Husen: Nature, Trails and Architectural History

Husen lies on the upper reaches of the Altenau, which flows right through the village. The river, reservoir and orchard meadows shape the landscape, while the castle and church tell the story of the village’s architectural history. These themes offer practical starting points for planning your trip if you’d like to discover Husen and the wider destination of Lichtenau.

The Altenau and Husen Reservoir

In the Husen-Dalheim area, the Altenau has flowed along a winding, lively course again since its renaturalization in 2017. The aim of the project is to provide fish and birds with a habitat once more. Extensive grazing has helped create a diverse insect community in the Husen-Dalheim flood retention basin. Husen Reservoir itself is a flood retention basin. It was built after the extreme flooding in the Altenau Valley in July 1965 near Lichtenau-Husen.

Today, the reservoir is a popular local recreation destination, surrounded by a network of hiking and cycling trails. It gives you a distinct theme to consider when planning your trip: the history of flood protection meets the area’s present-day use for recreation. The A3 hiking trail also follows the basin on its return route to Husen.

Hiking Trails, Orchard Meadows and a Cycling Tour

The A3 hiking trail is about 9.8 kilometers long and runs between the village, fields and the Altenau Valley. It starts near the Schützenhalle on Lichtenauer Straße, at the corner of Ellern, and initially heads west through Husen, parallel to the Altenau. The return route follows the flood retention basin back to the village. If you’re interested in the A3, its approximate length, starting area and the landscapes described here can help you plan your walk.

The Husen Orchard Meadows Nature Trail offers another way to explore the area’s natural environment. It leads through the orchard meadow site and shares information about local nature and the importance of orchard meadows. For a cycling trip, there is the approximately 19-kilometer Altenau Cycle Route, a family-friendly circular tour that climbs gently behind Husen. A discovery box stands beside the cycle route at the orchard meadow between Husen and Dalheim.

There are different routes and themes to choose from on foot or by bike: the A3 is a hiking trail between the village, fields and valley, while the cycling tour is designated as a circular route. Hiking and cycling trails meet at the reservoir; the nature trail focuses specifically on orchard meadows and local nature.

The Castle, Church and Chapels

Husen Castle is a listed historic building in the center of the village, set on grounds that are partly wooded. The present building was probably constructed in 1712 in place of an older castle complex. The date that has been passed down is therefore uncertain; at the same time, the castle points to an earlier architectural history at the same site.

The Catholic parish church of St. Mary Magdalene in Husen is a Neo-Romanesque hall church dedicated to St. Mary Magdalene. It was built in 1903/04 to plans by Franz Mündelein. The organ loft comes from the former Dalheim Monastery. The architecture, dedication and historical origin of the organ loft offer several distinct aspects of the church’s history.

The freely accessible Annen Chapel, also known as Amerunger Chapel, lies near Husen. It stands at the confluence of the Altenau and Holtheimer Wasser between Lichtenau and Husen. The present Baroque building was constructed in 1669. The Altenau hiking trail and Altenau cycle route pass nearby, and the area is suitable for a rest in nature. The former Freistuhl (free court) near the deserted settlement of Amerongen is also connected with Lichtenau-Husen.

More to Explore in the Wider Destination of Lichtenau

The wider destination of Lichtenau, including its town area and 15 villages, lies entirely within the Teutoburg Forest/Egge Hills Nature Park. Hiking trails of various lengths around Dalheim Monastery lead through the nature park’s varied landscapes. The monastery grounds include around 20,000 square meters of monastery gardens and 3,000 square meters of exhibition space.

Another historical highlight in the destination of Lichtenau is the large Neolithic burial site in Atteln. The communal tombs were built about 5,000 years ago. A settlement community buried its dead there over several generations. These burial sites add a distinct, much earlier chapter of regional history to Husen’s architectural history.

For the wider travel overview: Lichtenau.