Around Arnsberg

We start our scenic hike at Arnsberg railway station and always follow the large W on a white background that marks the Arnsberg scenic route. This is part of the Sauerland Forest Route, which leads from Marsberg to Iserlohn. From the station, walk a few metres along Clemens-August-Straße and then turn left into Wintroper Weg. We now walk around the Lüsenberg and then continue without any major inclines between the forest and settlements into the Wolfsschlucht. Then, past the Rumbecker Höhe (312 m), you reach the wooded Hasenwinkel and later, on a clearly descending path, the Wetterhof. After leaving the farm, the trail goes left along the Teutenburg road for a few metres, before the trail branches off to the right and meets built-up areas again at Dickenbruch. Here you will find the Country Lodge, a worthwhile stop for hikers and those seeking peace and quiet.

The scenic route continues through a wooded area and finally descends again behind the forest cemetery. We cross the Sunderner Straß, then briefly touch the settlement area of Gierskämpen and come to the Nonnenkuhle. In this gorge, the nuns of the Rumbeck convent hid from the plundering French troops during the 30-year war. Over the wooded Hohe Nacken we pass the Seltersberg (302 m) and follow the large W to the Kreuzberg (190 m) with a cross chapel and a Stations of the Cross. We circle the mountain clockwise and meet the Rüdenburg, the first Arnsberg castle complex, which was built on this site by the counts of Werl around 1060. Descending along the Kuhweg, you reach the Ruhr valley, cross a road, then the Ruhr and shortly afterwards the Müengraben. Via a staircase we reach two restored classicist garden houses and continue through the Twiete to the Neumarkt.

Now it is worth exploring the Prussian town of Arnsberg at the end of the tour. The Church of the Resurrection on Neumarkt and the self-contained neoclassical quarter were built in the early 19th century. In its unity, this quarter, „the little Berlin town“, occupies a special position in Westphalia. The path leads us on the right along Königstraße to the Eichholz cemetery and then on the left along Laurentiusstraße to the Ehmsenden monument. Within sight of the monument is Haus Klosterberg, from where you can enjoy a much-famed view of the old and new town. From Haus Klosterberg we walk to the Hirschberger Tor and look at the former Wedinghausen monastery.

In a northerly direction, the path leads us through Klosterstraß into the oldest part of Arnsberg, the medieval old town. The ensemble at the Alter Markt with the town hall, bell tower, Maximilian fountain and beautiful half-timbered houses is well worth seeing. Through Arnsberg's landmark, the bell tower with the St. George's town chapel, you reach the 192 m high Schloss­berg. Count Friedrich der Streitbare von Arnsberg had a large castle built on the Adlerberg opposite the Rüdenburg around 1102. It was the nucleus of the town around which the settlement developed in the Middle Ages. Today you can still see the restored remains of the electoral Castle Arnsberg. Directly on the Schlossberg is a beautifully landscaped historic vineyard. Finally, a narrow forest path leads down to the road and then back to the station.