Overview

It's an important refuge for animal and plant species and the largest heathland in North Rhine-Westphalia – yet virtually nobody knows it: the Senne. Located between Bielefeld, Detmold, and Paderborn, the Senne is home to rare insects and birds, endangered amphibians, and large herds of fallow deer. Nowhere else in North Rhine-Westphalia are there so many sand lizards. The fact that this natural paradise is known to few is due to its unique history: For 130 years, large sections of the Senne have served as a military training area. Entry to the area is strictly prohibited for civilians.