Cloppenburg City Festival
The Cityfest turns the town centre into a large festival mile every September with music, stage programs and market stalls. The city festival has a tradition spanning decades.
Plizio Visual Lab
Cloppenburg
Plizio editorial teamData Sources
City
ℹ️Practical info — Cloppenburg
▾
🌤 Weather — 5 days
📍 Nearby
Sights nearby
💡 Tips
- Visit the Museumsdorf (Open-Air Museum) early in the morning to beat the crowds and experience the historic rural houses in peace.
- The city center is compact and very bike-friendly; consider renting a bicycle to get around like a local.
- If visiting in winter, embrace the local tradition of 'Grünkohlessen' (kale eating tour).
- Parking is generally easy, but use the designated lots just outside the immediate pedestrian zone to save money.
- The weather in Lower Saxony can be changeable, so packing layers is always a good idea.
🍽 Food
🍽
Grünkohl mit Pinkel
A hearty winter dish of kale and sausage. Find it in traditional German inns near the open-air museum.
🍽
Snirtjebraten
A traditional local pork roast, often served in historic taverns around the city center.
🍽
Fresh Pumpernickel
Try this dark rye bread from local bakeries located in the pedestrian zone.
🛍 Shopping · 🧘 Quiet spots
🛍
Lange Straße
The main pedestrian street offering a mix of local boutiques and familiar stores.
🛍
Wochenmarkt
Visit the weekly farmers' market on the market square for regional produce and snacks.
🧘
Stadtpark
A green oasis right in the city center, well-suited for a quiet afternoon stroll.
🧘
Museumsdorf grounds
Beyond the main exhibits, the extensive grounds of the open-air museum offer peaceful walking paths.
Water temperature…
Highlights of 2026
1
Cloppenburg is a district town in the district of the same name in western Lower Saxony and is centrally located in the triangle of the cities of Bremen, Osnabrück, and Oldenburg. The town is known nationwide primarily for the Cloppenburg Museum Village, which was founded in 1934 as the oldest open-air museum in Germany. On an area of around 20 hectares, the museum documents the rural history and everyday culture of North-West Germany using over 50 historic buildings. The town itself developed historically from a castle of the Counts of Tecklenburg, which was built in the 13th century to secure trade routes. Today, Cloppenburg is an important administrative and school location as well as an economic center for the surrounding Oldenburger Münsterland region, which is used intensively for agriculture. The town also gives a striking Baroque sacred building in the form of St. Andreas Church, which reflects the Catholic character of the area.
- Location: Bremen, Germany
- Top sights: Burg Cloppenburg · Insektopia · Landmaschinen Dauerausstellung
- Nearby: Quakenbrück (20 km)
- Population: ~31.177
Best time to visit & climate
The most pleasant time to visit is Jun–Aug.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Avg °C | 1 | 2 | 5 | 9 | 13 | 16 | 18 | 18 | 14 | 10 | 6 | 3 |
| Rain mm | 75 | 57 | 51 | 39 | 55 | 63 | 78 | 77 | 59 | 64 | 68 | 75 |
Geography
Facts
- The Cloppenburg Museum Village was opened on May 13, 1934.
- Cloppenburg was first mentioned in a document in the year 1297.
- The town currently has a population of around 36,000 inhabitants.
- The Catholic St. Andreas Church was built in the 18th century as a hall church.
- Cloppenburg is located in the center of the Oldenburger Münsterland.
- The open-air museum houses the Quatmannshof complex from 1805.
Explore nearby
Notable places around
Route planner — Car & Motorhome
Where do you start? We build the route here, with stops and country notes along the way.
Vehicle
Only stops with (optional):
© OpenStreetMap contributors · OpenRouteService
A day in the city
Pick weather + travel mode, get a concrete day plan.
09:00→15:453.4 km walk6 places0/6
Day budget: ≈ 19–25 €Entries 22€ · Transport 0€
Start your day in the modern heart of Cloppenburg at the Town Hall and visit the magnificent St. Andreas Church. In the late morning, immerse yourself in rural history at the famous Museum Village. After a hearty lunch, the city park offers tranquility before ending the day culturally at the Kulturbahnhof.
← swipe for more places →
📍
09:10 · 47'
Cloppenburg Town Hall
Admire the modern architecture contrasting with the old town.
🚶 6'0.16 km
🚶 6'0.16 km
🚶 23'1.02 km
🚶 28'1.26 km
🚶 20'0.85 km
09:00→14:164.7 km ride5 places0/5
Day budget: ≈ 27–37 €Entries 20€ · Transport 12€
Explore Cloppenburg on two wheels. Start at the spacious Museum Village and then cycle to the historic Ebkensche Windmill. The city park offers a green route back to the center, where you visit the town hall before the tour ends at the Kulturbahnhof.
