Discover Ottlar: local history and hiking trails

In the heart of Ottlar stands St. Margaret’s Church; hiking trails and other sections of long-distance routes offer different options when planning your trip. Local history, specific trail lengths and scenic views thus emerge as distinct themes. When planning, consider whether you prefer a circular hike, a route with a greater focus on the landscape or a cycling tour.

Church and local history

St. Margaret’s Church stands in the heart of Ottlar and is dedicated to Saint Margaret of Antioch. The hall church in the Rundbogenstil combines an architectural classification with several historical milestones. A chapel stood on this site as early as 1537; the present church was consecrated in 1874. The organ was originally built for the Waldeck castle chapel and has been in Ottlar since 1750. “Hall church” describes the building type, while Rundbogenstil refers to the architectural style. The dedication and dates also offer a glimpse into the history of the church.

Circular trails by length and starting point

The OT1 circular trail is 3.8 kilometres long, easy, and starts and finishes at the hiking information board in the village centre. At 2.7 kilometres, the OT2 circular trail around the Dommelturm is the shorter of the two options. It is also easy, and starts and finishes at the Dommel car park. The two loops differ in length by 1.1 kilometres, and they also have different starting points. For families choosing a walk together, distance and starting point are useful ways to compare them.

Dommel and the view

At around 738 metres, the Dommel is the highest mountain in the municipality of Diemelsee. The Dommelturm offers sweeping views across Diemelsee Nature Park and the Sauerland mountains. For visitors particularly interested in elevation and panoramic views, this offers a different focus from comparing the circular trails by length and starting point.

Long-distance trails and other routes

The Diemelsteig long-distance hiking trail passes through Ottlar and connects the village with the landscape around Lake Diemelsee. The OT4 circular trail follows a different route: it starts in the centre of Ottlar and follows part of the Uplandsteig around the Hohe Egge. If you are choosing between the two routes, you can use the type of route as a guide: the Diemelsteig leads into the wider landscape, while OT4 starts in the village and follows a named trail.

Exploring by bike

Quiet paths around Ottlar are ideal for varied cycling tours through the Upland countryside and in the direction of Lake Diemelsee. A shelter near the Niegelscheid invites you to take a break and enjoy the panoramic views. Ottlar also has a water-treading facility.

The wider destination of Diemelsee

In the wider destination of Diemelsee, the Diemelsteig passes directly through Heringhausen and circles Lake Diemelsee. The Seebrücke/Hohes Rad beach is also in Heringhausen. You can include these trails and places in your plans when exploring the wider destination.

Discover more destinations: Stormbruch, Adorf, Heringhausen, Schweinsbühl

Back to the overview of the wider destination: Diemelsee.