The hilly uplands of the Teutoburg Forest come right into the heart of Bielefeld. The beautiful scenery and central location make it one of the most important recreation areas in the city. Its hillsides are the source of countless streams which wind their way through the city and flow into the Weser or Ems rivers. There are several parks and expanses of greenery across the city. The Obersee lake in the north is the city's largest body of water.Olderdissen animal park
Olderdissen animal park is a popular place for families with children to visit. It has over 430 animals from 100 different species, including rare animals which are almost extinct in their natural habitat.Bielefeld botanical gardens
The botanical gardens are in a delightful location on Kahlenberg hill near the city centre and are a fascinating place to visit. Keen botanists and those with a casual interest merely enjoying a walk through the gardens will be enthralled by the huge collections of plants and diverse styles of garden. Particular highlights include the collections of rhododendrons and azaleas as well the different habitats such as the rock garden, alpine garden, medicinal and herb garden, heathland garden and a garden containing flora indigenous to beech forests.Bürgerpark and rose garden
The Bürgerpark is the most beautiful city park in Bielefeld. It has a rose garden and has elements of a country park. The rhododendrons and the farmer's garden with its herbaceous plants and summer flowers are particularly worth seeing. Very close to the park and rose garden is the Oetkerhalle concert hall which is famous for its extraordinary acoustics and therefore very popular with musicians.