Gummersbach: Hiking Trails, Reservoirs and City History
Accommodation in Gummersbach
When looking for a hotel in Gummersbach, the purpose of your trip may be the deciding factor: Would you like to go hiking, include the reservoirs as destinations, or set aside time for a tour of the city center? Gummersbach brings together a range of themes, without requiring them all to be part of the same itinerary. The following hiking and cultural attractions can help you plan your stay.
Hiking Trails and Cycling Routes
Gummersbach is located in the Bergisches Land Nature Park. Around 180 kilometers of hiking trails are marked by the Sauerland Mountain Association (SGV). Trail markings can also help with navigation: local circular trails are marked with an A, while long-distance hiking trails are marked with an X. You can hike both around the Aggertalsperre and around the Genkeltalsperre. The Genkeltalsperre is protected as a drinking-water reservoir.
Two different walks offer a comparison in terms of length and trail character. The circular hiking trail around the Genkeltalsperre is 9.3 kilometers long. On the peninsula between the Genkel and Agger arms near Bredenbruch, a mostly flat walk covers just under four kilometers. Another themed trail is the Gummersbach Trail: It starts at the Aggertalsperre and provides clear information about renewable energy.
There is also a named cycling route section: The Agger-Dörspe stage of the Bergisches Panoramic Cycle Route runs between Gummersbach-Vollmerhausen and Bergneustadt-Pernze along a former railway line. The named endpoints and the former railway route help you distinguish this stage from the hiking trails and local walking routes.
Reservoirs and Activities on the Water
A range of water sports activities are possible at the Aggertalsperre. The recreation camp in Lantenbach rents out sailboats, canoes and pedal boats; check current availability with the operator in advance. The NRW Diving Sports Association uses the Aggertalsperre as a diving site. If you are considering diving, check the conditions and any required permits with the responsible association.
Groups can arrange visits to the dam walls of the Aggertalsperre with the Aggerverband; the phone number given is 02261-360. The Bruch lido in the reservoir's forebay has a large sunbathing lawn and a separate area for small children. Check the latest operating information before visiting. The TV DĂĽmmlinghausen-Hesselbach 1891 e.V. organizes the annual Reservoir Triathlon. If you would like to coordinate your stay with the event, check the dates separately.
City Center and Culture
A tour of Gummersbach city center brings together historic buildings such as the Alte Vogtei, the two churches and the former merchant houses in Baumhof with the urban architecture of the SteinmĂĽller site. The route is just over one kilometer long; allow about an hour. The Alte Vogtei is the oldest secular building in Gummersbach city center. Its renovation began in 2021.
Halle32 is an important part of the city's cultural scene. Its program includes concerts, theater and musical performances, readings, comedy and exhibitions. As individual events vary, check the latest dates before planning.
Getting Here and Getting Around
Regional train 25 connects Cologne and Gummersbach. Bus route 318 runs from central Gummersbach or the bus station via Lantenbach, stopping at Genkeltalsperre, and continues to Lieberhausen. Check current services with the transport operator before traveling. By road, Gummersbach is well connected to the Rhine and Ruhr metropolitan areas via the “Sauerland Line” from Dortmund to Gießen and Frankfurt (A 45), and the Aachen–Cologne–Olpe federal highway (A 4). You can therefore consider rail, bus and road connections separately when planning your trip.
Discover more destinations: Lieberhausen, Lindlar, Reichshof, Engelskirchen, Morsbach, Wiehl, WipperfĂĽrth, Radevormwald.
For the higher-level travel overview: Oberbergischer Kreis.
