ビーレフェルトの天然記念物・トップ20

The Rieselfelder Windel Nature Reserve, with an area of 102.34 hectares, is located in the western part of Bielefeld. It was designated a nature reserve (NSG) in 2014 by a landscape plan. It is the largest private nature conservation project in the greater Bielefeld area, located in the former sewage fields of the Windelsbleiche district, part of the Senne district. It is funded by the Rieselfelder Windel Foundation, a non-profit, dependent nature conservation foundation under the fiduciary management of the Ravensberg Nature Foundation, based in Bünde. The nature reserve includes the Ortmann farmstead and another building, which are not part of the nature reserve. The Gütersloh/Bielefeld Biological Station was established in a barn building at the Ortmann farmstead in 1997. An information center is located in an adjacent building. The southern part of the nature reserve is separated by the Landstraße 788 (state road). Part of the Autobahn 33 borders it to the west. The Schwarzes Venn Nature Reserve borders the area to the west, separated only by a road. The Windel sewage fields are characterized by their diverse biotopes: wet and dry, open and wooded habitats, and the low intensity of land use are responsible for a wide variety of species living there, from bearded reed tits and kingfishers to spadefoot toads and lesser gargoyles to barn owls and little grebes. Two unpaved circular trails, the information center centrally located in the fields, guided tours, activity days, and nature education events for children and young people offer visitors opportunities to experience the sewage fields. The Windel Sewage Field Foundation also collaborates with the Osthusschule Museum.

Always worth a trip

Short route overview: The approx. 163 km long Hermannsweg runs over the ridge of the Teutoburg Forest and 85 percent through the two nature parks “TERRA.vita” and “Teutoburg Forest/Eggegebirge”. With its mountain ridge interrupted by numerous valleys, the path offers a varied elevation with great relief Views of the Münsterland park landscape, the Westphalian Bay or towards the Weserbergland. It begins in the Münsterland park landscape in Rheine and leads over heights of 100 to 441 m to Horn-Bad Meinberg. Shortly before its end in Leopoldstal you reach 441 m The high rock group of the Lippe Velmerstot is the highest point of the tour, from where you have a wonderful view of the surrounding area. The route leads through beautiful places such as Tecklenburg, Bad Iburg, the metropolis of Bielefeld and Oerlinghausen. In addition, many historical sights and attractions line the route Route.

The Hermannsweg - part of the “Hermannshöhen” - is considered one of the most beautiful mountain trails in Germany. It is a truly cult hiking trail and therefore an absolute must for every hiker! The tour offers a successful combination of nature and culture experience with a colorful mix of cultural sights and the beautiful nature of the Teutoburg Forest.

The Teuto - always worth a hike.

Nice corner to pause, the track is really fun.

High up along the ridge path, the landscape changes from typical deciduous forest to beautiful heathland: Enjoy one of the last natural occurrences of fragrant juniper heath here.

The local juniper plants used to be the basis of the world-famous schnapps production in Steinhagen. Today there is only a small remnant on the ridge path of the Teutoburg Forest. In Steinhagen there are still numerous field names (including Deterts Heide, Hasenheide, Voßheide), which are reminiscent of the poor sandy soil and the time when the juniper heaths almost reached the village. In general, the slopes of the Teutoburg Forest used to be completely heathed - heathland was still to be found along the Hermannsweg in the first half of the 20th century. The juniper is a cypress plant that is widespread in Europe and North America in many species. Special abilities were ascribed to juniper as early as Germanic mythology and medieval popular belief. It should offer protection against magic and evil spirits and drive away the plague. The "berries" contain a lot of sugar and have been used in a variety of ways for centuries, for example as a kitchen spice or in game dishes. Even if the beginnings of the juniper distillery in Steinhagen are in the dark, a drink made from juniper berries is said to have been produced in the area as early as the late Middle Ages. Based on the knowledge gained over the following centuries, the farmers then initially produced juniper brandy for their own use. Source: https://www.teutonavigator.de/de/teutonavigator/streaming/detail/POI/p_100077797/wacholderheiden-am-petersberg-wanderwege-steinhagen