In the 12th century the small earldom of Tecklenburg emerged in the region, comprising the Tecklenburger Land (= the western foothills of the Teutoburg Forest). It was annexed by the neighbouring earldom of Bentheim in 1263, but there was still an earl of Tecklenburg until the 19th century.
Tecklenburg retained a medieval townscape to date. The main sights are the castle and the Stadtkirche (a church) with the tombs of the earls.