Meppen captivates with its natural beauty and cultural attractions. Meppen impresses with its historic city centre, walking through the narrow streets, you can travel back in time and see the well-preserved architecture of the old buildings. The main square, the Markt, is bustling with life, attracting locals and visitors alike.
The area is full of lush green fields, meandering rivers and peaceful lakes. You can take a relaxing bike ride along the Emsland Radweg. And the nearby Haseauen Park, offers beautiful flora and fauna as well as peace and quiet.
Meppen has many historical monuments, the most characteristic of which is Meppen Castle, dating from the 16th century. Another important monument is the impressive Gothic cathedral, St. Vitus Church, which stands out against the city skyline.
Location
Meppen is a town in and the seat of the Emsland district of Lower Saxony, Germany. Located near the Dutch border.
Naturpark Bourtanger Moor
In the mid-19th century, the Bourtanger Moor, with an area of 2,000 square kilometers, was one of the largest contiguous raised bogs in Central Europe. Today, thanks to the development and restoration of the bogs, only a few remnants remain.
Discover a unique landscape in the Bourtanger Moor-Bargerveen Nature Park. The many cycling and hiking trails allow you to explore the extensive bog area. You can also enjoy impressive views from the Füchtenfelder Moor viewing platform. The oil pumps in the nature park are also visible from afar, as the Bourtanger Moor-Veenland Nature Park is located in the largest German oil production area on the continent.
Naturpark Hümmling
The 577 km² Hümmling Nature Park (altitude 0–73 m) is characterised by gentle hills with dense forests, birch groves, heathlands, moorland and river meadows. The Nature Park is home to many rare bird species, as well as two nature reserves: Esterweger Dose and Theikenmeer, which protect heathland and peatland landscapes of exceptional beauty.
Worth seeing here are the numerous prehistoric megalithic tombs or the Hüvener Mill, one of the few completely preserved windmills and watermills. The unique baroque Clemenswerth palace complex in Sögel covers around 42 hectares of park-like grounds with ponds. The well-developed network of cycle paths offers cyclists a great way to explore the Nature Park.
Borkener Paradies
The Borkener Paradies is part of the old grazing lands, of which a comparatively large number have been preserved in the Emsland region, and which are of particular ecological and historical value.
The Borkener Paradies is a German nature reserve (known in Germany as Hudewald) near Versen to the northwest of Meppen, covering approximately 30 hectares, which has served as a wooded pasture area for several decades.
Meppen City Museum
On two levels and an area of almost 800 square meters, two exciting permanent exhibitions invite you to travel through time to the prehistory and early history of the Emsland region and the history of the city of Meppen. The new Meppen City Museum offers a modern, attractive presentation that looks at the long and significant history of the city of Meppen, which effectively illuminates eight themed islands. Impressive presentations, interactive elements, games and hands-on.
Meppen Exhibition Centre for the Archaeology of the Emsland
The Archaeological Exhibition Centre is great for history and archaeology enthusiasts.Experts conduct research into the prehistory and early history of the Emsland region. Their findings are presented through effectively presented original finds, impressive reenactments and models. The museum is open all year round and also offers guided tours for visitors. The museum is also available for private events, such as birthday parties.
Meppen Town Hall
In 1605, the building was extended by two floors, pushed forward and supported by four columns connected by arches. A ship at the top of the town hall tower testifies to Meppen’s links with the Hanseatic League in the Middle Ages. Today, the town hall houses a café. However, the historic council chamber is still used for receptions and civil weddings.
Gymnasialkirche der Jesuiten
Meppen Gymnasium Church is a Roman Catholic, late Baroque hall church belonging to the Meppen Residence, a former small settlement of the Jesuit order. The church was built between 1743 and 1746 and is dedicated to the Immaculate Conception of Mary. The patron saint of the church is celebrated on December 8. Today, the building houses the Windthorst Gymnasium. From May to September, the church is open to visitors on Sundays from 3:00 to 6:00 p.m.
