In the destination of Altenkirchen, the town’s history and local offerings sit alongside attractions elsewhere in the wider region. You can tailor your stay to different interests, such as historic sites, the weekly market and leisure activities in Altenkirchen, or cultural and scenic attractions in other towns in the region.
History in Altenkirchen and Flammersfeld
The Bismarck Tower stands on the Dorn, a hill offering a good view of the district town of Altenkirchen. Local residents initiated its construction using stone from the area; the foundation stone was laid on 1 April 1914. The First World War prevented the planned opening on 1 April 1915. The tower was completed in 1922, and its official opening followed on 21 May of that year.
Reliefs and column fragments can be seen in the foundations of Christuskirche in Altenkirchen. They come from the old cemetery and were used in the church’s reconstruction. The town’s history is present here not only in a building in its own right, but also in reused parts of older structures.
Another important historical site is in Flammersfeld: in 1849, Friedrich Wilhelm Raiffeisen founded the “Flammersfelder Hülfsverein zur Unterstützung unbemittelter Landwirthe” (Flammersfeld Aid Association for the Support of Indigent Farmers), the world’s first credit union. From 1848 to 1852, the Raiffeisen House served as his place of work and residence while he was mayor of the Flammersfeld collective municipality. The founding story and the house offer different perspectives: one on the creation of the association, the other on Raiffeisen’s work and life in Flammersfeld.
Weekly Market and Indoor Swimming Pool in Altenkirchen
The weekly market in Altenkirchen takes place on Thursdays from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the pedestrian zone. Stalls offer fish, cheese, fruit, vegetables, bread, eggs, meat and potatoes. There are also honey products sold directly by the producer, pickled specialties, flowers and textiles. The Simon-Juda Market is another recurring event: it takes place every year on the last Friday in October. These are two different opportunities to include a market visit in your plans.
The Glockenspitze indoor swimming pool in Altenkirchen opened on 26 November 2025. It has a five-lane sports pool, a one-metre springboard and a three-metre diving platform. A teaching pool with a movable floor is intended for water aerobics, aquacycling and swimming lessons; there is also a toddler pool with a slide. The different pools and facilities cater to different activities, from swimming and lessons to splashing around.
Circular Routes and Leisure Activities
The Altenkirchen Climate Change Trail is a 7.5-kilometre circular route with 14 information panels. The stated distance and number of stops provide a clear basis for planning your time, without specifying a walking duration. Another option in town is the disc golf course in Parc de Tarbes: it is open for use at any time and free of charge; you will need to bring your own discs.
A cycling tour also passes through the town of Altenkirchen: “Tour 5: From Valley to Valley” runs as far as Parc de Tarbes. The park is named after the French twin town of Tarbes. The circular walk, cycling tour and disc golf offer different types of activity, so you can choose according to your interests; the stated facts do not establish a route connecting them.
Attractions in the Wider Region
In Marienthal, a cultural site and a circular route come together: Marienthal remains a popular pilgrimage destination, and the Klosterdorf Trail leads around the former Franciscan monastery through the shaded spa forest belonging to the Archdiocese of Cologne. Near Steineroth, a well-maintained, family-friendly circular route leads to the summit plateau of the Steinerother Kopf, where there is a summit cross. Information panels describe the history of the former basalt quarry and the region’s flora and fauna. At 478 metres, the Steinerother Kopf is a basalt hill offering panoramic views across the Siegerland and Elbbachtal, and as far as the Siebengebirge on a clear day.
Those interested in mining history can find authentic tools, miners’ lamps, machinery, minerals and documents covering more than 2,000 years of mining history at the Altenkirchen District Mining Museum in Herdorf-Sassenroth. For cyclists, Altenkirchen District also offers a route on a larger scale: the Westerwald Loop is a signposted 130-kilometre cycle route that passes through the Upper District. These attractions offer different reasons to explore beyond the town of Altenkirchen, from pilgrimage and monastic history to nature and scenery, regional mining history and longer cycling routes.
Discover more destinations: Betzdorf, Daaden, Kirchen, Hamm, Wissen, Flammersfeld, Helmeroth, Gebhardshain, Altenkirchen, Obererbach, Niederdreisbach, FĂĽrthen, Niederirsen, Neitersen, Birkenbeul, Selbach (Sieg).
View the overview of destinations: Rhineland-Palatinate.
