Borchen

When planning a stay in Borchen, you can choose between hikes, cycling routes, and historical themes. The trails vary in length and route: in addition to circular hikes, there is the Old Pilgrim Trail between Paderborn and Borchen, as well as signposted cycling routes with a specified distance range. This lets you focus your trip on what interests you most.

Hiking trails by length and route

The Old Pilgrim Trail between Paderborn and Borchen is just over 21 kilometres long and has been certified as a short-quality trail; it is also listed as a “Dream Tour.” The municipality announced the certification in September 2024; certification periods may be extended. The Wind-Wald-Wiesen trails offer a different type of route: these are two circular hiking trails, each 15 kilometres long, starting at the Old Church in Dörenhagen. Both combine nature experiences with information about local history.

This gives you specific differences to consider when choosing a route: the Old Pilgrim Trail runs between the two places named, while the Wind-Wald-Wiesen trails are circular routes. The trail lengths also differ. The signposted Borchen routes Bo 1 to Bo 7 are designated for day trips of 9 to 28 kilometres in and around Borchen. Check local route conditions before setting out and deciding on your tour.

Local history and distinctive landscapes

In Dörenhagen stands the Old Church of St. Meinolfus, a well-preserved small fortified church dating from the early 13th century. It was built around 1222. In 2004, information boards about the history of the Gellinghausen hillfort, also known as Hünenburg, were installed. Their content is based on new scientific findings. The church and the hillfort therefore offer different points of interest: one focuses on a historic building, the other on the history of the site.

Another landscape attraction is the Teufelsstein viewpoint. A winding path leads to the rock, which lies high above the Altenau Valley and is equipped with a permanent platform. The trail description, platform, and location above the valley give this destination its own distinctive character. When planning your trip, you can include this viewpoint alongside hiking and cycling routes as a separate facet of Borchen’s landscape.

More themes in the wider Paderborn destination

The wider Paderborn destination offers additional cultural and nature-related themes. Schloß Neuhaus is located in the Paderborn district of the same name and is an impressive example of early Weser Renaissance architecture. The Heinz Nixdorf MuseumsForum in Paderborn offers a journey through 5,000 years of information technology: from the first written characters and historic writing and calculating machines to early computers, modern robots, and artificial intelligence. This brings an architectural history focus and a technology history theme together.

The nature-related themes also differ. The Ems spring in the Moosheide nature reserve is a seepage spring formed by numerous water outlets. A wooden boardwalk gives visitors a close-up view of the natural spring. The Steinhorster Becken comprises a mosaic of shallow-water ponds, islands, reed beds, and wet grassland on both sides of the Ems. It offers migratory waders and waterbirds undisturbed places to rest and feed. Thus, the wider Paderborn destination offers contrasting nature experiences in the form of a spring landscape and a wetland.

Discover more destinations: Nordborchen, Hövelhof, Barkhausen, Bad Wünnenberg, Bad Lippspringe, Altenbeken, Salzkotten, Paderborn.

Go to the wider travel overview: Paderborn.