Bad Rothenfelde combines parkland and a history of salt production with opportunities for swimming, cycling and hiking. The spa park, its gardens and the two graduation towers give the town a distinctive character; cycling and circular hiking trails add further highlights.

Spa Park, Graduation Towers and Gardens

The spa park is located in the town centre, a parkland area with themed gardens on the site of the former saltworks. The Old and New Graduation Towers form the park’s central axis. The two structures date from 1777 and 1824 and together create a large open-air inhalatorium. The spa park thus brings contemporary garden design and the history of salt production together in one place.

The Rudi-Wernemann Rose Garden lies on the south side of the New Graduation Tower. It contains 6,500 rose bushes in almost 210 varieties; the number of plants may change over time. The Bible Garden is also part of the park: it is located north of the New Graduation Tower and behind the Catholic church. Those interested in gardens will find a variety of different spaces here within the spa park, rather than just a single green space.

Brine History and Relaxation

The spa park between the concert garden and the New Graduation Tower is also an open-air museum of the former saltworks industry and follows in the footsteps of salt boilers. One vivid example of this history is the first historic brine passage: a 50-metre section can be walked on dry feet over wooden walkways and metal grates. Check the latest visitor-area operating information before your visit.

Swimming and relaxation are also part of what the town has to offer: visitors can swim and unwind at the Sole-Freibad outdoor brine pool and the carpesol Spa Therme. If you plan to visit either of these destinations, check the latest operating and seasonal information in advance. This will help you factor in the brine facilities according to your travel dates, without confusing them with a walk through the spa park.

Cycling and Hiking Trails

Four themed cycling routes pass through the spa town of Bad Rothenfelde. There are also several circular hiking trails and a section of the Ahornweg trail. This gives you a range of ways to combine your stay with cycling or a hike. These are separate route options; no particular connection between them is implied. As routes and trail alignments may change, check the route you intend to use in advance.

More Places to Visit in the Wider Osnabrück Destination

The wider Osnabrück destination also includes other places to visit, each with its own theme. At the Tuchmacher Museum Bramsche, fluffy woollen blankets are made on working machines that are over 100 years old. In Bad Essen-Barkhausen, fossilised dinosaur tracks can be seen on a steep rock face. The visitor area there also includes two dinosaur replicas, detailed information boards and a circular trail; the signposted Dinosaur Trail is a 16-kilometre circular hiking route. These destinations offer different highlights from Bad Rothenfelde’s spa park and saltworks history, giving travellers interested in textile production or geological history more options.

Discover more destinations: Atter, Ostercappeln, Melle, Bohmte, Nortrup, Belm, Gehrde, Alfhausen

Back to the wider travel guide: Osnabrück.