Grafschafter Spurensuche- Auf den Spuren der einstigen Herrlichkeit Lage

One of the most idyllic spots in the county of Bentheim is the small village of Lage on the River Dinkel. The town has just under 1000 inhabitants, but despite its manageable size, it has a unique history.
As Lage was simply forgotten during the territorial reorganization of Europe after the end of the Thirty Years' War, the town had the special status of "Herrlichkeit" for a long time. Until 1803, Lage was therefore a politically independent small state with its own jurisdiction. Even today, a crumbling old castle ruin is a reminder of this time. The former Lage Castle was a mighty bastion until the Spanish-Dutch War and was blown up by Dutch troops after the count of the time withdrew.
Not far from the old ruins, the village's almost 750-year-old watermill can be found on the old course of the River Dinkel. It is characterized by two water wheels, one of which was used to produce flour and the other to produce vegetable oil. The corn mill was still in operation until the death of the last miller in 1957. After that, it was in danger of falling into disrepair until the mill was restored by the district of Grafschaft Bentheim in the early 1970s and has since been open to visitors on selected days. Opposite the watermill is the old mill house, which now houses a cozy tearoom.
In the immediate vicinity of the ruins and the mill is the old manor house from 1686. The typical Dutch architectural style of the house is unmistakable. Today it is part of the Stichting Twickel and is not open to the public.
Another relic from the manorial era is the nearby Eichenallee with its farm workers' houses, built around 1850 and mostly well renovated. The servants of the manorial family once lived in them. Today, the farm workers' houses are also owned by Stichting Twickel.
At the end of the Eichenallee begins the "Lager Busch", a beautiful forest and meadow landscape on the edge of the Dinkel river.

Note: Follow the signs in blue!