At the western edge of Eikeloh, a district of Erwitte, lies the Pöppelsche Valley, which is designated a nature reserve. Nearby, the brine attractions in Bad Westernkotten and the history of Erwitte Castle offer further topics, clearly distinct in their focus on landscape, relaxation, and culture.
Brine and Graduation Towers in Bad Westernkotten
The Hellweg brine thermal baths in Bad Westernkotten are open year-round and offer more than 1,300 m² of space for swimming and relaxing in invigorating brine water. The water temperature ranges from 32 to 34 °C; the brine concentration is 3 to 4 percent and comes from the original natural brine of Bad Westernkotten.
The two graduation towers in Bad Westernkotten were added to the list of historic monuments of the town of Erwitte with effect from December 18, 1984. They are considered monuments of cultural history and engineering, and are among the largest technical monuments of their kind in North Rhine-Westphalia. In Bad Westernkotten’s spa park, Graduation Tower I is also now the longest graduation tower in a spa park in North Rhine-Westphalia.
A large, accessible herb spiral with six themed sections is located by Graduation Tower II in the spa park: salt-tolerant coastal plants, mints, native wild herbs, classic culinary herbs, perennials that can be used as wild vegetables, and Mediterranean aromatic herbs. The sections give the herb spiral a clearly structured thematic layout.
Hiking, Nature and Activity
Circular hiking trails in Bad Westernkotten lead as far as the Pöppelsche Valley. For a shorter route, the approximately 2.2 km “Salzspuren” walk is a good option. The approximately 6 km “Muckenbruch-Marsch” is the longer tour; it passes through the spa park, follows Forellenweg, and crosses the bridge at the Gieseler into the Muckenbruch nature reserve and peat extraction area. The route returns via the town center and spa promenade to the fountain in front of the Hellweg brine thermal baths.
Three Nordic walking routes of varying difficulty begin in Bad Westernkotten spa park. Route length and difficulty offer two different points of reference: the information on the “Salzspuren” walk and the Muckenbruch March makes their lengths easy to compare, while the stated difficulty ratings distinguish the Nordic walking routes.
History, Guided Tours and Outdoor Pool
Erwitte Castle was first mentioned in an official document in 1273. It offers a variety of event rooms for private celebrations such as weddings, birthdays, and anniversaries, as well as business occasions such as business dinners, Christmas parties, and receptions. Room availability depends on bookings.
For a guided look at the old town, the Erwitte 1973 Local History Association offers town tours by prior arrangement. The date must therefore be agreed in advance.
On summer days, Schlossbad Erwitte offers a large sunbathing lawn with mature trees, a shady spot, a 50-meter pool, and a children’s pool. For specific plans for a day at the pool, check seasonal opening hours and current facilities in advance.
Discover more destinations: Bad Westernkotten, Welver, Warstein, Vellinghausen, Soest, Anröchte, Bad Sassendorf, Möhnesee.
Back to the main travel overview: Soest.
