Rinteln between floodplain landscapes and Weser Renaissance
Accommodation in Rinteln
Rinteln brings together the Weser landscape and historical themes in a variety of ways: you can explore the floodplain landscape, compare viewpoints, or learn about the Weser Renaissance and the town’s history. Routes through the districts, a ride on a rail bike and recurring events also offer potential starting points for planning your trip.
Floodplain landscapes and viewpoints
The Hohenrode floodplain landscape in the Rinteln district of Hohenrode covers 115 hectares. It was created through renaturation during gravel extraction. Its bodies of water have developed into an important resting and wintering area for birds. A four- to six-metre-high observation tower offers an unobstructed view across the lake landscape. The focus here is on observing nature and looking out over the bodies of water.
The viewpoints in the Weser Hills offer different perspectives. The Jahrtausendblick is 250 metres high and has 156 steps. From there, the view extends into the adjoining active quarry, across the Weser Valley and over the North German Plain. The Klippenturm is about 20 metres high and stands on Luhdener Klippen, a mountain around 300 m above sea level. There is a place to stop for refreshments there. Local circular hiking trails and the Weserbergland Trail (XW) pass directly by the tower. The Paschenburg offers a viewing terrace at a height above the river comparable to that of no other place in the entire Weser Uplands.
Weser Renaissance and town history
On guided tours of Rinteln, you can learn more about the Weser Renaissance. Visitors see oriels, gables, fan-shaped rosettes and colourful half-timbered houses dating from between 1520 and 1620. Guided tours in historical costumes offer another way to explore the past: the characters Babette and Margaretha tell stories from the 17th century. The tours thus offer different perspectives—from a look at the features of an architectural style to historical storytelling through characters.
The Die Eulenburg Museum is housed in a castle residence dating from the 16th century and takes visitors on a journey through 800 years of history. Its main topics include beliefs in witches, science, university history and the history of Rinteln. The historic organ dating from 1621 is the centrepiece of numerous musical events at St. Nikolai. Möllenbeck Monastery, in the Rinteln district of Möllenbeck, is considered one of the best-preserved late-medieval monastic complexes in Germany. The Irish Folk Festival takes place there every June. Check the specific event dates and programmes when planning your trip.
Choose routes and activities
The Historical District Walks pass through all of Rinteln’s districts. Their routes range from 2.4 to 11.5 kilometres and take in sights, historic places and viewpoints. The range of distances offers a concrete comparison when choosing routes of different lengths for your plans. The WeserErleben cycle route also starts and ends at the Hohenrode floodplain landscape. In Rinteln, it includes an experience station focusing on the town’s history.
One special way to experience the route is to ride a rail bike. You can ride a rail bike in Rinteln on the Extertalbahn’s 18-kilometre railway network. The purpose-built rail bike runs from Rinteln into the Exter Valley; the route leads from the Weser Uplands to the Lipper Uplands and passes through two federal states. This activity can therefore be viewed both in terms of its railway network and the transition between landscape regions.
Old town, the Weser and event dates
Rinteln’s Old Town Festival traditionally begins on the second Friday in August in the heart of the town centre and ends on Sunday. If you are planning your stay around it, check the specific event dates in advance. For a trip on a Weser boat, the starting point and destination are at the harbour wall opposite the beach bar in Rinteln; as this starting point is subject to operational information, it is also advisable to check the latest details before setting off. A bridge over the Old Harbour connects Gouvernementsinsel to the Weser promenade via a circular route.
At Rinteln’s weekly market, you can ask the vendors where their products come from and get further information. Alongside sights and routes, this offers a chance to learn about the products on sale and their origins.
Discover more destinations: HĂĽlsede, Hagenburg, Apelern, Bad Nenndorf, BĂĽckeburg, Lauenau, Meerbeck, Auetal.
Back to the main travel overview: Schaumburg.
