Leopoldshöhe: Heimathof, Half-Timbered Architecture and History

Leopoldshöhe brings together farm and local history, insights into rural life, church architecture, and destinations for cycling and nature enthusiasts. The Heimathof represents several facets at once: it is a historic farm, a local history museum, and the starting point of the Tichlerroute. When planning your trip, you can connect these highlights with other local landmarks and the surrounding landscape.

Heimathof and Local History Museum

The former residence at the Heimathof was restored from 1996 onward at the initiative of the local history association and converted into a local history museum, which opened in 1999. The museum is housed in the main building of the former Eickmeyer farm, a four-post timber-frame building dating from 1793. Visits to the museum are possible by appointment; please check in advance whether visits are currently available. The Heimathof’s history also stretches back a long way: its earliest known documentary mention dates from the Everstein feud at the beginning of the 15th century.

At the museum, you can explore both rural everyday and working life and the local wildlife. The exhibition includes objects from various aspects of life and work in the countryside over the past 150 years or so. A separate room is devoted to birds and mammals: numerous specimens are on display, and the calls of many of these animals can be played through a computer-controlled system. Historical ways of life and wildlife are thus presented as distinct subject areas.

The Heimathof also has a large orchard and a woodland area. The Leopoldshöhe local history association maintains and cares for both areas. Renovation work on the farm was completed in 1993; since then, the bakehouse and barbecue area have been used for various events. The local history association and the Leopoldshöhe tractor enthusiasts jointly organize, among other events, an apple and potato festival and a threshing festival featuring many historic tractors and implements.

Farm History and Architecture

Another historic landmark in Leopoldshöhe is Gut Niederbarkhausen. It was first mentioned in historical records in 1036 as an estate belonging to Bishop Meinwerk and at that time was one of the larger episcopal farm complexes, with five outlying farms. The building complex includes a manor house, a carriage house, a stable, farm buildings, a fortified farmstead, and a half-timbered building—the former brewery. The fortified farmstead is a stone storage building constructed between the 13th and 15th centuries.

The Evangelical Reformed Church of Leopoldshöhe offers another architectural perspective. Its interior is laid out as a three-aisled, stepped hall church: the central nave is considerably higher than the two side aisles. The stepped design makes the division into a central space and two side spaces particularly easy to see.

Cycling and Nature

Those wishing to explore Leopoldshöhe by bike will find the starting point of the Tichlerroute at the Heimathof. The LEADER-funded route passes through three regions. For shorter sections of the “Around Leopoldshöhe” cycling tour, the market square in Leopoldshöhe is a good starting and ending point. This gives you two different reference points for planning your ride: the Heimathof for the Tichlerroute and the market square for shorter sections of the local cycling tour.

Another natural attraction is the Heipker See nature reserve, which is part of Krentrup, a district of the municipality of Leopoldshöhe. In summer 2024, an educational apiary was also completed at the Heimathof. It is intended for aspiring beekeepers, school and children’s groups, and other interested visitors; those interested can ask the municipality whether it is possible to use it.

When choosing where to stay, you can weigh up different interests: the museum and farm history, architecture, cycling, or nature. If you would like to plan your trip around one of the jointly organized festivals or the intended use of the educational apiary, please contact the relevant organizers in advance for specific dates or information about use.

Discover more destinations: Kalletal, Horn-Bad Meinberg, Extertal, Rott, Barntrup, Lemgo, Schieder-Schwalenberg, Oerlinghausen.

For the main travel guide: Lippe.