Feggendorf and Köllnischfeld, in Lauenau, Beber, Luttringhausen and Bad Münder. The last existing dwarf beech forest was cleared in 1843 near Hülsede wurde 1843. The amphibians, once common in the original swampy lowlands are still present in small numbers. To protect them, as well as birds of prey and songbirds, new ponds have been constructed, grasslands purchased and hedge shrubs planted to create a network of biotope habitats. Settlements The largest settlements in the valley are Apelern, Bad Münder, Hülsede, Lauenau, Messenkamp, Pohle and Rodenberg. Other villages include Algesdorf, Altenhagen I, Altenhagen II, Bakede, Beber, Böbber, Egestorf, Eimbeckhausen, Feggendorf, Flegessen, Groß Hegesdorf, Hachmühlen, Hamelspringe, Hasperde, Hemschehausen, Klein Süntel, Kleinhegesdorf, Luttringhausen, Lyhren, Meinsen, Nettelrede, Nienstedt, Reinsdorf, Rohrsen, Schmarrie, Sedemünde, Soldorf and Waltershagen. Places of interest The so-called Vogelpark am Krater bird park on the B 65 near Bad Nenndorf, ein kleiner Tierpark in der Nähe einer Quelle. Castle site and restored bastion in Rodenberg Windmill on the Rodenberg, built 1861 Lauenau Castle, around 1190 originally built as a water castle, 1565–1572 rebuilt after destruction in the Weser Renaissance style Schwedesdorf Castle (Weser Renaissance) in Lauenau, built 1596–1600 Hasperde Castle Süntel Tower (highest point on the Süntel) Meysenbug Castle in Lauenau, built 1610 St. Luke‘s Church in Lauenau, built around 1875 200-year-old Süntel Beech in the Lauenau Volkspark Twin-aisled hall church in Apelern, built around 1162 Münchhausen Castle in Apelern (Weser Renaissance), built 1561 Hammerstein Castle in Apelern (Weser Renaissance), built 1590 St. Egidien parish church in Hülsede, built around 1440 Hülsede Water Castle (Weser Renaissance), built 1529–1548 Evangelical-Lutheran Church of St. Peter and St. Paul in Bad Münder, built 1528 and 1840 Wettberg-Burghof in Bad Münder (Weser Renaissance), 17th century Steinhof in Bad Münder, 13th century Süntel Beech natural monument on the Steinhof in Bad Münder Evangelical-Lutheran St. Magnus‘ Church in Beber (Late Gothic), built 1499–1516 Historic parish garden in Beber, 19th century Transport The valley is bounded to the north by the B 65 federal road; to the south it crosses over the B 217. The B 442 runs north to south through the valley. Sources Mierau, Udo (2000). Unterwegs im Deister-Süntel-Tal. Fürsten Mirski-Verlag – Udo Mierau, Springe. External links The Deister The Süntel Jörg Elbracht: Die Weser und das Eiszeitalter - Landschaftsgeschichte zwischen Wasser und Eis. (pdf) (267 kB) Regions of Lower Saxony