The best city hikes and walks in Kreis Minden-Lübbecke

This structure is a must-see. A boat trip is offered, during which you travel along the intersection from the canal side as well as the river side.

At the far end of the accessible entrance to the side wings, two sculptures symbolize the cornerstones of the spa: water and health. The entire structure is 84 meters long. Both spatially and visually, the promenade hall forms the almost perfect northern (lower) end of the grand vista uphill to the Imperial Palace (Kurhaus) and simultaneously the smaller vista up to the Theater im Park. The view (in both directions) is breathtaking. Since the central axis of the promenade hall (i.e., its open side) faces southeast, the two colonnades and the semicircular inner courtyard are largely protected from the prevailing westerly winds. It's no wonder that this superbly designed space is one of the city's most popular spots: absolutely perfect for festivals, markets, and cultural events, held several times a year!

Radiantly white, like a temple to healing waters and health, the Wandelhalle (promenade hall) presents itself as perhaps the most beautiful and functional building in the Bad Oeynhausen spa gardens. Built in 1925/26 in the Neoclassical style, the Wandelhalle architecturally completes the historic spa garden buildings. Nearly 70 years after the late-classical Bathhouse I by Carl Ferdinand Busse (1857), the clear formal language of antiquity is once again embraced. The elevated central section, the so-called Trinkhalle (drinking hall), with its six freestanding Ionic columns on the front, resembles a Greek temple. Today, in addition to the traditional dispensing of healing waters, the magnificent hall serves as a venue for concerts, lectures, and panel discussions—a kind of spa town hall. The two side wings, each curved into a quarter circle, consist of a row of shops enclosed on the outside and a colonnade open to the inner courtyard, supported by Doric columns.

What is little known in this country is that Gorgolewski also worked outside of Prussia and left visible traces to this day, especially in southern Poland and western Ukraine (both regions together then belonged to Austria-Hungary as the Kingdom of Galicia and Lodomeria). During the last years of his life (1893-1903), he was director of the Technical University in Lviv. His most important work there is the magnificent neo-Baroque theater and opera house (1897-1900), today the largest and most prestigious in Ukraine.

The magnificent Bathhouse II, originally called Bathhouse IV, was built between 1883 and 1885 in the French Renaissance style. Similar to the late-classical Bathhouse I (by Carl Ferdinand Busse), it has an H-shaped floor plan and a high central dome with the grand main entrance in front of it. However, it differs in its four elevated corner pavilions and its considerably more opulent interior design. The architect was Siegmund (Zygmunt) Gorgolewski (1845–1903), one of the leading figures of Historicism at the time. As a Prussian government architect, Gorgolewski left behind numerous public buildings, primarily in the eastern provinces. He himself came from the then-province of Posen.

Beautiful wildlife enclosure right next to the clinic. You can linger here often.

Unfortunately, large sections of the city wall have been reduced in size—presumably to give residents a better view. But, in conjunction with the well-kept old half-timbered houses, it's absolutely worth seeing.

It's nice that you have free access to the lock.