← swipe for more places →
🚲 13'1.64 km
📍
10:10 · 47'
Ebkensche Windmill
One of the few preserved gallery Dutch windmills in the region.
🚲 12'1.45 km
🚲 7'0.67 km
🚲 9'0.95 km
09:00→15:465.5 km drive7 places0/7
Day budget: ≈ 23–31 €Entries 26€ · Transport 1€
This car tour connects Cloppenburg's most important clusters. Start in the north at the Museum Village, then drive to the center for a walking tour (town hall, church, court), and finally visit the windmill and the city park.
← swipe for more places →
🚗 6'0.86 km
🚗 4'0.16 km
🚗 4'0.31 km
🚗 9'1.83 km
🚗 8'1.45 km
🚗 6'0.85 km
Sights in the town Cloppenburg (5)
Frequently asked questions
What is the main attraction in Cloppenburg?
The Museum Village Cloppenburg, one of the oldest open-air museums in Germany.
What can you see in the Museum Village?
Over 50 historical buildings from the 16th to the 20th century showcasing rural life.
Where can you go hiking or cycling nearby?
The Thülsfelder Talsperre is a beautiful local recreation area with circular trails.
Is Cloppenburg easily accessible by train?
Yes, the NordWestBahn connects Cloppenburg directly with Oldenburg and Osnabrück.
What is the history of the city?
Cloppenburg developed around a castle and is today the center of the Oldenburger Münsterland region.
Cloppenburg: where is it located?
Cloppenburg is located in Bremen, Germany.
Cloppenburg: what is there to see?
Highlights include Burg Cloppenburg, Insektopia, Landmaschinen Dauerausstellung.
Cloppenburg: when is the best time to visit?
The most pleasant time to visit is Jun, Aug.
Cloppenburg: why is it worth visiting?
Cloppenburg is a district town in the district of the same name in western Lower Saxony and is centrally located in the triangle of the cities of Bremen, Osnabrück, and Oldenburg.
Explore with Plizio
Discover more places in Europe
More places in Germany →
Nearby cities
Bremen
Bremen is a historic Hanseatic city on the Weser River in northwestern Germany.
Findorff
Findorff is a beautiful city.
Das Viertel Bremen
Das Viertel is Bremen's most vibrant neighborhood around the Ostertorsteinweg.
Schwachhausen
Schwachhausen is a beautiful city.
Bremerhaven
Bremerhaven is the second city municipality of the state of Bremen, located at the mouth of the Weser.
Cuxhaven
Cuxhaven is located in Lower Saxony at the mouth of the Elbe in the North Sea.
Emden
Emden is located in Lower Saxony on the Ems river.
Vegesack
Vegesack is a beautiful city.
History & landmarks
Böttcherstraße
The Böttcherstraße in Bremen's old town is a unique ensemble of Expressionist architecture, built by merchant Ludwig Roselius in the 1920s.
Town Musicians of Bremen Statue
The bronze statue of the Town Musicians of Bremen stands in front of the City Hall and is Bremen's most famous landmark.
Bremen City Hall
Bremen City Hall on the Market Square is an outstanding example of Weser Renaissance architecture and has been a UNESCO World Heritage Si…
Bremen Roland
The Bremen Roland is a 5.50-meter stone statue on the Market Square and symbol of Bremen's civic freedom.
Bremen Cathedral
St.
Universum Science Center Bremen
Universum® Bremen is a science center shaped like a giant whale.
Nature
More places
Airbus Bremen
The Airbus plant in Bremen is one of the most important aerospace locations in Germany.
Weser River & Bremen Port
The Weser is Bremen's lifeline, connecting the city to the North Sea.
Bremen Old Town
Bremen's old town on the Weser island is the historical heart of the city.
Bremen Roland & Town Hall
Bremen's Roland is a 10-meter knight statue on the market square, standing since 1404 as a symbol of freedom and market rights.
Schnoor Quarter
The Schnoor Quarter is Bremen's oldest neighborhood with narrow cobblestone lanes and small half-timbered houses from the 15th and 16th c…
Schnoor Quarter
The Schnoor quarter is Bremen's oldest district, with small fishermen's houses from the 15th century.
Bremen Freimarkt
Bremen's Freimarkt is one of the world's oldest public fairs, held on the Bürgerweide since 1035.
Rhododendron Park Bremen
One of the world's largest collections of rhododendrons, featuring the 'botanika' discovery center.