The best city hikes and walks in the Teutoburg Forest

The Wandelhalle in the spa park is very photogenic and there are benches to sit and enjoy

The Kurparksee (Spa Park Lake) forms the tranquil heart of the expansive spa park in Bad Salzuflen and is one of the most popular spots for walkers and spa guests. Created in the early 20th century along with the spa park itself, it continues to lend the park a relaxed atmosphere. Nestled among old trees, well-maintained paths, and in close proximity to the graduation towers, the lake reflects the quintessential combination that characterizes Bad Salzuflen: nature, recreation, and the tradition of the spa town. The Salze, the town's small river, flows through both the smaller and larger Kurparksee lakes, creating a vibrant, natural body of water right in the heart of the spa area. A stroll around the lake is worthwhile at any time of year: waterfowl, changing light, and the peaceful shoreline make the Kurparksee an ideal place for short breaks, photographs, or simply to breathe deeply. For many visitors, it is the most beautiful part of the spa park – a place where the special atmosphere of Bad Salzuflen can be experienced firsthand. https://www.teutoburgerwald.de/gesund/heilgarten/heilbaeder/bad-salzuflen

The old town of Bad Salzuflen is one of the most impressive half-timbered ensembles in East Westphalia-Lippe. Within a small area, one encounters a multitude of richly decorated houses from the 16th and 17th centuries – a time when salt production brought great prosperity to the town. This wealth is still evident today in the artistic carvings, inscriptions, and gable designs that adorn many facades. The houses on Lange Straße are particularly noteworthy, including buildings No. 33 (1612) and No. 35 (1618), whose detailed carvings are among the finest examples of Weser Renaissance architecture. The Backs House on Hafermarkt is also considered one of the last richly decorated half-timbered houses of its kind in the region. A stroll through the old town leads past former mayors' houses, the historic town hall, and numerous lovingly restored buildings that continue to shape the townscape. Nestled among narrow lanes, half-timbered facades, and the gentle murmur of the Salzuflen stream, the atmosphere of this old salt-producing town is particularly palpable. The half-timbered houses are an architectural highlight and simultaneously tell the story of a town whose cultural identity is inextricably linked to salt, craftsmanship, and trade. https://www.teutoburgerwald.de/gesund/heilgarten/heilbaeder/bad-salzuflen

The graduation tower with its clock tower on Salinenstraße is one of Bad Salzuflen's most striking landmarks and forms the historic gateway to the spa gardens. At 55 meters long and approximately 8.5 meters high, it is the smallest of the three graduation towers, but its clock tower makes it visible from afar. This tower is an original relic of the old graduation tower, which was built for salt production in 1768/69 and put into operation in 1770 – a direct glimpse into the time when Salzuflen was still an important salt-producing town. Today, the graduation tower, with its promenade, sun deck, and brine Kneipp arm bath, invites visitors to linger and breathe deeply. The fine brine atomizes on the blackthorn walls, creating a natural inhalatorium that is particularly popular with walkers and spa guests. The facility underwent extensive renovation in 2013 and has since combined historical building fabric with modern spa architecture. The graduation tower with its clock is a prime example of Bad Salzuflen's transformation: from a salt production site to a recognized spa town – a piece of living urban history that can be seen, felt, and breathed. https://www.teutoburgerwald.de/gesund/heilgarten/heilbaeder/bad-salzuflen

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.

The Kurparksee (spa park lake) in Bad Salzuflen is the centerpiece of the expansive spa park and one of the town's most beautiful spots. Nestled among ancient trees, well-maintained walking paths, and the impressive graduation towers that have made Bad Salzuflen famous as a traditional spa town, the lake was created as part of the spa park's development in the early 20th century and lends the entire area a tranquil, almost fairytale-like atmosphere. With its reflective surface, waterfowl, and surrounding flowerbeds and greenery, it invites visitors to enjoy relaxing strolls, short breaks, or simply linger on its shores.

The graduation towers in Bad Salzuflen are among the most famous landmarks of this East Westphalian spa town and have shaped its cityscape for centuries. Originally used for salt production, they are now the heart of the local spa and health culture. The imposing wooden structures, filled with dense bundles of blackthorn, stretch for several hundred meters along the spa park, creating a unique atmosphere – a place where history, technology, and nature interact in an impressive way. The graduation towers were built in the 18th century to increase the salt concentration of the brine: The saline solution was channeled over the blackthorn walls, where it partially evaporated, leaving behind a more concentrated brine that was then used for salt production. Over time, the function of the structures changed – from production sites to places of health and relaxation. As early as the 19th century, spa guests discovered the beneficial effects of the salty air that arises at the graduation towers, reminiscent of a mild seaside climate. Today, the graduation towers form the heart of the Bad Salzuflen spa and landscape park. Visitors can stroll along the impressive wooden structures, breathe deeply, and enjoy the fine brine air, which offers natural relief for respiratory ailments. The graduation pavilion is particularly popular, providing a sheltered spot to relax amidst the brine mist. Well-maintained paths, benches, and flower gardens around the complex invite visitors to linger, and cultural events and guided tours regularly take place, illustrating the history and significance of the graduation towers. With a total length of approximately 660 meters, the Bad Salzuflen graduation towers are among the largest of their kind in Germany. They are not only historical monuments of engineering but also living symbols of the town's long spa tradition.