Discover Unna: Cycle Routes, Water and Industrial Heritage
Accommodation in Unna
The Unna district lies on the eastern edge of the Ruhr region; its outer reaches extend into the northern MĂĽnsterland and southern Sauerland. There is plenty of greenery between the Lippe and Ruhr rivers. Special ways to experience the region include cycling and hiking trails, historic buildings, industrial heritage and destinations by the water.
Cycling and Hiking Tours in the Unna District
The RadKreisUnna route is almost 100 kilometres long and connects sights, historic towns, industrial heritage and landscapes. In addition, each municipality in the district can be explored by bike on its own circular route. The A-Wege cycling programme comprises eleven circular tours of varying lengths and difficulty levels. This gives you a choice of different route formats when planning your tour, rather than using a single loop as your benchmark.
The A-Wege map sheets list the distance, approximate travel time and elevation gain. A GPX file is available via a QR code; the maps also include descriptions of sights and information about the route. For navigating a cycling tour, you therefore have both route details and information about places of interest along the way.
The WestfalenWanderWeg also offers a longer-distance option: it runs from Hattingen to Altenbeken and, within the Unna district, crosses the foothills of the Ardey Hills and the Haarstrang ridge. Numerous hiking routes pass through the forests near Cappenberg. These forests are designated as a special conservation area by the European Union and have been designated a nature reserve by the Unna district. The Waldschule Cappenberg is recommended as a destination in the woodland, which is also suitable for children.
The Entdecker-Pass takes you on ten cycling and hiking tours through all the towns and municipalities in the district. Along the way, the focus is especially on sights that are interesting for children and invite them to take part. Hiking tours are generally 10 kilometres long, while cycling tours are 20 kilometres. These different distances help you weigh up a walking loop versus a cycling loop as you plan.
Waterways and Lakes
There are canoeing options on the Lippe and, in particular, the Ruhr in the Unna district. The Datteln-Hamm Canal is suitable for motorboat users. In Bergkamen, the Westfälisches Sportbootzentrum Marina Rünthe is a water sports hub; even if you are not going out on a boat yourself, you can spend your leisure time there and look at the boats in the harbour.
On the Datteln-Hamm Canal, the PreuĂźenhafen waterway rest area in LĂĽnen is a stopover and destination for walkers and cyclists. The harbour building on the eastern bank houses a tourist information centre and a kiosk with a snack area. This canal-side spot combines facilities for people on the go with a port of call at the harbour.
The region’s lakes have different origins. Ternscher See in Selm is fed exclusively by springs and groundwater. It was created during the expansion of the Dortmund-Ems Canal in the early 1930s, covers around 15 hectares and is up to nine metres deep. Seepark Lünen covers around 60 hectares and was created on a former mining subsidence area that was restored to nature for the 1996 State Garden Show. At its heart is the roughly nine-hectare Horstmarer See, with a sandy beach and gently sloping shore.
Buildings and Industrial Heritage
Cappenberg is home to the Stiftskirche Cappenberg, a three-aisled Romanesque pillar basilica completed in 1148. Schloss Cappenberg in Selm is one of the outstanding examples of Westphalian Baroque monastic architecture. The foundations of Haus Opherdicke date back to the 12th century, and it is considered an example of how heritage conservation can be combined with contemporary use. Museum Haus Opherdicke offers exhibitions, guided tours for groups such as seniors or school classes, and workshops where visitors can try painting themselves.
In Unna, Lindenbrauerei is an anchor point on the Route of Industrial Heritage. Behind its historic industrial façade is now a cultural and communications centre with a theatre, alternative bars and the Centre for International Light Art. The Königsborn III/IV winding tower in Bönen can be climbed on foot via stairs to a height of 55 metres. Access conditions may change, so check them before visiting. The tower has also become an established venue for music and cabaret. Events held there have included Extraschicht, film screenings and music festivals.
The places described are located in different municipalities across the district. So choose your destinations according to the activities that are a priority for your trip.
Discover More Destinations
Discover more destinations: Bergkamen, Kamen, Lünen, Unna, Fröndenberg/Ruhr, Werne, Holzwickede, Schwerte, Selm, Bönen.
Return to the main travel overview: North Rhine-Westphalia.
