A1 - Rund um den Holsterberg

The starting point of our hikes in the district of Brake is already a highlight: the Weser Renaissance-style castle was built on the remains of a castle built in the 12th century by Bernhardt II, the founding father of Lippe, which was destroyed in 1447 during the Soest Feud.

The Weser Renaissance Museum housed in the castle is definitely worth a visit. There are also some gems in the area around the castle, such as the wash house and the oil mill, which is still in working order and contains the original inventory from 1805. We now walk anti-clockwise on the beer trail through and along the Begaaue, which is partly designated as a nature reserve, and ask dog owners to keep their pets on a lead in the designated areas. The Holsterberg is wooded today, but in earlier times it was free of trees and the gallows erected here at the time were clearly visible from afar and sent the message to travelers: "Look here, there's order here".

We soon reach the highest point of this circular hike with a wonderful view of the Begatal valley to the north of us, behind which the Windelstein, Kleeberg and Piepenkopf can be seen. At the bottom of the valley are the 1200-year-old church paths, along which farming families used to go to church in the Gaukirche St. Johann church west of Lemgo.

Back down into the Bega Valley, after the Bega Bridge, we find a sign pointing to the oldest paper mill in Lippe. Today, there is little to indicate this mill. Here in the Begagrund, some wetlands have been preserved and are protected. They are a refuge for many animals that would otherwise have no chance in the man-made landscape. The way back takes us along the cycle and footpath (cyclists beware) along the old railroad line to Hameln, which was opened in 1896 and closed in 1980. Today it is occasionally used by museum trains. To the left of the path, the Bega meanders through the valley with wet meadows. Here you can often see herons and, at the appropriate time of year, storks looking for food. We are now approaching

The third mill on our tour, the Walkenmühle, which was first mentioned in 1335. In earlier times, the Lemgo cloth makers produced a waterproof and windproof cloth here, the Lem'sche Wand, which was of supra-regional importance. Today, a café invites you to take a break here. Next we reach the modern fire department center of the district of Lippe. In addition to a hose maintenance facility (the high tower), there is also a training center where the use of breathing apparatus is taught. After crossing the farm, we come to the orchards with old apple trees. The BUND provides a lot of information about the old fruit varieties on boards, a small nature trail. These meadows are the remains of the old castle park where Princess Pauline had an ultra-modern mental hospital built in 1811, the Lindenhaus. The buildings are used for modern purposes today.

Parking lot at the Weser Renaissance Museum in Brake Castle Schloßstr.18 Lemgo

Lemgo-Lüttfeld train station 500m away

The Weser Renaissance Museum, which is housed in the castle, is definitely worth a visit.