Discover Bontkirchen’s history through two church timelines: the parish church of St. Vitus and the Chapel of St. Mary at Hagen. Their dates range from the first mention of the Church of St. Vitus in 1276 to a pilgrimage to the chapel in 1955. For other towns and destinations along the trails, the focus shifts to Brilon; these belong to Brilon itself as a travel destination.
Two Church Timelines in Bontkirchen
The parish church of St. Vitus was built in 1895/1896, but its first mention dates back to 1276. The construction date and the early mention therefore mark different historical periods. Medieval ecclesiastical ties existed with Corvey or Stadtberge, as well as with Heringhausen, Thülen and Bredelar Monastery. The church’s history thus links a building from the late 19th century with older ecclesiastical connections.
The Chapel of St. Mary at Hagen has its own, more recent chronology: it was founded in 1947 and consecrated in 1948. The stained-glass windows by Brilon artist Franz Kornemann were added in 1950. In 1955, the chapel became the destination of a pilgrimage attended by nearly 400 young people. This sequence recounts the chapel’s origins, its artistic furnishings and a specific event in its history.
Brilon: Town History and Cultural Insights
In Brilon, the Schnadezug combines local customs with the history of the boundary walk. Its tradition is more than 620 years old; it has been documented as a boundary walk since 1388. It is one of Westphalia’s largest and most distinctive folk festivals, and a central expression of Brilon’s tradition of preserving local customs. Another historical landmark is the town hall, built around 1250: its façade is Baroque, and it is considered one of the oldest town halls in Germany.
Brilon’s old town also preserves architectural heritage from earlier centuries. Highlights include a half-timbered ensemble on the market square and the imposing west tower of the provost church of St. Peter and Andrew, which is considered a landmark of Brilon. The Haus Hövener town museum is also located on the market square. The house has largely been preserved in the condition it was in in 1910; an interactive town model offers insights into life in Brilon in past centuries. The exhibits include original bones of an Iguanodon, discovered in 1978 in a quarry near Brilon-Nehden.
Trails with Different Themes and Lengths
For geological insights, Brilon offers the approximately eight-kilometre Geological Trail. This themed trail brings two Devonian features to life: the limestone knolls of the Brilon Plateau and the diabase deposits of Bilstein. Highlights include a viewing platform on the 634-metre-high Bilstein spoil heap; panoramic views are also part of the experience along the trail.
Other trails have their own distinctive focuses. Both the Rothaarsteig and the Briloner Kammweg start at Brilon’s market square. One section of the Rothaarsteig runs from Brilon via Olsberg to Bruchhausen and is 17.02 kilometres long. In Brilon-Nehden, the family-friendly DinoSpuren trail focuses on dinosaur tracks: the circular route is about 800 metres long and has no strenuous climbs. The Brilon Landscape Therapy Trail is 2.54 kilometres long and features the Feenklang sound installation, which evokes Brilon’s forest fairy. The routes therefore differ both in their themes and in their stated lengths.
Discover more destinations: Madfeld, Brilon-Wald, Alme, Nehden, Radlinghausen, Hoppecke, Gudenhagen
Return to the regional travel overview: Brilon.
