Telgte: Pilgrimage, Art and Nature
Accommodation in Telgte
Telgte combines a long pilgrimage tradition with religious art, sculptures in the old town and trails in Emsauenpark. The market square, with Kapellenstraße, lies at the heart of the old town and is considered a popular spot with visitors and locals alike. When choosing a holiday apartment, you can consider whether history and art, or walks and canoeing, should be the focus of your stay.
Pilgrimage and Religious Art
Telgte was already a pilgrimage destination dedicated to the Holy Cross in the 13th century, as evidenced by an indulgence letter from 1300. To this day, around fifty large pilgrimages set out each year from parishes in the Diocese of Münster for the Sorrowful Mother in Telgte. The devotional image, carved from poplar wood, was created around 1370 and is housed in the Baroque pilgrimage chapel. Thus, an early historical record and a tradition that continues to this day stand side by side.
The Westphalian Museum of Religious Culture, RELíGIO, is located at Herrenstraße 1–2 in Telgte. The Telgte Lent cloth is on permanent display there in an exhibition room created especially for it. It is considered the best-preserved Lent cloth in the region from the early 17th century. Its 33 panels depict the Passion, symbols of the four Evangelists, the Lamb of God and five scenes from the Old Testament. The various motifs thus range from the Passion to stories from the Old Testament.
Art in the Old Town
Between the Ems and Telgte’s old town lies the Place of Silence: a Way of the Cross artistically designed in the 1970s by sculptor Heinrich Gerhard Bücker from Vellern. Ten bronze and sandstone sculptures by Professor Jörg Heydemann are also spread throughout the old town. Another way to discover noteworthy corners and hidden spots is the Kulturspur, a cultural trail that runs through Telgte along red paving stones. Art can thus be found in different places: as a Way of the Cross between the Ems and the old town, as sculptures in the historic town centre and as stops along a clearly marked trail.
Town Walks, Park Trails and Canoe Tours
Tourismus + Kultur offers several guided town walks with different themes. The Telgte audio tour starts at the market square and follows a route of around 1.2 kilometres past sights in Telgte. If you plan to join a guided walk, check the latest booking details before your trip.
Emsauenpark is located in the Emsaue nature reserve, which has been designated a European nature conservation area because of its great ecological importance. The park has circular trails for walks and exploring nature. This offers a different focus from the old-town routes and religious artworks.
Canoeing is another option described here. The Tom Sawyer canoe tour starts in Telgte at Westbeverner Straße (WAF 10), goes to Benediktshof in Münster-Handorf (MS 1) and takes around two and a half hours. Booking details may change, so check them before your trip. The route from Telgte towards Münster-Handorf or Gelmer is also suitable for trying canoeing. The available information offers different guidance for planning your day: the audio tour is described by its route length, while an approximate duration is given for the Tom Sawyer tour.
A Market with a Long History
The Mariä-Geburts-Markt has been held since 1616 and continues to take place in Telgte. Its exact dates and programme vary from year to year, so check the dates for your chosen year before visiting.
Discover More Destinations
Discover more destinations: Drensteinfurt, Wadersloh, Sassenberg, Ostbevern, Everswinkel, Ahlen, Sendenhorst, Beckum.
Back to the main travel guide: Warendorf.
