Culture of Gronau. Places to visit - old town, temples, theaters, museums and palaces

Gronau is a quiet and peaceful town whose most remarkable attractions include beautiful parks designed for gaining peace of mind and aesthetic pleasure. They are all mainly concentrated in the vicinity of the city, while the city itself is rather suitable for a quiet and measured life. On the outskirts, you will find Bentheim Castle. The castle is notable for being perfectly preserved and the fact that it is more than 1,000 years old (the time of its construction dates back to 1020). The fortress wall, moats, bridges, prison, church, as well as everyday objects located here have largely remained unchanged. It is worth visiting this particular castle to get a general idea of the life of German feudal lords. The castle often serves as a venue for weddings and other special events.

Another interesting historical monument is Schloss Ahaus. The first mention of the building dates back to the 11th century, and in 1406 the building began to be used as a residential palace by the Archbishop of Münster. In 1688, the old castle was destroyed and a new one was erected in its place, the Baroque style was chosen for its internal and external decoration. The castle was completed in 1718. A century later, the castle served as a palace of the Salm-Kirburg family but was soon bought by an entrepreneur who has converted the castle into a tobacco factory. It had been used in this form until 1945 when it was destroyed by bombardment. After the war, the castle was restored, and today it is occupied by Technische Akademie Ahaus and Schulmuseum Ahaus.

Not far from the castle is Villa van Delden, one of the most remarkable buildings in the vicinity of Gronau. The building looks very neat, built in the style of classicism, the patio enveloping the mansion from all sides is also beautiful. The building was designed and built by Jan van Delden in the 19th century. Today it hosts weddings and other celebrations, as well as temporary exhibitions. An equally attractive building is located nearby. It is about Rathaus built in the style of classicism and distinguished by its functionality. Copyright www.orangesmile.com

Another building is very remarkable and stands out among others. We are talking about Landgasthof Haarmuhle. Today, the historic building (built in the 18th century) is a restaurant with an excellent menu. Next to the mansion, you'll find an old water mill (about 400 years old), which is definitely worth a visit as well. Kirche St. Mariä Himmelfahrt Alstätte stands out among religious monuments. In front of the church, here is a beautiful fountain created in 2006 by Hans-Werner Kalkmann and Jens Kalkmann. You can also notice one more interesting statue in Gronau. It's the monument to Udo Lindenberg, the most famous native of the city.

An interesting attraction is Gildehauser Ostmuhle. This is a windmill, next to which you can feel the extraordinary atmosphere of touching the history. The mill is special in that it is built of sandstone, which is very uncharacteristic of structures of this kind. It is very beautiful and masterfully restored; a visit to this attraction should definitely be included in the plan of every tourist who decides to visit Gronau. In addition, it offers beautiful views of the city and its surroundings, as well the neighboring Netherlands. Going a little further, you can find Otto-Pankok-Museum presenting artworks by the painter, sculptor and printmaker Otto Pankok.

It's definitely worth visiting Rock'n'popmuseum where most of the exhibits are interactive. It will be of interest not only to rock and pop music fans but also to those preferring other genres of music. It mainly tells about German music but also touches the themes of world music. Another museum's name is the Briefmarkenmuseum, and this is a godsend for philatelists. The museum building is of particular interest - the fact is that once there was a Franciscan monastery here. The only caveat is that you can visit it only by appointment. The city can also offer several interesting parks where you can have a good time. The best park to escape from the hustle and bustle is the Gemeidepark. It's also worth visiting a park located next to Schloss Ahaus, which is called Schloßgarten.