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Open Air Museum

The Westphalian Open Air Museum is the largest of its kind in Europe with about 100 historical buildings on 90 hectares. It was opened in 1966 on the grounds of the former princely zoo and attracts an average of 250,000 visitors annually.

A special feature of the museum since 1985 has been its focus on landscape ecology and shows the transformation of the historical cultural landscape as well as old animal breeds and plant species. Old Westphalian domestic animal breeds such as the Lippegans and the Bentheimer Landschaf have already been preserved from disappearance; since 2001 the museum has also been breeding Alpine dairymen's horses.