Düdinghausen lies at the foot of the 774 m-high panoramic mountain Kahler Pön, in the Medebacher Bucht European Special Protection Area, the Sauerland Mountain Hiking Park and the GrenzWelten National Geopark. Local themes range from high moorland and geological features along the trails to church art, village history and Easter customs. When planning your trip, you can choose between nature trails, local history and customs associated with public holidays.

High Moor and Geological Trails

The Kahle Pön Nature Trail is a circular route with twelve stops. It leads from the district of Düdinghausen through one of the few remaining high moors to the ridges of the Sauerland as far as the Ka-Lied. From there, you can enjoy an excellent view across the Medebacher Bucht. The trail thus combines a series of stops with a named destination and a sweeping vista.

The Geological Circular Trail offers a different theme: it includes quarries with information boards, the sunken lane “Meggers Holtweg” and the Riepenschlucht gorge. If you are choosing between the two nature trails, you can use this distinction as a guide: the Nature Trail focuses on the high moor and the view from the Ka-Lied, while the Geological Circular Trail features its named geological landmarks. The trail is also part of the local hiking theme, although the two routes do not offer the same landscape experience.

Church Art and Village History

The neo-Gothic Church of St. John the Baptist is a defining feature of Düdinghausen’s historic village centre. Highlights include its ceiling paintings by the church painter Bergenthal and its many stained-glass windows. The church offers a tangible insight into the architecture and visual art found in the village; its artistic features can be explored separately from the hiking trail themes.

The Dreggestobe and the Kulturspeicher include exhibition rooms with an atmosphere evocative of around 1900. Small exhibitions focus on the village’s history, particularly its church history and the vanished village of Wieferinghausen. This adds further aspects of local history to the picture offered by the church.

Woodturning demonstrations featuring bowls, wreaths and decorative objects are also offered at the Dreggestobe. Demonstrations are scheduled for Thursdays from 3 to 5 p.m., March through October; groups may visit at other times by arrangement. Check the current times before planning a visit.

The historic court site is also part of the village’s history, and offers far-reaching views of forests and meadows. In the Middle Ages, legal matters involving the people of the Free County of Düdinghausen were heard here. The site thus combines a landscape vista with its historic role as a place of justice.

Pilgrim Route and Easter Customs

A pilgrim route connects the Church of St. Anthony, the Resurrection Chapel in Düdinghausen and the Church of St. John the Baptist in Düdinghausen with the St. Anthony Chapel in Titmaringhausen, the Church of St. Nicholas in Referinghausen, the Church of St. John the Baptist in Deifeld, the Marian Chapel on the Heidenstraße and the Church of St. Anthony in Oberschledorn. If you plan to include this route in your trip, check the latest route information.

The calendar features two special events around Easter. Every year on Good Friday, a Way of the Cross procession takes place in Düdinghausen to commemorate the Passion of Jesus Christ. On Easter Sunday, lights are arranged in the shape of a cross approximately 15 m tall on the steep slope below the chapel as part of the Easter Cross custom. Check in advance whether the events will take place that year and what specific arrangements are in place, as these may vary.

Your interests may determine when you choose to travel: the trails, court site and exhibitions offer opportunities to explore the landscape and history, while the procession and Easter Cross are tied to specific holidays. If you are looking for accommodation for a stay in Düdinghausen, you can first decide whether nature trails, local history or a visit around Easter should be the focus.

Discover more destinations: Referinghausen, Medelon, Dreislar, Oberschledorn, Küstelberg, Titmaringhausen.

View the main travel overview: Medebach.