But the Westphalian Mills Route has many more attractions too: trips combining a passenger boat, the museum railway ("All aboard!"), or perhaps just ambling along in a covered wagon from one mill to the next - where a Westphalian-style coffee or snack is always ready to be served. Combined rail/cycle tours are an ideal way of getting around here, as is "mill hopping" by motor scooter. As well as mills and bakehouses, there are plenty of other cultural monuments to see. It is possible to watch herring fishermen and glassblowers going about their work in a way that has remained unchanged for centuries. Experience eastern Westphalia's loveliest region on a tour by car, motor scooter or bike. For people who enjoy nature and walking, many quiet spots beneath the sails of a windmill make a great place to take a break. How about a detour into the countryside by bike? Along the Storks Route for example, which runs through flat parkland and in river valleys where you can see the habitats of the rare white stork.
The Mills Route also takes in fascinating museums, artists' studios, imposing black and white half-timbered farmhouses and bountiful farmer's gardens, but the region also has a spa tradition going back more than 250 years. Today, the region's "rustic spas" are hugely popular as health resorts with a historic atmosphere. They once formed the foundations for the development of spas and health resorts such the state-approved spa town of Bad Oeynhausen in North Rhine-Westphalia The route takes you on a tour of the distinctive agricultural and cultural history of the region and you really should ensure you allow plenty of time for the historical places of interest along the way, some dating back as far as 1,000 years. Visitors in need of sustenance after all these cultural attractions will find a warm welcome in the region's countless country inns, bars and restaurants.
