Radtour DE 5- Steinhorst

Steinhorst is located on the border with Rietberg and, in addition to a small village center, is characterized by agriculture on the outskirts. The first mention of the name Steinhorst dates back to 1446, but traces of the first settlements from the Palaeolithic and Bronze Age were also discovered here in 1981 on the basis of several burial mounds. The name Steinhorst is said to have originated because there were originally many erratic blocks, flints (stone) and dense forest (Horst) in this area.
The starting point of the approximately 17-kilometre tour is the village square in Steinhorst. Ride along the Düsterhusweg and the Vossknapp towards the Steinhorst Basin and experience the largest man-made biotope in NRW. This 82-hectare nature reserve forms a mosaic of water areas, islands and wet grassland on both sides of the Ems. In this area, many migrating wading birds and ducks of various species in particular find undisturbed areas on their often very long migration routes, while bird species such as herons, cormorants, divers and singers find a richly laid table in these ponds. In the north-west of the impoundment area, a reedbed and reed zone covering around 21 hectares has been created to provide a suitable habitat for the most endangered bird species.

Other points of interest along this stretch are the old sluice on Furlbachweg and the Steinhorster Teich on Teichweg, which is used as a sand trap for the Ems. The boundary stone from 1757 with the coats of arms of the Prince-Bishop of Paderborn and the Count of Rietberg is also located on Teichweg.

Follow the signposts to reach the burial mounds on Steinhorster Straße, Pohlweg and Mondscheinknapp. From Steinhorster Straße via Heideweg, Helmigsdamm and Bergstraße, you return to the starting point of the tour.