Discover Delbrück: Nature, History and Tradition
Accommodation in Delbrück
In Delbrück, special nature experiences meet traces of Roman history and vibrant traditions. At the Steinhorster Becken, you can observe waterbirds and wading birds; at the Anreppen Roman camp, reconstructed parts of the site take you back to the era of Roman troops. Chapels, the local heritage museum and the St Catherine’s Market offer further insights into the town’s history and customs. You can choose the focus of your trip based on whether you would most like to discover nature, archaeology or local traditions.
Birdlife at the Steinhorster Becken
The Steinhorster Becken covers around 80 hectares and is considered North Rhine-Westphalia’s largest reserve deliberately planned and created by people for nature conservation. Water, wet meadows and islands provide a protected habitat for numerous waterbirds and wading birds. You can observe the birdlife from viewpoints along the edge of the nature reserve. The protected area itself is not accessible, to safeguard the animals. Viewing opportunities are available from the top of the closure dam, along a walking trail and at viewpoints on the northern edge. So, if you would like to watch birds, plan your visit from these accessible areas rather than expecting to spend time inside the protected area itself.
Roman history in Anreppen
The Anreppen Roman camp was established at the beginning of the 1st century AD, partly to supply Roman troops. The site covered around 23 hectares and once accommodated about 6,000 soldiers. Reconstructed camp ditches, sections of the road system and a sewer channel reveal the scale of the former military complex. An archaeological educational trail leads to the areas where remains have been found. If you would like to learn more about the camp, you can request a guided tour from the town of Delbrück. This gives you two different ways to explore the Roman past: the educational trail through areas where remains have been found, and a guided tour that you can request.
Chapels and living traditions
The Delbrück Cross Procession combines religious tradition with a specific destination: the Good Friday procession ends at the Chapel of the Cross, and thousands of pilgrims take part. The Chapel of the Cross on Ostenländer Straße was built in 1723 in the Neoclassical style, with an open entrance porch. Other chapels also tell the story of the area. The Reller Chapel on Rellerweg was rebuilt in 1869 after lightning destroyed its predecessor. The Hof Chapel at Valepagenhof still stands in its original location; local clubs often meet there for May devotions. On Tegethof stands St Andrew’s Chapel, built in 1655 and also known locally as “Köring’s Chapel.” It was registered on 5 May 1981 as the town of Delbrück’s first listed historic building.
The market, local heritage museum and more to discover
St Catherine’s Market takes place over four days on the third weekend of September. Its more than 400-year history as a livestock and general market gives it a distinctive historical background. For a different perspective on local culture, visit the Delbrück local heritage museum in the heritage house at Kirchplatz 10. There you can see original Delbrück traditional costumes, historic flags, and exhibits from the “Eintracht” carnival club and the St John’s Rifle Brotherhood of Delbrück. More than 600 animals from different regions of the world live at Nadermann Zoo in Delbrück-Schöning. If you prefer to get around on foot, you can enjoy a long walk through plenty of greenery in and around Bentfeld. The route passes historic sights and a farm café serving coffee and cake.
Choose the right focus for your trip
When looking for a holiday apartment in Delbrück, the experiences that interest you most can be a good starting point: birdwatching at the Steinhorster Becken, Anreppen’s Roman past, chapels and traditions, or a walk in Bentfeld. Consider which of these discoveries you would like your trip to revolve around, then choose accommodation to suit the place you want to use as your base. If you would like to include St Catherine’s Market in your trip, it takes place over four days on the third weekend of September.
More places to discover: Bad Wünnenberg, Hövelhof, Paderborn, Lichtenau, Borchen, Barkhausen, Altenbeken and Büren.
Back to the main travel overview: Paderborn.
