At Biggesee, Sondern combines swimming spots and water sports with cycling and hiking trails, as well as religious and pilgrimage-related points of interest. The village and neighbouring Hanemicke lie directly on the lake; there are two swimming spots and a variety of trails nearby. When choosing where to stay, consider whether you mainly want to spend time by the water or also explore trails and local culture.
Arriving and finding your way
In 2020, Sondern railway station was named an NRW hiking station. It also offers a direct connection to passenger boat services on Biggesee. If you plan to travel by train and boat, check the schedules in advance, as they may change. The station is also the destination of the Bigge-Lister Trail, making Sondern an appealing choice for visitors looking for a named endpoint for a hike.
The trails offer different ways to shape your stay: alongside the Bigge-Lister Trail, there are varied cycling and hiking routes nearby. Boat services, in turn, offer a different way to experience the lake and can be accessed directly from the station. You can decide which option best suits your stay based on how you want to balance time on the trails with time on the water.
Swimming and water sports at Sonderner Kopf
The beach resort at Sonderner Kopf has slides and floating attractions: a trampoline, a climbing wall and an action tower. Ladders and ramps also make it easy for bathers with limited mobility to get into the water. Before planning a visit, check whether the beach resort is currently open.
There is a dedicated place to enquire about diving: Biggesee Diving School is located right by the beach resort at the “Vier Jahreszeiten” campsite at Sonderner Kopf in Olpe. It has its own dive site, called “Sonderner Kopf”, and operates by appointment. Its services include diving equipment rental, diving courses, excursions and trips. If you have a particular activity in mind, check availability in advance.
At Biggesee in Olpe-Sondern, NamaSteg rents out stand-up paddleboards, kayaks and fishing boats. Rentals are available by appointment or for events, so check current availability. The water activities each have a distinct focus: the beach resort centres on swimming and floating attractions, NamaSteg on boat and board rentals, and the diving school on courses and diving-related activities.
Pilgrimage trail and church
There are also specific places to visit away from the water: the “Madonna am Weg” wayside shrine on Diehlberg in Sondern is a pilgrimage stop on the Franz-Hitze Trail. St. Mary Help of Christians Church is jointly served by the parish of St. Cyriakus Rhode as a branch church within the so-called Rhode parish district. These are two distinct local points of interest: the wayside shrine as a stop on a pilgrimage trail, and the church in its parish context.
This makes it easy to choose between water-based activities, trails and culture without trying to fit every interest into one outing. If swimming or water sports are your priority, the beach resort, diving school and NamaSteg are different places to start. Those who prefer to explore on foot can consider the Bigge-Lister Trail and the pilgrimage stop; cycling and hiking trails offer further options. Choose your search for a holiday apartment based on which of these interests will shape your stay.
Discover more destinations: Oberveischede
View the main travel overview: Olpe.
