Liesen: Nature Trails, Views and Village History

Liesen combines nature and hiking opportunities with distinctive features of the village. The Liesetal valley and its upland landscape sit alongside themed trails, churches and the bakehouse. For planning, you can compare the routes by length and focus: some pass religious images, while others lead through natural areas. Local history is evident in the two churches and the bakehouse.

Liesetal Valley, Mountain Heath and Views

Above Liesen, the Liesetal valley stretches for about 4.5 kilometres as a ribbon of species-rich meadows and pastures, rising into the wooded Rothaargebirge. Woodland and open land are closely interwoven here and together shape the landscape.

The Liesetal valley is designated as a nature reserve. A small geological outcrop in the valley has an information board provided by the Geological Survey. Thus, alongside the meadows and pastures, a specific geological site is another feature of the valley.

Below the summit ridge of the Hilmesberg lies one of the last mountain heaths in the Medebacher Bucht, surrounded by coppice woodland. From the summit of the Hilmesberg, you can enjoy views of the Rothaargebirge and the Medebacher Bucht. Mountain heath, coppice woodland and summit views are distinct aspects of the landscape here.

Another viewpoint is the Sauerland-Stabil-Stuhl on the Kohlberg near Hallenberg-Liesen. This eight-metre-high wooden art installation has a viewing platform with a 360-degree panoramic view over Liesen, Hallenberg, Hesborn and the Medebacher Bucht.

Hiking Trails and Guided Tours

The Naturweg Liesetal is a 13-kilometre route along easy-to-walk paths through the “Liesetal-Hilmesberg” FFH area, offering a relaxing nature experience. The Meisebockweg is a circular trail of about twelve kilometres along the Höhenflug. It is marked throughout with a white H on a blue background. The details provide a direct comparison of the routes’ lengths; the Meisebockweg’s circular shape is also part of its description.

The “Gelobte Kreuze” (“Votive Crosses”) trail runs around Liesen, passing crosses, wayside shrines and small chapels dedicated to saints. You can walk the full 11.1-kilometre route or choose between two sections of 5.8 and 5.3 kilometres. At each stop, information boards with QR codes provide details about the locations. The route description therefore lets you choose between the full trail and its sections, while also offering information about the religious images along the way.

The “Bergruine Freier Stein und Pferdestall” circular walk is regularly offered in Liesen by certified nature and landscape guide Ursula Schüngel through Touristik Winterberg mit Hallenberg. If you’re planning to join this guided tour, check the current dates in advance.

Churches and Local History

St Thomas Parish Church in Liesen is a modern hall church. Its furnishings include a Baroque high altar and an organ dating from 1811. As a visitor attraction, the church combines modern architecture with historic furnishings.

A smaller church was built in Liesen in 1746 and is now a listed monument. Together, the two churches offer different historical reference points: the 1811 organ and the parish church’s Baroque high altar on the one hand, and the smaller church’s construction date of 1746 and its current protected status on the other.

Bakehouse and Summer Activities

The bakehouse is in the centre of Liesen, next to the parish hall. It was built to mark the 700th anniversary celebrations on 1 September 2013. The bakehouse team in Liesen holds additional baking days in spring and autumn, when pre-ordered loaves can be collected. Specific dates are published separately; check the baking days in advance and order your bread ahead of time.

The leisure facility with a footbath in the Liesetal valley in Liesen is maintained by the local village community and gives visitors a chance to cool off in summer.

Discover more destinations: Hesborn, Braunshausen.

Return to the main travel overview: Hallenberg.