Discover Extertal: Hiking Trails, Views and Culture

Hiking trails with different highlights

Marketing Extertal e.V. has established twelve themed trails together with local village communities and heritage associations. In addition, Extertal has around 250 kilometres of signposted hiking trails. The 74-kilometre Hansaweg (X9) holds a special place: this certified quality hiking trail is a historic trade route that passes through the North Lippe municipality of Extertal and runs through East Westphalia-Lippe into the Weser Uplands. The length of the Hansaweg and the network of signposted trails give you different scales to consider, without implying a particular daily stage.

One specific example among the themed trails is the five-kilometre Schnattergang, also known as the “Wundersame Wesen Weg” (Wonderful Creatures Trail). Colourful, artistically designed and clearly marked signposts characterise this trail. If you enjoy noticing the design along the way as you stroll, it offers a different highlight from the historic Hansaweg. The Wilddiebsroute in Extertal-Silixen, in turn, follows in the footsteps of the Silixen poachers and timber thieves and is certified as a “Quality Trail”. So, alongside trails with a historical focus, there are also independently designed themes to explore.

Hilly landscapes and far-reaching views

For a scenic viewpoint, consider the view from Hohe Asch. The mountain is 371 metres high, and its observation tower has a 12-metre-high viewing platform. In good visibility, the view extends to Porta Westfalica and the Kaiser Wilhelm Monument, the ridge of the Teutoburg Forest with the Hermannsdenkmal, Köterberg, and the North Lippe Uplands and Weser Uplands. These destinations give an idea of the panorama’s breadth. Since the view explicitly depends on good visibility, it is not guaranteed in all weather conditions.

The “Über Berg und Tal durchs Extertal” (Over Hill and Dale through Extertal) experience tour also focuses on the municipality and the Weser Uplands. It connects numerous villages in Extertal and offers views both nearby and in the distance. If you prefer to experience the landscape as a succession of places and viewpoints, you can consider this tour as a separate highlight alongside individual hiking trails. Another way to experience the area is the Draisinenspaß route: it starts in Rinteln/Süd and runs through Extertal to Alverdissen, a district of Barntrup. The route passes through gently rolling countryside with meadows and small villages.

Culture at Sternberg Castle

Sternberg Castle is a hilltop castle at an elevation of 315 metres in the municipality of Extertal. Today it is used for a range of purposes, including cultural events with a focus on music, seminars, workshops and private celebrations. This gives the place a different character from the hiking trails and viewpoints: cultural events and various types of gathering take centre stage here. The Klingendes Museum (Resounding Museum) at Sternberg Castle also displays instruments from the Peter Harlan collection. You can therefore complement nature and hiking experiences with a cultural highlight when planning your trip, without needing to combine them into a single outing.

Choose the right focus for your trip

If you are looking for a holiday apartment in Extertal, it helps to first consider which aspect of the area interests you most: its extensive hiking network, a trail with its own theme, views across the surrounding landscapes, or the culture at Sternberg Castle. Families may enjoy weighing up these different experiences together; the trails, views and cultural offerings each have their own appeal. Your choice need not come down to just one activity: you can consider the themed trails and the Hansaweg as hiking options, Hohe Asch and the experience tour for their views, and Sternberg Castle for culture. This way, the kind of trip you want becomes the starting point for finding suitable accommodation.

You can also discover the subordinate locality of Laßbruch. More destinations in the directory: Augustdorf, Detmold, Lügde, Rott, Blomberg, Kalletal and Lemgo.

To the higher-level travel overview: Lippe.