Unna can be explored from two different perspectives: as a town with a medieval old town and as a destination for light art. The Bornekamptal Valley adds its own distinctive landscape. You can therefore shape your stay around culture, history or nature.
Old Town and Town History
The essential features of Unna’s old town have been well preserved, retaining its medieval character. The town plan, urban layout and buildings convey historical information dating from the town’s development in the High Middle Ages through to the 20th century. Remains of the town wall, some with towers still intact, recall the medieval town boundary and its history of fortifications.
The Hellweg Museum Unna, a museum of local and regional history run by the town, is housed in a listed castle on the town wall. Among its notable exhibits is the gold treasure discovered in the old town in 1952. It comprises at least 255 gold coins, 230 of which are on display at the museum. A find from Unna’s history thus becomes part of a museum visit.
The Protestant town church also tells the story of several building phases: the present building is the successor to the original parish church of 1322 and the structures that followed it. It is considered the town’s most artistically significant building and one of the finest medieval religious buildings in the Hellweg region. Elsewhere in Unna, the historic wind pump at Friedrichsborn in the Königsborn district recalls the area’s former salt production. More than 300 Stolpersteine commemorate the victims of National Socialism.
Light Art and Cultural Activities
The Centre for International Light Art is located in the former Linden Brewery. Since 2001, light art has been presented there underground across a total area of 2,600 square metres. In this form, the centre is regarded as the world’s first and only museum dedicated to presenting light art. Visits take place as part of guided tours; check the latest dates before planning your visit. The programme also includes workshops, symposia and events accompanying exhibitions.
The Hellweg Museum also offers an introduction to Jewish cultural history through its exhibits. A walking tour then leads to sites in the town centre associated with Jewish life in Unna. Activities and workshops are available for school classes and individuals. If you have a particular activity in mind, it is advisable to check the latest dates in advance.
Anyone interested in local and regional history can also arrange guided tours of the town archive, either through the adult education centre (VHS) programme or directly with the archive for groups. The archive answers enquiries about local and regional history and supports visitors with research.
Green Spaces and Paths
The Bornekamptal Valley stretches for about four kilometres, from the southern edge of Unna to the open farmland east of the Unna-Billmerich district. The Kortelbach stream runs through the valley, whose landscape includes woodland, hedgerows, meadows, field margins, avenues and waterside areas. Almost all of these areas are designated as protected landscape features in the Unna landscape plan.
The old beech stands, with their sometimes high proportion of deadwood, provide important feeding and breeding grounds for woodpeckers, bats and wood-decomposing insects. The Bornekamptal Valley is also a fresh-air corridor and a quiet zone, as well as an important local recreation area for the people of Unna and the wider area. Visitors, cyclists and horse riders should stay on paved or signposted paths.
The Südfriedhof offers a different kind of green space: covering more than 20 hectares, it has developed into a local recreation area with mature trees. In the older section, old beech, lime and maple trees line the paths. The Bornekamptal Valley and Südfriedhof thus have distinct landscapes, but both offer a contrast to the town’s historical and cultural attractions.
Choose the Focus of Your Stay
If you are primarily interested in architectural history and places of remembrance, the old town, town wall, town church and museum each represent different chapters of Unna’s history. Light art adds a distinctive cultural focus. Those who prefer to include green spaces will find a protected landscape with clearly marked paths in the Bornekamptal Valley; Südfriedhof adds its own mature trees. You can choose your destination based on which side of Unna you would most like to experience during your stay.
Discover more destinations: Kamen, Selm, Bönen, Holzwickede, Werne, Fröndenberg/Ruhr, Bergkamen, Lünen.
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