Oberkirchen: Hiking Trails and Historic Sites

In Oberkirchen, you can plan your stay around two themes: trails through the landscape and historic sites. The Golddorf Route Oberkirchen passes through the Sommerseite nature reserve and continues up to the Ennest. The winter hiking trail and the Hartmecketalweg O1 each follow a different route. There are also five historic sites, the Catholic parish church of St. Gertrud and the watermill. You can focus on nature trails, local history or both.

Hiking Trails Through Varied Landscapes

Sheep and goats are sometimes used to manage the landscape in the Sommerseite nature reserve. This is intended to preserve the heathland and promote natural biodiversity; the grazing may vary by season. The Golddorf Route Oberkirchen follows a nature trail through the protected area and continues up to the Ennest. From there, you can enjoy panoramic views as well as a view into the Lennetal. If you choose this route, you’ll find a combination of a protected area, heathland management and potential viewpoints.

The Oberkirchen winter hiking trail leads from Oberkirchen towards Winkhausen, continues to the Almert and Hexenplatz, and then returns to Oberkirchen. Whether it is accessible in winter depends on the conditions at the time. The Hartmecketalweg O1 follows a different route: it passes through a heavily wooded area via Mückenplatz to Hexenplatz, then returns to Oberkirchen via Lüttmecke. Both trails lead to Hexenplatz, but the sections leading there and back are different.

The “Kirche” bus stop on route S 40 is right at the starting point of the Golddorf Route. If you plan to arrive by bus, check the latest route and stop information in advance. This will help you coordinate your journey with the trailhead.

Historic Sites and Architectural Details

Oberkirchen’s five historic sites include the Baroque church, the Pütte, the gallows, the dungeon and Hexenplatz. Their names refer to different places that you can visit as individual stops on a tour of local history. One church detail is the painting “St. Jerome” in the Catholic parish church of St. Gertrud in Oberkirchen.

The watermill at Alte Poststraße 15 comprises an upper and a lower millrace. Alongside the mill itself, these two structural features are specifically identified. A guided witch-themed walk in Oberkirchen leads to the dungeon. Afterwards, participants are invited to coffee and cake in the hostess’s living room. This offer depends on the event arrangements; check current dates and details in advance.

More to Explore in the Wider Schmallenberg Destination

The wider Schmallenberg destination offers other distinct points of interest for planning your trip. Schmallenberg’s old town has a uniform Neoclassical architectural character and many restored half-timbered houses. A family adventure trail in Schmallenberg, approximately three kilometres long, has 13 stops about forests, animals, wood and birds.

Two trails with nature and forest themes can also be distinguished by their length and number of stops: the family adventure trail is approximately three kilometres long and has 13 stops; the forest workers’ and foresters’ trail in Schmallenberg-Latrop runs for 4.5 kilometres and passes 17 stops. Topics there include forest ecology and the use of timber. The Forest Workers’ Museum in Schmallenberg-Latrop displays historic tools, pictures of earlier forest and village life, historic forestry records, and information about the development of the chainsaw. These attractions belong to the wider Schmallenberg destination, not to the places and trails in Oberkirchen mentioned above.

Discover more destinations: Gleidorf, Oberhenneborn, Kirchilpe, Niederhenneborn, Westfeld, Schanze, Obringhausen, Arpe.

Back to the overall travel guide: Schmallenberg.