Discover Meschede: Hennesee, Trails and Half-Timbered Houses

Meschede brings together town and lake, hiking trails, historic town centres and culture. The two-kilometre Henne Boulevard passes Hennepark and the open Henne at Winziger Platz; with its fitness trail, it is designed to be accessible. At Hennesee, water activities, lakeside paths and play areas take centre stage, while districts such as Eversberg and Grevenstein showcase half-timbered houses and history.

At Hennesee: Water, Play and Lakeside Paths

Berghausen bathing cove at Hennesee offers swimming, stand-up paddleboarding at the water sports station, sailing and rowing. The free-to-enter Pirate Cove is another destination for families: this outdoor adventure playground has a pirate ship, climbing and play equipment, and an accessible inclusive area. From the parking area at the bathing cove, an accessible path leads there in about five minutes. Conditions may change, so check the route conditions before your visit. Benches in quiet and relaxation areas invite you to unwind, watch the surroundings and picnic.

Those wishing to combine nature and culture on a walk can find the Wogenweg along the shore. Twelve steles feature changing, themed poems. The A8 circular hiking trail goes all the way around the reservoir and offers views of the lake. Above Hennesee, the family-friendly Sinnepfad has ten interactive stations and also offers lake views. The Wild Boar Forest Adventure Trail in Eversberg offers a different perspective on the woods: accompanied by the little wild boar “Ebi”, also known as Eberhard, visitors can explore the forest habitat along stations with themed names.

A trip on the lake offers a change of pace, too: the fully electric, accessible event ship EMS Hennesee has room for up to 550 guests and operates a 1.5-hour scheduled cruise. It’s a way to enjoy the lakeside landscape. Check current sailing times before your trip, as operating details may change.

Hiking Between the Shore, Forest and Local History

The trails vary in length and character. The Altstadtpfad in Eversberg is an approximately 2.5-kilometre loop past the historic town hall and half-timbered houses. The castle ruins offer a view over Eversberg; the trail also leads to an adventure playground shaped like a knight’s castle. The 6.5-kilometre Kapellenweg Eversberg links chapels, wayside crosses and roadside shrines around the old hilltop town. The starting point is the historic centre of Meschede-Eversberg, where you can see typical Sauerland half-timbered houses.

Longer routes pass through several districts: the Mescheder Höhenwanderweg, marked with an “M”, is a circular trail through the municipal area. It runs from Erflinghausen via Grevenstein and Freienohl to Eversberg and offers views across the region. The 240-kilometre Sauerland Forest Route runs from Iserlohn to Marsberg and passes through Arnsberg Forest Nature Park in Meschede. Its gateway in Eversberg is at Buchsplitt. A Way of St James pilgrimage route leads from Klause via Remblinghausen to Herhagen; the Way of St James routes are marked with a yellow scallop shell. In Calle, a circular trail marked with a “C” also passes St. Severinus Parish Church and numerous chapels.

Half-Timbered Houses, Craftsmanship and Guided Tours

Cobblestones, half-timbered houses, a historic market square and the old town hall shape Eversberg’s town centre. Grevenstein’s historic centre features old slate and half-timbered houses around the church and Burgmannshof. There, the Bierbrau-Wunderweg explores the history of brewing: information boards explain the subject, while rest stops range from a viewing counter with a woodland fridge to a large barrel-shaped seat.

In Remblinghausen, the historic sawmill is a local landmark. As a cultural monument, it offers a journey through 200 years of life and work, with guided tours, a children’s programme and other activities. At the Eversberg Local History Museum, you can explore the exhibitions on your own or join a guided tour. Those interested in architecture and history can join public torchlight tours of St. Walburga Church, which include the excavations, the church and the vaulted cellar. On Saturdays, the Benedictine monks of Königsmünster Abbey offer public tours of the monastery grounds and provide information about monastic life and the life and work of the Benedictines. Check tour dates in advance, as schedules may change.

A tour of the Hennetalsperre also offers a behind-the-scenes look: visitors see the hydroelectric power station, the bottom outlet tunnels and the dam’s inspection tunnel system. A film beforehand shows the work of the Ruhrverband and explains the reservoir’s history and function. Outdoor art can be found at the “Sauerländer Kantenköppe” sculpture park in Wehrstapel-Heinrichsthal, right on the Ruhr Valley Cycle Route. The park was created by artists from Villa Künstler-Bunt in Eversberg.

Discover Nature and Compare Winter Options

In Freienohl, the bee education trail features seven information boards about bees and beekeeping and ends at an observation hive with a living bee colony. The Buzzing School and Adventure Garden in Berge is open to everyone and uses information boards to explain the lives of bees and the natural world. On herb walks in Erflinghausen, experienced guides introduce you to wild herbs of the Sauerland.

The two ski slopes differ considerably in size for winter outings. Eversberg Ski Lift has a slope approximately 180 metres long with around 25 metres of elevation gain and a button lift; the slope is suitable for children. The ski slope in Grevenstein is about 700 metres long, with around 100 metres of elevation gain. A 50-metre-wide sledding slope is right next to it. When planning, you can consider whether a shorter slope or a longer descent with an additional sledding option better suits your plans.

Discover More Destinations

Discover more destinations: Grevenstein, Freienohl, Frenkhausen, Oberberge, Erflinghausen, Remblinghausen, Eversberg and Wennemen.

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