Kirchhundem offers several distinct highlights for a trip: the 80-hectare Panorama Park Sauerland wildlife and adventure park, protected stream landscapes, historic museums and hiking trails. When planning, consider whether views and distance, natural history or culture should be the focus. You can then choose activities and accommodation to suit the kind of trip you want.

Landscapes, views and seasonal activities

The Schwarzbachsystem nature reserve, including Haberg and Krenkeltal, is in the municipality of Kirchhundem in the Olpe district. It covers 312 hectares and consists of six separate areas. Its defining feature is an extensive, natural and highly branched stream system formed by the Schwarzbach, the Meinscheidbach and their tributaries. Another notable feature is the disused railway tunnel between Krenkeltal and Schwarzbachtal: it is an important winter roost for bats.

The historic Rhein-Weser-Turm stands on Westerberg in the Rothaargebirge. The 24-metre-high observation tower offers panoramic views of the surrounding landscape. There is a restaurant with a terrace at the tower, serving regional dishes, coffee and cake. Overnight accommodation is also available. As dining and accommodation options can change, confirm that they are available for your dates before travelling.

The Rhein-Weser-Turm is also a starting point for seasonal winter sports: it has a cross-country skiing centre with a ski school and equipment hire, and the extensive, well-maintained Rothaarloipe trail network begins here. Operations and equipment hire may vary by season. Check both before your trip.

Hiking trails in different formats

A 14.4-kilometre section of the Rothaarsteig leads from the Rhein-Weser-Turm through the Schwarzbachtal nature reserve and the Heinsberger Hochheide to Ginsberger Heide. Along the way, the route passes Dreiherrnstein and the source of the Ferndorf. This gives you a specific distance to compare with other, shorter hiking options in Kirchhundem: several audio tours follow circular trails of 5 to 10 kilometres.

The audio tours focus on cultural history. Anecdotes and stories bring the former border between Sauerland, Siegerland and Wittgensteiner Land to life. Another route option is the Rothaarsteig-Spur Oberhundemer Bergtour: this signposted premium circular trail starts and ends at the Haus des Gastes hiking portal in Oberhundem’s spa park. It leads through forests, past rugged cliffs and to panoramic views at Kahleberg.

The trails therefore differ in both length and character: the audio tours combine circular hikes with stories about cultural history, while the Oberhundemer Bergtour focuses on forests, cliffs and views. When choosing a route, consider whether you are looking for a particular distance or a specific theme.

Museums and regional history

In Silberg, a district of Kirchhundem, Kulturgut Schrabben Hof combines a local history museum with a nostalgic café, an old bakehouse, a beer garden, a festival barn, a pub, an antiques barn and a theatre barn. The site is set within an ensemble of buildings, most of which are listed. Covering around 250 square metres, the museum tells the story of life in a Sauerland village and the history of mining in Silberg. It also provides information about the region’s nature reserves and displays fossils and minerals related to the history of the Earth.

In Oberhundem, the embroidery museum explores a different aspect of history. Housed in a listed parsonage dating from 1685, it displays historic embroidery in restored period rooms. Together with Schrabben Hof, it offers a clear contrast between everyday life and mining history on the one hand, and historic embroidery on the other.

Choose accommodation to suit your interests

The activities described differ in theme, route length and format, which can help guide your accommodation search. Overnight accommodation is available at the Rhein-Weser-Turm. Check availability for your travel dates, as well as the seasonal cross-country skiing and equipment-hire options.

Discover more destinations

Discover more destinations: Silberg, Heinsberg, Oberhundem, Varste, Brachthausen, Finnentrop, Wenden, Attendorn.

Return to the main travel guide: Olpe.