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Main image: Vechta’s stunning moorlands. Photo: © Willi Rolfes Middle: 36,000 students study in Vechta’s international yet personal environment. Photo: © Universität Vechta-Meckel Right: Electro festival ‘Tante Mia tanzt’ at the Stoppelmarkt in Vechta. Photo: © Tante Mia tanzt
Vechta
Blending historic and modern charm The city of Vechta in Northern Germany’s Oldenburg Münsterland region offers a unique experience for everyone. It is a place where historical charm – particularly the Museum of Vechta, the unique Stoppelmarkt and family-owned businesses – thrive in a modern environment defined by unique infrastructure, cultural events and superior quality of living. TEXT: ELISABETH DOEHNE
The medieval character and unique marsh landscapes have defined Vechta’s charm throughout the centuries. The origins of Vechta presumably date back to the 11th century; the ‘Rheinische Straße’, a trade route leading from Lübeck to the south crossing through Northern Germany’s moorlands, incentivised the construction of a medieval fort. This castle was the only way to cross the moorlands and many 30 | Issue 42 | September 2016
merchants, artisans, and craftspeople settled in the area, marking Vechta’s beginnings. As the district’s municipal centre, Vechta is home to cultural highlights, a beautiful countryside with wooded areas and moorlands, as well as a longstanding tradition of horses and horse breeding. Visitors can explore the region’s peaceful
setting, its distinct moorlands and animal wildlife on a hiking trip, bicycle tour or horseback riding. Dynamic and flourishing region The university town with its 35,000 inhabitants combines the flair of a lovingly renovated city centre dating back to the Middle Ages with the flourishing, modern character of the region’s cultural, educational, and business opportunities. In fact, Vechta has been recognised as a bourgeoning hub for business activities in Germany’s northwest. Even in the 21st century, the city retains its reputation for its exceptional horse culture. The region’s love for equestrian