When visibility is good, a 45-metre-high fieldstone on the archaeological hiking trail offers a view of the Teutoburg Forest. The distant view depends on clear visibility, so it should be planned as a possibility rather than a guaranteed part of every outing. Also nearby are prehistoric traces at the Bruchhauser Steine and Schloss Bruchhausen, a historic moated castle. Nature, archaeology and architectural history each add their own character: distant views, a hillfort and a castle.

Rocky Landscape and Early History

Within the wider destination of Olsberg, the Bruchhauser Steine were designated North Rhine-Westphalia’s first National Natural Monument in April 2017; they lie within the Sauerland-Rothaargebirge Nature Park. The area near Olsberg-Bruchhausen is also a nature reserve, an FFH site and a bird sanctuary. The rocks are sites where rare Ice Age relicts grow and a traditional breeding ground for peregrine falcons.

A prehistoric hillfort and place of worship, dating approximately to around 500 BC, lies among the Bruchhauser Steine; the rocks are an integral part of the hillfort. This means that the historical perspective extends beyond a single structure to encompass the rock formation as well.

Hiking Destinations and the Castle

The Ginsterkopf Tour follows the Rothaarsteig below the Bruchhauser Steine and continues to Bruchhausen. The Olsberg Chapel Circular Hiking Trail leads to the Marienkapelle in Bruchhausen, which lies at the foot of the Istenberg. This makes the difference between the hiking destinations clear: the first route continues along the Rothaarsteig to Bruchhausen; the second names the chapel at Istenberg as its destination.

Schloss Bruchhausen is a historic moated castle at the foot of the Bruchhauser Steine. The grounds can be visited; the interior is not open to visitors because the owners live in the castle. For planning purposes, this means there is a clear limit: a visit to the castle covers the grounds, not an interior tour.

In the wider destination of Olsberg

In the wider destination of Olsberg, an information centre offering guided tours and several themed trails provide access to the protected rocky area of the Bruchhauser Steine. This keeps the rocky area as a natural environment in focus alongside individual hiking destinations. The 40-kilometre Kneipp WanderWeg Olsberg is a “Wanderbares Deutschland” quality trail and includes six natural Kneipp foot-bathing stations. It starts at the Rote Brücke, a distinctive railway bridge above the Gierskopp district on the Roten Weg.

The Kneipp ErlebnisPark in Olsberg features ten Kneipp rest stops where visitors can experience Kneipp’s five elements with all their senses. The park’s Wohlfühlroute runs along the Kneipp AktivWeg and the Ruhr and Gierskopp rivers to the Kneipp herb garden. The historic Dr. Grüne Kneipp Park in Olsberg has a Kneipp facility built into a pond, a barefoot path and relaxation islands.

The AquaOlsberg Sauerland thermal baths in Olsberg combine brine and Kneipp treatments with sports and leisure facilities. The sports pool is 25 metres long and the water is 28°C. Check the latest operating details before your visit, as they may vary.

Discover more destinations: Wiemeringhausen, Assinghausen, Wulmeringhausen, Gierskopp, Elleringhausen, Antfeld, Elpe

Go to the wider travel overview: Olsberg.