Castles route

Wasserburg Sondermühlen south of Melle lives up to its name: it is still completely surrounded by moats, and a stone bridge leads to the gatehouse. 

Via Schloss Gesmold with its baroque garden and picturesque overall view, you will reach the Bissendorf holiday area; also a region rich in castles.

The Ledenburg lies idyllically hidden in the forest; also in the forest area you will find the ruins of Holter Burg. It is – besides the Iburg – the only high medieval hill fortress in the Osnabrück region. 
Do not be deterred by a little elevation gain in the terrain; the moated castle Schelenburg is definitely worth the trip.

A medieval residential tower and a Renaissance annex combine wonderfully in this building. 

To the north, the route continues especially beautifully; you can see the Mittelland Canal and the Kronensee, possibly take a refreshing swim, or cool off inside the timber-framed church of Gut Arenshorst. 

Under a shady avenue, you will cycle toward Schloss Hünnefeld near Bad Essen. Here you can visit the café and get a distant view of the wonderful English landscape park behind the castle. Unique in this area is the baroque dovecote from 1710. 

Shortly afterward, you will reach the now internationally known Ippenburg, famous for its garden festivals.
The neo-Gothic castle is surrounded by a magnificent English garden filled with lush perennials, roses, and many other plants. Visits are possible during the festivals.

Make sure to pass through the spa town of Bad Essen, characterized by half-timbered houses, and take time to visit the dinosaur tracks in Barkhausen. 

Afterward, you approach Melle again. Here you will pass Gut Ostenwalde with a water mill and three-winged manor house, perhaps still encountering a wild boar or two in the Melle Mountains.
Overall, this route promises a special experience; not only because nobility obliges!