Ankum: Forest, Stone Tombs and Local History

Ankum brings together nature, archaeological sites and local history. The nature trail in Kunkheide and Lake Ankum offer different experiences; in Westerholte, the focus is on stone tombs and burial mounds, while Vogelberg is associated with early fortifications and church history. These themes offer different starting points when choosing Ankum as a destination and looking for a hotel for your stay.

Nature along the forest nature trail and at Lake Ankum

The nature trail in Kunkheide is located on Schillerberg, southwest of Ankum. It is about three kilometres long and has eleven information boards. They cover the functions of forests, the water cycle in forests, forest habitats and sustainable forest management. The boards therefore take visitors from forests as habitats and part of the water cycle through to the question of sustainable management. The municipality continues to maintain the trail; several benches are located along it.

A footpath runs around the recreational area at Lake Ankum. There is a large adventure playground, and the recreation area also includes an outdoor Kneipp facility. Work on the Kneipp facility was completed and approved on 21 September 2026. In September 2026, an outdoor wedding island was also created on the lake and designated as such. The lake offers a circular walking route and various recreational facilities, while the forest nature trail shares information through its boards.

Stone tombs, a ring wall and the local heritage house

In Westerholte, a district of Ankum, a prehistoric circular walking trail passes six stone tombs, several burial mounds and a particularly noteworthy stone cist grave. The stone tombs in Westerholte are over 4,000 years old. The Giersfeld Stone Tomb Trail is part of the Megalithic Culture Route (SMK); this circular trail lies south of Ankum, near Westerholte.

Another historical highlight is the old ring wall on Vogelberg. It was an Old Saxon refuge and place of assembly. A baptistery was built inside the ring wall after the year 800. This history belongs to a different period from the stone tombs in Westerholte, which are over 4,000 years old, and offers a distinct perspective on the area's past.

The local heritage house also tells the story of a later period in the town's history. The former farming household, built in 1789, was converted into a local heritage house in 1986/87. The construction and conversion dates mark two distinct stages in the building's history: its original construction and its later transformation into a local heritage house.

More to explore in the wider Osnabrück destination

The wider Osnabrück destination offers more ways to explore nature and culture. At the Bad Iburg treetop walk, visitors can experience the forest along a route almost 600 metres long. Its accessible entrance tower, over 30 metres high, offers panoramic views of Iburg Castle and the Teutoburg Forest. The walk and its accompanying exhibition pavilion also provide insights into the geological history of the Teutoburg Forest and are part of the UNESCO Global Geopark TERRA.vita.

Museums offer further regional highlights: at the Tuchmacher Museum Bramsche, fluffy woollen blankets are made on working machines that are over 100 years old. At the Museum and Park Kalkriese, exhibits about the Battle of the Teutoburg Forest are presented using multimedia and are open to visitors. These examples complement Ankum's local history with insights into textile production and the Battle of the Teutoburg Forest in the wider Osnabrück destination.

Planning your trip

The tourist information office for the Bersenbrück collective municipality, Ankum branch, offers inspiration for cycling tours through the Artland park landscape, tips on cultural attractions and recommendations for walks. Its recommendations cover Ankum as well as the collective municipality and the Osnabrück region. When looking for a hotel, you can first decide whether your trip will focus on forests, archaeological sites, local history or a broader regional theme.

Discover more destinations: Glandorf, Bad Iburg, Hagen Am Teutoburger Wald, Hilter Am Teutoburger Wald, Hasbergen, Hesepe, Melle, Bersenbrück

Back to the main travel overview: Osnabrück.