Reiste can be explored through three distinct themes: the neo-Gothic parish church of St. Pankratius and its historic organ, the history of cooling beer in the rock cellar, and trails around Reister Berg. Together, these offer starting points for a stay that combines cultural history and hiking. For orientation, it is worth considering the route information separately: the southern route of the Chapel Trail starts at the church; the hiking trail on Reister Berg is described by its length and views.
St. Pankratius: Church, organ and market
St. Pankratius in Reiste is a listed neo-Gothic parish church. It was consecrated on November 14, 1852. The historic organ also offers a glimpse into the past: its oldest pipes come from a Baroque organ built for Grafschaft Abbey in 1633. Altogether, the organ contains pipes spanning around 400 years of organ history. These two figures refer to different periods: 1633 is the year the earlier organ was built, the organ from which the oldest pipes come; around 400 years describes the span of time represented by the pipes in today’s historic organ.
The Reiste Market also has a long history: it is documented as the Bartholomew Market from the Middle Ages onward. Together with the church and the history of the organ, it forms a cultural focal point that spans several eras.
The rock cellar: cooling and shelter
The rock cellar is a preserved former cooling tunnel. It was excavated in the rock to cool Reiste beer when the available cooling facilities were insufficient. It is also connected with the village’s brewing tradition in the 19th century. During the Second World War, the tunnel served as an air-raid shelter. Its history therefore encompasses different functions: cooling in connection with brewing beer and providing shelter during the war.
Hiking in Reiste: two different route descriptions
The southern route of the Chapel Trail starts at the parish church of St. Pankratius. The Chapel Trail also has a stamp pass, which can be stamped at the village chapels with the stamp of the respective patron saint. As local organizers may adjust the offering, it is advisable to check the current arrangements in advance.
Another hiking option is the 12.5-kilometer trail around Reister Berg. It offers views over Reiste and the surrounding villages and partly follows the Sauerland-Höhenflug and Esloher Grenzgänger trails. The information helps with choosing between them in different ways: for the Chapel Trail, the starting point at the parish church is specified; for the trail around Reister Berg, its length and views are the specific points of reference.
Getting there by train and bus
A train-and-bus connection is listed for getting there: trains run from Dortmund or Kassel to Meschede. From there, bus route S70 runs directly to Reiste in the direction of GrevenbrĂĽck. As transport information is subject to change, check the connection and timetable in advance for your travel date.
Wider travel destination: Eslohe (Sauerland)
In the wider travel destination of Eslohe (Sauerland), Eslohe lies in the Sauerland-Rothaargebirge Nature Park and is a state-recognized climatic health resort. In the historic town center, around 200-year-old half-timbered houses stand around the parish church of St. Peter and Paul. This information refers to Eslohe.
The DampfLandLeute Museum is located in a side valley of Eslohe. Its permanent exhibition covers agriculture, forestry, village crafts, folklore and technology. From April to October, the museum railway runs with a diesel locomotive every first Saturday of the month from 3 to 5 p.m. As seasonal operating arrangements may change, check dates and times before planning a visit.
The wider travel destination of Eslohe (Sauerland) also offers cycling and action activities: the 84-kilometer SauerlandRadring connects Finnentrop, Eslohe, Schmallenberg and Lennestadt. The Bike Parcours Eslohe at the Fun & Sports Facility Eslohe includes dirt lines, jumps at three difficulty levels, a flow trail and a large pump track.
Discover more destinations: Cobbenrode, Lochtrop, Wenholthausen, Niedersalwey
Return to the wider travel overview: Eslohe.
