active holidays. Under the name “Erlesene Natur” (“Selected Nature”), numerous protected areas of European importance invite visitors to explore. The landscapes featured include beech forests rich in orchids, bizarre rock formations, natural streams, colourful species-rich grasslands, sunlit juniper heaths and moors. This variety offers nature lovers a range of landscapes, from forests to open spaces.

Cyclists can also explore the rich flora and fauna along the Nethe, Emmer and Beber as part of “Erlesene Natur.” Those who prefer hiking will find the district described as a varied hiking area with river valleys, beech forests, castles and monasteries. For a trip focused on nature and culture, you can weigh up whether cycling, hiking or visiting historic sites should take priority.

In Höxter, the Weser promenade, redesigned as part of the 2023 State Garden Show, invites you to relax by the river after a stroll through town. For another perspective on the river landscape, you could consider taking a trip on the “Flotte Weser” boats. There are four canoe landing points in the Höxter area: Höxter-Wassersport, Höxter-Altstadt, Corvey and Lüchtringen. The first two are within walking distance of the town centre and are well suited to visiting the historic old town. Höxter-Godelheim recreational complex also has a freely accessible bathing lake right on the Weser Cycle Route, not far from the town centre.

Plan more discoveries

In addition to the routes and cultural offerings, the “Entdeckertour Kreis Höxter” app features 3D models, games, quizzes, and images and videos. An augmented reality feature brings special attractions virtually to life. GPS tracking recognises the places you visit; once you have visited six of the ten favourite destinations, a certificate is automatically made available for printing. This is one way to record your discoveries in the region in a playful way.

When choosing your holiday apartment, the type of trip you want can be a useful starting point: the town and its culture, a cycling tour along a particular route, or nature experiences in the district each offer a different focus. In Höxter, the old town, the banks of the Weser and the cultural sites mentioned above come together; the cycling routes also take you through other landscapes and towns in the region.

Discover more places

More town pages: WillebadessenWillebadessen, BrakelBrakel, Bad DriburgBad Driburg, GehrdenGehrden, SteinheimSteinheim, MerlsheimMerlsheim, BorgentreichBorgentreich, WarburgWarburg, BeverungenBeverungen, HöxterHöxter, MarienmünsterMarienmünster, NieheimNieheim.

Back to the regional travel overview: North Rhine-Westphalia.