그라프샤프트 벤트하임‬에서 가장 멋진 ‪20‬개의 천연기념물

Impressive rock formations on which the castle is built.

In the Franzosenschlucht near Bad Bentheim you can climb over sandstone rocks and walk through a hilly landscape. Behind the open-air stage in Bad Bentheim there is a forest area that is ideal for a walk and climbing: the Franzosenschlucht. The name comes from the fact that in 1795 French troops conquered Bentheim Castle. The soldiers are said to have set up camp in the hidden gorge. Today a road (B 403) runs through the gorge, with two hills rising on either side. On one is the open-air stage, on the other the forest area, both connected by a bridge. The hills owe their rock formations to a former quarry, the origins of which date back even further than the French siege. Sandstone has been mined in quarries in Bad Bentheim since the 11th century.

A bottom slide for the Dinkel The "War" weir must make way for a more ecological structure The "War" Dinkel weir in Lage was more than 80 years old when extensive renovation work began here in May 2019. The dilapidated weir in the county of Bentheim was replaced by a bottom slide that compensates for the difference in height between the upper and lower water over a longer distance. Now fish and other aquatic animals can migrate up and down again. This "ecological continuity" is made possible by the multi-level bottom slide with 20 crossbars that transform the riverbed into a kind of long staircase or "basin cascade". The rest areas in the basins allow even weak-swimming fish to ascend the water and are also a breeding ground for young fish. In addition, the turbulent flow ensures that the water absorbs more oxygen than before.

A great highlight on the tour in the Lower County on the border with the Netherlands, also with a rest hut -:)

In the summer there are turtles swimming around. Nice extra

Very nice museum

Stone Kingdom The geological open-air museum in Gildehaus is a great destination for cyclists and hikers. Here, 50 exhibits in 16 different types of rock can be seen in the open air. The location, close to the only still active quarry for Bentheim sandstone, offers the opportunity to take a look inside as well.

In Lage, the bottom slide and bridge at the Dinkel weir have been completed. This was announced by the district of Grafschaft Bentheim. The construction of the bottom slide restored the river's continuity in accordance with the European Water Framework Directive. Over the years, obstacles to migration for fish, among other things, have also arisen in the Dinkel area, which have now been removed by the measures. This included the demolition of the old bridge and weir system and the construction of a new two-span bridge with a flood channel opening. The reconstruction work on the weir system began in 2019. According to the head of the Lower Saxony State Office for Water Management, Coastal and Nature Conservation, Dorothea Altenhofen, the planned measures at the Dinkel weir in Neuenhaus and the bottom slide will achieve complete continuity on the Lower Saxony side of the Dinkel. The construction project was funded by EU and state funds with 1.5 million euros.