Alfhausen between Kirchhöfnerei and Heiligenberg

Alfhausen combines a distinctive historic townscape with paths into the surrounding countryside. If you are considering the town for a hotel stay, you can decide whether you would like to focus mainly on the church and Kirchhöfnerei, hiking and cycling trails, or the natural area around nearby Alfsee. The sights in the town and destinations in the surrounding area offer different points of interest.

Church and Kirchhöfnerei

St. John's Church dates back to the 13th century. Its furnishings include Gothic elements, such as the Bentheim baptismal font and the Madonna of the Rays, dating from 1517. The age of the church building and its specific furnishings are thus both central to this cultural highlight.

Surrounding the church is the Kirchhöfnerei, a small row of closely built houses. This arrangement gave rise to a fortified church. The church and row of houses are therefore connected not only spatially; their relationship is also part of how this townscape came about.

Another sight in Alfhausen is the Heeker Klause, built in 1818. The Heeker Klause is still used for May devotions and the annual intercessory service.

Paths and countryside around Alfhausen

The cultural landscape around Alfhausen is shaped by the ancient glacial valley of the Hase and the hills of Heiligenberg. Numerous hiking and cycling trails lead from the town center into the varied countryside. The trails take you beyond the town center and into the surrounding area, offering both a hiking and a cycling perspective.

The gentle hills and dense forests of Heiligenberg invite you to hike and relax. Hexenboll offers a different perspective: from there, you can enjoy sweeping panoramic views across the countryside. The difference is easy to sum up when deciding what to visit: hiking and relaxation are the focus at Heiligenberg, while Hexenboll offers expansive views.

Alfsee in the surrounding area

The Alfsee EU Special Protection Area is located in the Haseniederung, near Alfhausen. It consists of two flood-retention basins, which are completely surrounded by dikes. Its permanent water surface provides a suitable year-round habitat for numerous waterbird species. This natural highlight differs from the hills and forests of Heiligenberg: at Alfsee, the basins and their waterbird habitat define the natural landscape.

Also in the surrounding area of Alfhausen, the TERRA.track Alfsee circles the Alfhausen-Rieste reserve basin. The route offers views of the surrounding countryside and the main basin. The circular trail thus gives you views of both the reserve basin and the landscape and main basin.

In the surrounding area of Alfhausen, the Alfsee Nature Conservation and Education Center houses a 400-square-meter interactive exhibition. It is aimed at tourists, local residents, school classes, groups and clubs. This exhibition adds another way to explore the area alongside its landscape and trails, so you need not focus solely on outdoor activities.

Discover more destinations: Bad Laer, Rieste, Hesepe, Dissen Am Teutoburger Wald, Bad Iburg, Atter, Merzen, Bersenbrück.

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