Naturpark Hümmling

The Hümmling Nature Park is located in the north-west of Lower Saxony in the district of Emsland. Gentle hills and deep forests, vast moors and heaths, watercourses with their floodplains, precious cultural heritage and charming villages characterize the Geestrücken, where you can discover the architecture of five millennia on numerous paths through nature by bike or on foot: from Neolithic megalithic tombs and Bronze Age burial mounds to mills from various centuries and the unique baroque Clemenswerth castle complex.

Knowledge: Gentle hills, vast forests, precious cultural heritage - the Hümmling Nature Park in Emsland, embedded in the North German lowlands, criss-crossed by small watercourses and dotted with evidence of megalithic culture from the Neolithic and Bronze Age. The landscape is idyllic with its deep forests, the magnificent play of colors of blooming fields, its contrasting moor and peat areas, the soft purple heath landscapes. The nature park's cultural significance is due to the numerous treasures from a wide variety of eras: the particularly large number of prehistoric megalithic tombs are evidence of early settlement in the area. Individual erratic blocks and imposing burial sites “tell” as stone witnesses of a time more than 5,500 years ago. The fact that they can be found today in the shade of gnarled, ancient trees makes their experience even more mythical. The company of the trees, or rather the forest and its inhabitants, was already appreciated by Elector Clemens August: He chose the Hümmling as his hunting ground and gave the region an architectural Baroque jewel of far supra-regional appeal with his hunting star Clemenswerth - today's Clemenswerth Castle in Sögel. Visitors are also fascinated by the Hüvener Mühle mill - it is one of very few preserved wind and water mills in Europe; cyclists can rest in its shade under huge trees on the banks of the Mittelradde. Well rested, they head for many other destinations: for example, the traditional Theikenmeer nature reserve and the Bible garden in Werlte or Surwolds Forest with its climbing garden and fairytale show. On the other hand, completely different aspects can be experienced on the Hümmlingen Pilgrimage Trail and at the Esterwegen Memorial (European memorial site for the 15 Emsland camps). Location: In the north-west of Lower Saxony in the district of Emsland, east of the Ems and north of the Hase, is the Hümmling ridge. With an area of around 577 square kilometers, the Hümmling was recognized as a nature park in 2015. In addition to the district, the joint municipalities of Sögel, Werlte, Nordhümmling, Lathen and Herzlake as well as the towns of Haren (Ems) and Meppen are involved. Together, the members are committed to the sustainable development of the area and the effective use of existing potential.