Schieder-Schwalenberg offers a variety of reasons to visit: leisure activities take center stage at SchiederSee, while Schwalenberg’s buildings and exhibitions add a cultural and historical dimension. There are also hiking options in Schwalenberger Forest and at Kahlenberg Tower.

Leisure at SchiederSee

The SchiederSee recreation area offers a wide range of leisure activities for visitors of all ages. FUNTASTICO, a leisure park with a play lake, wooden raft and water jets, is right by the lake. Schieder Lido offers a sandy beach, diving towers and a large sunbathing lawn. The leisure park and lido are different options for a stay focused on water and recreation. Facilities and operating arrangements may change, so check the current offerings before visiting.

Industrial heritage and castle history

Plöger Paper Mill is one of the most significant industrial monuments in North Rhine-Westphalia. It illustrates 300 years of papermaking across 22 stations, with original machinery and water from the Niese. The mill’s technical focus sits alongside the princely history of Schieder Castle: the castle was the former summer residence of the Princes of Lippe. To the south, terraces and cascades remain as features of the former French Baroque garden. As visitor arrangements at the mill may change, check the current access conditions before your visit.

Half-timbered buildings, church and exhibitions in Schwalenberg

Schwalenberg’s Historic Town Hall is an outstanding example of Weser Renaissance half-timbered architecture. The origins of Schwalenberg Church clearly date back to before 1200. Regular exhibitions are held at the Municipal Gallery and the Robert Koepke House. The Schwalenberg Tourist Information Office is located in Bachrach House, next to the Municipal Gallery and the art association; the historic town hall is also next door. The buildings, early church history and exhibitions offer different points of interest for anyone looking to give their stay a cultural focus.

Forest and trails

Schwalenberger Forest, including Mörth, accounts for about half of the roughly 4,000-hectare forest area in southeastern Lippe, which is one of the region’s largest contiguous forest areas. The Schwalenberger Forest and Mörth route is a circular hiking trail about 17.1 kilometers long. The path to Kahlenberg Tower includes a climb of 100 steps; the view is considered one of the finest in the Lippe region. Those weighing up hiking options can compare them from different perspectives: one is a circular route of an approximate stated length, while the other stands out for its stair climb and views.

The southeastern loop of the Lippe Princes’ Route also helps with route planning: it leads from Schieder past SchiederSee to Lügde and back to Schieder via Schwalenberg. As routes and signage may change, check the current route before setting out.

Discover more destinations: Horn-Bad Meinberg, Hörstmar, Schlangen, Lage, Rott, Blomberg, Oerlinghausen, Detmold.

Go to the main travel overview: Lippe.