Schlangen: Hiking, Cycling and History

When visiting Schlangen, you can choose between cultural and historical attractions, hiking and cycling to shape your trip.

Cultural History in Schlangen

A 13th-century Christophorus painting in the fresco-secco technique is located in the Romanesque tower of the Evangelical Reformed Church in Schlangen. The wall painting is considered the oldest depiction of the saint in Westphalia and was rediscovered during renovation work in 1970. Occasional visits are possible; there is no regular public access. If you want to see the painting, check in advance whether a visit is possible.

Since 1993, the Schlangen Village Museum has been housed in Haus Fischer, a building constructed in 1889 from local limestone rubble. The two years refer to different things: 1889 dates the building, while 1993 marks the start of its use as the museum’s home. The Archaeological Discovery Trail in the municipality of Schlangen offers another way to explore the past, complementing this architectural history. Two full-size replicas of burial mounds illustrate Bronze Age burial customs.

Hiking and Cycling

The S-Weg is an approximately 21 km circular hiking trail around Schlangen, Kohlstädt and Oesterholz-Haustenbeck. It passes through a varied cultural landscape and several nature reserves. It is marked with a white S inside a circle on a black background. As temporary diversions are possible, check local information before setting out.

Five digital Schlänger cycling routes start and end in Schlangen. They range from 15.7 to 43.5 km in length; they are not signposted, but can be accessed digitally using GPX data. Compared with the S-Weg, for which an approximate length and trail marking are specified, the cycling routes cover a range of distances but rely on digital navigation. Check the route and GPX download in the Teuto-Navigator, as routes and access formats may change.

Another cycling tour, the approximately 82 km Senne Cycle Route, runs around the Senne military training area and touches or passes through the municipality of Schlangen. Overall, it runs through or alongside eight towns and municipalities. While the five Schlänger cycling routes start and end in Schlangen, the Senne Cycle Route is a longer route connected to several municipalities.

Lippe as a Regional Setting

In the wider destination of Lippe, the hiking trail network covers around 2,000 kilometres. It includes part of European Long-Distance Path E1, as well as the award-winning “Hermannshöhen” and “Hansaweg” trails. This is a different scale from the S-Weg: its approximately 21 kilometres describe the circular hike around Schlangen, Kohlstädt and Oesterholz-Haustenbeck, while the roughly 2,000 kilometres refer to the Lippe network as a whole.

The cultural attractions in the wider destination of Lippe also offer distinct highlights. Lippe has seven historic town centres characterised by Renaissance buildings. The Externsteine are a cultural and natural monument in the heart of Lippe. The Weser Renaissance Museum in Lemgo presents the cultural history of the Weser region in the 16th and 17th centuries. The regional perspective therefore encompasses urban architecture, a cultural and natural monument, and the history of a clearly defined period.

Discover more destinations: Bad Salzuflen, Lemgo, Augustdorf, Lage, Schieder-Schwalenberg, Rott, Detmold, Lügde.

For the main travel overview: Lippe.