Page 394 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Germany

392  WESTERN GERM AN Y NOR TH RHINE-WESTPHALIA  393

3 Kleve (Cleves) + Schwanenburg
2 Münsterland Road map A3. * 50,000. £ @ Am Schloßberg. Tel (02821) 22 884.
n Opschlag 11–13 (02821-89 50 90). Open Apr–Oct: 11am–5pm daily;
The region stretching in a narrow strip to the north Nov–Mar: 11am–5pm Sat & Sun. &
of Münster is the land of horses and Wasserburgen The town of Kleve is named E Museum Kurhaus Kleve –
(moated castles). The castles were surrounded by after the high cliff, on which Ewald Mataré-Sammlung
a castle was built in the 10th
moats or built on islands to give their owners century. Around it, a settlement Tiergartenstraße 41. Tel (02821) 750
10. Open 11am–5pm Tue–Sun. &
protection in the surrounding lowlands. Almost developed, which became a
50 Wasserburgen have survived, some converted town in 1242. It was ruled by the Environs
into residences. Not all are open to visitors as most dukes of Kleve, whose ambitions The suspension bridge across
remain to this day in the hands of the family of the reached their peak in 1539, the Rhine – at 1,228 m (4,028 ft)
original owners. The best way to tour the flat when Anne of Cleves married the longest such structure in The Hafentempel in the Archäolo gischer
the English King Henry VIII.
Germany – connects Kleve
Park in Xanten
Münsterland region is by car or bicycle.
2 Vischering The magnificent Burg During World War II Kleve lost with Emmerich. Worth a visit
Vischering is one of the oldest and most of its historic buildings. here is the Martinskirche, with Colonia Ulpia Traiana near the
5 Schloß Raesfeld best-preserved castles in Westphalia. One that has survived is the its exquisite, late-10th-century local garrison. The present
The beautiful Founded in 1270, it was extended in imposing Gothic church of the shrine of St Willibrod. town, however, did not rise out
17th-century castle the 16th and 17th centuries. Assumption of the Virgin Mary, Twelve km (7 miles) to the of the ruins of the Roman town.
has some original St Mariä Himmelfahrt (1341– southeast of Kleve lies the It was established nearby,
14th-century 1 Havixbeck Two interesting castles are 1426). It has remains of the high charming town of Kalkar around the memorial church
elements. Particularly near this small town: the Renais sance altar, dating from 1510–13, with which, in around 1500, was built on top of the grave of the
worth seeing is the Haus Havixbeck and the Rena issance- reliefs by Henrik Douvermann home to the famous Kalkar martyr St Viktor. It was named
castle chapel with its Baroque Burg Hülshoff, birth place of and and Jakob Dericks, as well as School specializing in ad sanctos (by the saints), later
Baroque altar. museum to the 19th -century writer beautiful monuments to the woodcarving. The church shortened to Xanten. A powerful
Annette von Droste-Hülshoff. von Kleve dukes. The former of St Nicolai has superb town in the Middle Ages,
Franciscan St Mariä Empfängnis, furnishings dating from Xanten also features in the
Enschede Osnabrũck a Gothic twin-nave hall-church the same period. Nibelung myth, and was said to
from the first half of the 15th Six km (4 miles) southeast is be the birthplace of Siegfried.
J century, includes noteworthy the moated castle of Moyland. The most important historic
J Coesfeld Münster features such as the Gothic stalls It houses a modern art collec- building in the town is the Dom
(1474) and a Baroque pulpit tion, which belongs to the St Viktor, which, according to
Nottuln (1698). The well-preserved ducal brothers von der Grinten and legend, was built on the graves
J castle of Schwanenburg was includes over 4,000 works by of St Viktor and members of the
remodelled twice: in Gothic the artist Joseph Beuys. Thebian Legion. The surviving
Broken style in the late 15th century, Gothic cathedral (1263–1517)
and in Baroque style in 1636–66. holds the shrine of St Victor
Testifying to former splendour 4 Xanten (1129), the early-Gothic stalls
are the parks established in the (1228) and, above all, the
Liidinghausen J mid-17th century by Johann Road map A3. * 21,500. £ @ exquisite Marienaltar by Henrik
Haltern J n Kurfürstenstraße. 9
Hamm Moritz von Nassau. The most (02801-772 200). Douvermann. There are also
beautiful of these is the Neuer Gothic sculptures by the pillars
Tiergarten (new animal garden). The history of of the main nave. Equally
Haus Koekkoek once belonged Xanten goes fascinating are the collegial
Dorsten
Marl to the Romantic painter Barend back to the buildings and the cloister
Key 3 Schloß Nordkirchen This vast Cornalis Koek koek, after whom Romans, holding the tombs of the canons.
moated castle, nicknamed the
it was named. The Museum
Also worth visiting is the
who
Suggested route “Westphalian Versailles”, was designed Kurhaus Kleve – Ewald Mataré- founded Klever Tor, a magnificent late
Scenic route by Gottfried Laurenz Pictorius and built Sammlung presents interesting the settle- 14th century double town-gate,
Hamm in 1703–34 for the Plettenberg family.
Other road and diverse art exhibitions. ment of northwest of the town. The
Archä ologischer Park, on the
River, lake 0 km 16 site of the Roman town, and
Viewpoint Tips for Drivers
0 miles 16 the Römer Museum display
Tour length: 97 km (58 miles). many reconstructed Roman
Stopping-off points: Every town public buildings including the
4 Schloß Lembeck has inns, and there is a hotel in impressive Hafentempel
In its present shape, the Schloß Lembeck. (harbour temple).
Lembeck castle complex Suggestions: All castles are open
is the result of Baroque to visitors Tuesday to Sunday, Y Archäologischer Park &
remodelling, under the with the exception of Nordkirchen, Römer Museum
direction of Johann which opens only on Sundays Wardter Straße. Tel (02801) 29 99.
Conrad Schlaun. Nearby and by reservation on other days. Open Mar–Oct: 9am–6pm daily;
is a nature reserve. Nov: 9am–5pm; Dec–Feb:
The Gothic Dom St Victor in Xanten 10am–4pm. &
For hotels and restaurants in this area see pp500–501 and pp526–9
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Eyewitness Travel LAYERS PRINTED:
Catalogue template “UK” LAYER
(Source v2.3)
Date 6th February 2013
Size 125mm x 217mm