Drei Städte-E-Bike-Tour

Before you set off on your bike, you should first take a stroll through the old Hanseatic town of Brakel . The historic town centre is characterised by many old half-timbered houses, which give the streets, alleyways and squares a special atmosphere. The lively centre of the town is the market square with the 13th century town hall. The building, decorated with stepped gables, is framed by a former 16th century farmhouse and the Alte Waage, a former knight's residence.

After just a few kilometres on your bike, you will reach a green area with a bench and a stop on the B 252. There is a modern statue of the Virgin Mary in the middle of the Heberbach stream: the "Mother of God in the water". (If you cross the main road, please be particularly careful here: the view into the inner bend is restricted!)
Unknown drivers make sure that an eternal light always burns in a lantern in memory of those who have died on the road.

In Holzhausen, you will pass the von der Borch family estate, which dates back to the 16th century and is completely preserved, a rarity in East Westphalia. It is a listed ensemble. For over fifty years, Gut Holzhausen has been working according to the rules of biodynamic agriculture. The estate has also made a name for itself with cultural events, including the annual "Voices" festival and the art trail.

In Nieheim  a whole culinary world of experience awaits you at the Westfalen-Culinarium with the Westphalian Bread, Cheese, Ham, Beer and Schnapps Museum. The Menne show dairy also demonstrates how various dairy products such as cooked cheese, butter and whey are produced. You can watch the production process from the farm shop through a glass front. The Sack Museum is also worth a visit.

From here, the route takes you to Marienmünster. The time-honoured Benedictine abbey is one of the few almost completely preserved monasteries in Westphalia. Listening to a concert on the organ built by Johann Patroklus Möller is a very special treat. You will also find plenty of refreshments in the Klosterkrug.

Continue on to the model cultural village of Bökendorf, where plays for adults as well as fairy-tale plays and other children's plays have been performed on the open-air stage for over 50 years.
Do not drive into the village of Bökendorf here, but turn right into the street "Bökerhof". There you will pass Bökerhof Castle (can only be viewed from the outside) and the associated arcade.
In the 19th century, Bökerhof was the centre of the "Romantic Circle" with Annette von Droste-Hülshoff, the Brothers Grimm, Clemens von Brentano and Josef von Görres.
Continue past the castle onto "Drostestrasse", turn right here and take the next right onto "Kirchweg". Continue along this road until you reach the state-recognised resort and model tourist village of Bellersen - the village of B. from the novella "Die Judenbuche" by Annette von Droste-Hülshoff. You can also visit two show distilleries for fine fruit brandies and one of the largest apiaries in Germany (for groups of 6 people or more by appointment).