Discover Isselburg

Isselburg combines striking architectural heritage with gardens, natural areas and routes for cycling and hiking. When planning a stay, the defensive tower, Anholt moated castle and Anholter Schweiz Biotope Wildlife Park each offer a different perspective on the area. Several cycling routes also pass through Isselburg or end here.

Defensive Tower and Anholt Moated Castle

The defensive tower in Isselburg was built around 1417 by the Duke of Cleves as a corner tower in the Cleves town fortifications. The 15th-century tower is about 15 metres high, with walls up to 1.75 metres thick. Its height and wall thickness illustrate its former role in the town’s defences. The Isselburg town tower is open to visitors on the first and third Sundays from May to October, from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., and by individual appointment. Before visiting, check whether the seasonal opening times apply.

Anholt Moated Castle combines historic interiors with extensive gardens. The main castle includes grand rooms and salons with princely art collections, the 12th-century keep known as the “Thick Tower” and a medieval court kitchen dating from the 15th century. These areas have been opened to the public as part of guided tours. If you plan to visit the interiors, check in advance whether a guided tour is available.

The castle also houses a private art collection assembled over time, with more than 700 paintings. The schools represented include Dutch, Flemish, German, Spanish and Italian masters. The picture gallery is not currently included in the regular tour. In the historic landscaped park, Baroque pleasure gardens, English landscape gardens and a rose garden together cover 34 to 35 hectares. This brings different garden styles together in an extensive parkland setting.

Discover nature at the Biotope Wildlife Park

Anholter Schweiz Biotope Wildlife Park is in Isselburg-Vehlingen and covers around 56 hectares. More than 50 native animal species can be seen there. The grounds include six kilometres of well-maintained walking paths, which are also suitable for wheelchair users. An open-access meadow with donkeys and fallow deer, a goat enclosure and a large playground round out the facilities.

Public feedings take place daily; feeding times may change seasonally or temporarily. If you plan your visit around a feeding, check the latest information beforehand. The paths and animal areas offer various reasons to spend time in the park, while the stated six-kilometre path length also provides a practical guide for planning your time.

Cycling and hiking around Isselburg

The “Stadt-Land-Fluss” cycling route passes through Isselburg and is about 53 kilometres long. The western loop of the Hohe Mark cycling route runs through Borken, Raesfeld, Hamminkeln, Isselburg, Bocholt and Rhede; it is about 115 kilometres long. The stated total distances clearly distinguish the two routes, but do not indicate travel time or difficulty. The Bocholter Aa cycling route runs from Velen to where the Bocholter Aa flows into the Oude IJssel in Isselburg.

There are walking routes around Isselburg too, following peaceful riverbanks, passing through green forests and going by local districts. This lets you compare the cycling routes by their stated distances, while for walks you can instead focus on the different landscapes. These activities offer different ways to experience the area, without requiring you to follow a particular route.

Cycling plans across the wider Borken destination

The wider Borken destination also includes the district of Borken, with a well-developed network of more than 5,000 kilometres of cycling routes away from busy roads. Themed cycling routes in the Borken district and Münsterland include the 100 Castles Route, the Hohe Mark cycling route and the Flamingo Route. This regional overview complements the specific Isselburg routes with a broader perspective if you want to expand your cycling plans beyond a single route.

Discover more destinations: Reken, Gescher, Gronau, Vreden, Heiden, Raesfeld, Bocholt, Stadtlohn.

Back to the wider travel overview: Borken.