All mill or what?

Wind, water, horse-driven and even a ship mill, Wiehen Mountains and the Weser river characterise the landscape in Westphalia's most northern corner. Nowhere else is such a diversity of mills to be found. Now, they are connected by the Westphalian Windmill Road to a unique open-air museum. The milling and baking days are very popular with visitors. They convey not only a touch of bygone mill romantic, but also gives visitors the chance of a special taste experience by trying the freshly baked butter cake and farmer's loafs right there.

Ideal world

A special feature in the Porta Westfalica landscape is the breakthrough of the Weser through the Weser Hills and Wiehen Mountains. The Emperor-William Monument, an attractive destination gives a fantastic view over the North German lowlands and the southern hilly landscape. Here, cure and recreation holiday have a tradition. Apart from the state bath Oeynhausen with Germany's prettiest Kurpark, the Kneipp health resort Hausberge and the climatic spas Oldendorf, Holzhausen and Börninghausen, Bad Hopfenberg in Petershagen and the health resorts Rothenuffeln and Levern with its so-called 'farmers' baths' founded the good reputation of a 'Westphalian Healing Garden'. Clean air, a pretty landscape and the healing powers of the soil, salt water, sulphur and natural moor are their greatest asset.

The happiness of discovery

Cultural centre is the district town Minden, which is 1200 years old. It has an enormous cathedral and architectural monuments of the Prussian Classicism and the Weser Renaissance are well worth seeing. Also worth a visit is the Prussian-Museum and the Minden Museum with interesting special exhibitions. Today, the world's second largest waterway crossroads, two bridge tanks which guide the Mittelland Canal over the Weser, is situated in the Weser metropolis. During the so-called 'cruises' of the White Fleet, the gigantic construction can be admired from the top and from below.

The Wiehen Mountains and the Weser Hills in the south and the wide lowlands in the north offer hikers and cyclists an ideal terrain. Hikers will find on the mountain ridge with the 90 km long Wittekind Path a true hiking classic and the Mühlensteig connects on around 70 km 10 windmill old-timers. Cyclists have their own windmill route, far away from traffic and will be able to stroll, look and rest. Recommended is also the stork route and the Weseraue and as the newest offering the LandArt-Route to artists, craftsmen, galleries and much more. Interesting destination enriches these leisure time offers, whereby the children have not been forgotten. There are, for example the glass blowers in the glass factory Gernheim, the candy boiler in the salt and sugar land, the Potts Park, a very special play and leisure park, the Museumshof Rahden, a typical estate facility with a 300-year history or deep below the visitor mine Kleinenbremen.