Gemeinde Wallenhorst

Wallenhorst is an independent municipality in the district of Osnabrück in Lower Saxony, Germany. It was established in 1972 through the merger of the previously independent municipalities of Wallenhorst, Hollage, Rulle, and Lechtingen, which today form the districts of the municipality. Geographically, Wallenhorst is located in the Osnabrück region at the southern foothills of the Wiehen Hills, nestled within the TERRA.vita Nature and Geopark. The municipality is situated about 7 km north of Osnabrück’s city center and borders the towns of Bramsche to the north and Belm to the east. To the west, it adjoins the North Rhine-Westphalian municipality of Lotte. Historically, Wallenhorst has a long settlement history. In the district of Rulle, the Helmich Stones, a megalithic tomb, bear witness to prehistoric settlements. Additionally, the Wittekindsburg, an early medieval fortification, is located in this area. In the oldest part of Wallenhorst, the "Altes Dorf"(Old Village), there was probably a pre-Christian sanctuary dating back to the 8th century. Its foundations were partially used around the year 800 for the construction of the Old St. Alexander Church. The first recorded mention of Wallenhorst dates back to 851, when it was referred to as "Walonhurst" in the Latin legend "De miraculis sancti Alexandri". A remarkable geodetic detail is that the reference height of the German Main Height Network, known as Normalhöhennull (NHN), was determined at a height reference point at the New St. Alexander Church in Wallenhorst. This geopotential benchmark was established in 1986 as part of the European leveling network and serves as the basis for all height measurements in Germany. Today, Wallenhorst offers a high quality of life with good infrastructure, diverse recreational opportunities, and a rich cultural history that can be experienced throughout its districts. Our Imprint and Privacy Policy can be found at: