Ziegelroute

Bad Salzuflen The town of Salzuflen was first mentioned in documents in the 11th century. The origin of the name lies deep underground: particularly favorable geological conditions enabled salt extraction for centuries and brought great wealth to the town. Magnificently decorated patrician houses of the Weser Renaissance testify to the former prosperity through the 'white gold.' One of the most beautiful half-timbered houses from this period is the Backs House with its elaborately designed carved facade. The nucleus of the salt trade was the saline at Salzhof, where the salt was boiled. To increase salt production, the graduation towers (Gradierwerke) were built in the 18th century. Originally located on the outskirts of town, these served as pure industrial plants until 1945. Today, the graduation towers are used as an open-air inhalatorium and produce a sea-like climate. Inhaling the salty air is especially healing for respiratory diseases. It impressively documents the history of salt boiling. Heerser Mühle Environmental Center The Heerser Mill, which ground grain until a few decades ago and produced electricity until the early 1970s, today houses the Heerser Mühle Environmental Center. On the 37-hectare site, visitors can learn interesting facts about various natural habitats. Among the discoveries are a rock garden, a butterfly garden, various ponds, a wild bee educational trail, and a willow labyrinth. LWL Brick Museum Lage – Westphalian State Museum of Industrial Culture The heart of the LWL Industrial Museum is the former Beermann brickyard with its completely preserved inventory. At the beginning of the 20th century, over 14,000 brickmakers from Lippe emigrated to produce bricks elsewhere. In groups of up to 40 men, they joined under the leadership of a master brickmaker to produce bricks in northern Germany, Brandenburg, and the Ruhr area. The LWL Brick Museum Lage tells the story of these brickmakers and conveys the technique of brickmaking by hand and machine. Regular temporary exhibitions cover industrial and cultural historical topics.