TERRA.track Alkenkuhle

The large hole with the exciting history, after which this circular trail is named, lies in the woods between Ankum and Alfhausen. Hikers who start at the Ankum Golf Club parking lot therefore leave the 18 small holes of the well-mown sports facility to the left and instead discover an ancient, mystical cultural landscape in the shade of the trees. In addition to the impressive Großsteingrab Grumfeld West, there are five other megalithic sites along the almost ten-kilometre-long trail, which were built around 5,000 years ago - and are therefore considered the oldest surviving structures in north-western Europe. Further evidence from later periods of human history can also be discovered: Mound graves, which were common until the Iron Age, as well as one of the rarer Bronze Age stone cist graves.

Whether you believe the science or the legends: No human was laid to rest in the Alkenkuhle. The crater-like hole, which is many meters deep, was most likely created by the force of the water, which hollowed out the rock underground until it collapsed. Legend has it, however, that it formed very suddenly when God's wrath struck the innkeeper Alke at this spot. His "Alkenkrug" was located halfway between Alfhausen and the church in Merzen, which is why the faithful stopped at his place every Sunday - albeit for too short a time in his opinion. So, in order to increase his turnover, he claimed: "My house will sink into the ground if you don't have enough time for another glass." That was a lie. His guests missed mass, God was angry, took Alke at his word and thus the Alkenkuhle was born. Legend has it that Alke's soul never found peace and he haunts the place where his inn once stood. But as long as you don't call his name three times, nothing can really happen.