Schwalenberg – Where the Swallows Soar and Artists Thrive
1. History
2. The artists
3. Schwalenberg today
4. Day trips from Schwalenberg
Schwalenberg is a historic town a bit southwest of Hannover, on the softly sloping hills in a scenic landscape in the region of the Teutoburg Forest and Weserbergland. With its half-timbered houses and cobbled winding streets, Schwalenberg is like a fairy-tale medieval setting, where you could easily imagine a witch or two peeping out of the houses.
The mountainous landscape is scenic, with steeper ascents and enticing rolling meadows. A short hike will take you up to panoramic viewpoints where the entire village lies as a photographer’s dream of a picture in the valley surrounded by the gentle, green mountainside.
Schwalenberg – Where the Swallows Soar and Artists Thrive | Photo: Travel In Culture
When strolling around the narrow lanes and discovering the old structures, it doesn’t come as a surprise that Schwalenberg has a rich and multifaceted history. The still-existing night watchman’s walk by lantern light through the streets of Schwalenberg is, for instance, one of the fascinating reminiscences of the past. You will certainly get a few anecdotes from him and insight into Schwalenberg’s history and rituals of a bygone era!
Other castles in the Schieder-Schwalenberg region include the Schloss Wöbbel from 1584, later turned into a Baroque construction and kept within the same family for 400 years, as well as the Herlingsburg, a pre-Roman Iron Age fort dating from 200-50 B.C. Unfortunately, only a few ramparts remain from this early settlement.
Photo: Travel In Culture
Continuing down into the troll-like forest, you will soon arrive at a mossy, massive stone wall from where a pristine source springs. That is Schwalenberg’s secret, disclosed by monks of the Cistercian Order centuries ago. They ingeniously designed and established an intricate ductwork system maintaining the correct slope across the forest, such that the water could run steadily down to Schwalenberg, where it springs out of a stone face on the central square. This source and the waterways were for hundreds of years essential to the people living here.
The more recent history has brought about a more cultural side of Schwalenberg.
Around 1900, the village developed into the centre of the Schwalenberg artists’ colony. What they found so unique here in Schwalenberg was the light. It provided excellent opportunities to reproduce the picture-postcard idyllic landscape and setting, as well as the typical motives, including natural and traditional elements, on canvas and even house walls. The town soon became a popular location for plein-air painting.
Photo: Travel In Culture
Several impressionist painters from the larger German cities came to Schwalenberg to settle. One of the founders of the artists’ colony was a Berlin painter, Hans Bruch (1887-1913). He arrived at Schwalenberg in 1906, and shortly, the guesthouse Meyer was turned into the ‘headquarters’ of the painters’ art expression, the Künstlerklause.
Since the post-war years, the artists have, to a large extent, disappeared. Only a few came to the small German village to settle and paint. One of these was Robert Kämmerer-Rohrig, who lived here right until 1977.
Photo: Travel In Culture
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As an attempt to revive the painting tradition and culture, the County of Lippe, the Cultural agency of Lippe and the town of Schieder-Schwalenberg have, in recent years, focused on reintroducing the cultural side of Schwalenberg with quaint galleries and a range of annual art exhibitions, including a Night of Art event.
Photo: Travel In Culture
Photo: Travel In Culture
Today, Schwalenberg still has a large number of works by the former artists frequenting or living in the artists’ colony.
One of the spectacular houses is the present-day hotel Malkasten with its own cosy, traditional Bierstube, where people come to have a draught beer and play cards at the massive, wooden plank tables. Malkasten is a noteworthy building, with funny, painted characters on the façade of the half-timbered house, as well as artistically decorated doors and interior.
Photo: Travel In Culture
Photo: Travel In Culture
From Schwalenberg, you can make a day trip to the liar Baron von Münchhausen’s town, Bodenwerder, where his fantastic stories come alive perpetuated in funny epic sculptures, or to the impressive Benedictine monastery Corvey, which was a princely abbey of the Holy Roman Empire until 1792.
Another option is a trip to Externsteine, situated at a lake in the Teutoburg Forest. By climbing the stairs, you can explore the strangest vertical rock formations.
Externsteine | Photo: Travel In Culture
You may also visit Hamelin, known for its legend about Pied Pier, the famous rat catcher luring the children with his enticing, magic pipe. There is a mechanical puppet show retelling the famous story at the Hochzeitshaus with the legendary characters going in and out of the doors at the top of the building.
Pied Piper of Hamelin | Photo: Travel In Culture
What to do in Münster? You may want to read 7 Cultural Things to See in Münster
Read next: Make a Road Trip in the Moselle Valley and Berlin 1-Day Travel Guide
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Schwalenberg – Where the Swallows Soar and Artists Thrive
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