Hembergen – Find hotels and discover the village

Hembergen brings together evidence of a long history as a community, dated traces of historic buildings and bells, and a cycle path that runs through the village. These topics offer different starting points for planning your trip.

Church and historical traces

St. Servatius Church stands in Hembergen. The oldest bells in Emsdetten hang in its church tower; they date from 1504 and 1696. These are two specific years associated with the bells in the tower.

The formerly independent parish of St. Servatius is documented as being more than 800 years old and is one of the oldest parishes in the diocese. This refers to a different historical timeframe from the years 1504 and 1696: the more than 800 years relate to the parish, while the two dates refer to the bells.

Another historical landmark is the sheepfold in Hembergen. It was built in 1781 and is listed as a protected monument in Emsdetten. The sheepfold is considered a rare example of its kind and the only such building in the Samtgemeinde. Its date refers to the construction of the building, complementing the different historical details about the parish and the bells.

The church and the sheepfold offer different ways to explore Hembergen’s history: at St. Servatius, the focus is on the parish and the bells; at the sheepfold, it is on the dated building and its classification as a rare example. This makes it possible to distinguish the specific details according to what they refer to.

The Emsauenradweg through Hembergen

If you would like to include Hembergen in a cycling route, the Emsauenradweg is a useful point of reference. It follows the Ems through the village of Hembergen, via Austum and through the Emsdettener EmsAue nature reserve. There are plenty of places to stop and rest along the route. The cycle path is a different travel option from the dated traces of historic buildings and bells: the focus here is on its route and the places to rest along the way.

When choosing your destination, you can therefore weigh up two different focuses: St. Servatius and the sheepfold represent historical themes passed down over time; the Emsauenradweg offers a specific route through Hembergen, via Austum and through EmsAue. The named places and the nature reserve help you locate the route without conflating it with the historical details.

Emsdetten as a wider travel destination

The wider destination of Emsdetten also offers nature attractions in their own right. Since the completion of the “EMSAUE GANZ NAH” project on 29 April 2012, a nature experience area has been available to visitors seeking relaxation in the Emsdettener Emsaue. It includes accessible paths and boardwalks, as well as information points and places to pause.

Another nature attraction in Emsdetten is the Emsdettener Venn. An educational and nature trail leads to interesting areas there and informs visitors with the help of display boards. The core area can be circled by bicycle; this has been possible since 2011. Together with the meadows along the Max-Clemens Canal, the Emsdettener Venn forms a Natura 2000 site of around 500 hectares. It comprises a raised bog complex with peat-cutting ponds at different stages of regeneration and succession, extending to carr woodland.

The museums in Emsdetten also offer distinct cultural highlights. The August-Holländer Museum presents Emsdetten’s development from an agricultural and craft-based village of farmers and weavers into an industrial town. The Wannenmacher Museum focuses on the history of the traditional tub-making craft; it features furnished rooms and a themed exhibition area on the development of the craft in Emsdetten.

For the wider travel overview: Emsdetten.