Weser Cycle Route, 2nd stage: From Höxter to Hamelin

The town of Höxter combines picturesque half-timbered houses and medieval alleys with a lively city center. The wide variety of restaurants and beer gardens invites you to take a break. In Höxter, you will find some of the most important buildings of the Weser Renaissance with magnificently decorated facades. A highlight is the Forum Jacob Pins, which offers an attractive mix of historical architecture and the works of the artist Jacob Pins. In the leisure facility Höxter-Godelheim directly on the Weser cycling route, you can cool off. The freely accessible swimming and recreational lake entices with a spacious and well-maintained fine sandy beach.

A little further north, directly on the main route of the Weser cycling route, is the UNESCO World Heritage Site Corvey. The current castle and former monastery is a cultural center of the region as a historic monument, museum, and event venue. It houses, among other things, a regional museum, an exhibition on the history of the town of Höxter, as well as the princely library.

The onward ride along the Weser takes you to Holzminden, also known as the "City of Scents and Flavors." Here, during a fragrant city tour, you can discover the sights of the town with your "nose" at 18 scent steles. The event highlight is the biennial "International Street Theatre Festival Holzminden" (2019), the first and internationally most renowned festival of this genre in Germany. Still in Holzminden, you then have to decide on which side of the Weser you want to continue cycling. On the right side, the main route, is the Weser Renaissance castle Bevern, a magnificent water castle with a picturesque courtyard. From Bevern, it goes on to Polle, where you can change Weser sides with the historic reaction ferry. Here, Cinderella calls Everstein Castle home and regularly performs at the Cinderella open-air play.

You continue through the Rühler Schweiz, where the Cherry Blossom Festival is celebrated in spring amidst a landscape covered in white blossoms. This leads you to Bodenwerder, the home of the legendary Baron von Münchhausen. Traces of the incomparable fabulist can be discovered in the Münchhausen Museum, on a tour through the historic old town, at the Münchhausen play, or during the Münchhausen musical. A visitor magnet is the “Light Festival on the Weser - the Weser Burns,” which takes place every year on the second weekend of August. It features the largest fireworks display in northern Germany.

Via Daspe, where you can see Hehlen Castle on the opposite shore, the main route leads you to the small village of Grohnde. Here, it is worthwhile to cross the Weser side using the historic reaction ferry to make a detour to the magnificent Hämelschenburg. The Weser Renaissance castle is one of the last fully preserved Renaissance complexes in Germany. Guided tours are offered there, and the adjacent buildings, such as the church, the water mill, and the park with the castle café, offer both relaxation and culture. From here, it is only a stone's throw to Emmerthal, from where the path leads via Tündern to the town of Hamelin, famous for its Pied Piper legend. The historic old town scores with numerous restored half-timbered and Weser Renaissance houses.

In summer, you should carry enough to drink. Rain gear should be taken at any time of the year. A touring bike is the ideal companion.

From the north, you can reach Höxter as follows:
Take the A7 to Hannover, continue on the A2 towards Bielefeld, exit at Lauenau and via the B83 and B64 to Höxter

From the south:
Drive on the A7 to the exit Hann. Münden, further via the B80 and B83 along the Weser to reach Höxter

From the west:
The A44 motorway to Bad Wünnenberg, then continue on the A33 towards Paderborn, exit Paderborn center and then via the B64 to Höxter

From the east:
Take the A2 to Salzgitter, continue on the A7 towards Kassel, exit Seesen and then via the B64 to Höxter

Train stations along the route:

• Höxter
• Holzminden
• Emmerthal
• Hamelin

• On your cycling trip, you have connections to the Weser ship in the following places:
  Höxter, Holzminden, Polle, Reileifzen, Rühle, Bodenwerder, Grohnde, Emmerthal, Hamelin

• You can use the Weser ferries at the following locations: Heinsen, Polle, Grave, Grohnde

• Secure bicycle boxes are available in Höxter, Holzminden, Bodenwerder, and Hamelin.

• More information can be found on the website of the Weser Cycle Route information center.

• The complete main route can be found here.

It is advisable to book accommodations in advance. The route is not very suitable for racing bikes. We ask for mutual consideration.

• Weser Cycle Route service brochure, free shipping
• Bikeline cycling tour book Weser Cycle Route, €16.90
• Kompass bicycle guide Weser Cycle Route, €16.95

Order easily by phone at 05151/930039 or by e-mail at service@weserradweg-info.de. We are happy to advise you! Delivery is on invoice. You can order the service brochure here free of charge.