Discover Kirchrarbach: Hiking and Church History

Kirchrarbach combines a specific hiking idea with a long local history. The Golddorf Route begins and ends at the village church; St. Lambertus reflects several phases of construction. This lets you plan your trip around what interests you most: a circular hike, insights into church history, or both.

The Golddorf Route: a circular hike with clear details

The Golddorf Route is 13.2 kilometres long, moderately difficult and loops back to its starting point at Kirchrarbach Church. The route is listed as having 327 metres of elevation gain and taking around four hours. Its distance, ascent and estimated time give you a concrete basis for fitting the hike into your day’s plans.

At the foot of the Ringelskopf, the route runs as far as the Kyrill Hut. There, it offers a panorama and a small treasure chest filled with drinks. The path then passes the Kreuzkapelle on the Steimel. These named stops add specific places and experiences along the loop to the route details.

The distance is also useful for comparison: the Golddorf Route is considerably longer than the approximately three-kilometre Family Adventure Trail in the wider destination of Schmallenberg. This compares distances, not walking times; an approximate duration is given only for the Golddorf Route.

St. Lambertus and the history of the village

St. Lambertus is a historic church in Kirchrarbach. A chapel already stood on the site in the 10th century; the first church is believed to date from 1257. The older church building was largely replaced by a new one in 1912, while the tower and choir were preserved. This sequence makes the long building history tangible: early religious use and a later replacement building are both part of it, as are the surviving parts of the older church.

More experiences in the wider destination of Schmallenberg

In the wider destination of Schmallenberg, the old town offers a different focus. It has a uniform Neoclassical architectural character and many restored half-timbered houses. If you would like to include urban history and architecture in your trip as well as hiking, you will find a distinct theme here. The old town is part of the destination of Schmallenberg, not Kirchrarbach.

Families can enjoy an approximately three-kilometre Family Adventure Trail in the wider destination of Schmallenberg, with 13 stops covering forests, animals, wood and birds. Its range of topics makes the trail a separate option for focusing on nature and educational themes.

The Forest Workers’ and Foresters’ Trail and the Forest Workers’ Museum in Schmallenberg-Latrop offer more forest-related experiences. The 4.5-kilometre trail has 17 stops on forest ecology and timber use. At the museum, you can see historic tools, pictures of earlier forest and village life, and historical forestry records; there is also information on the development of the chainsaw. The trail and museum offer different ways to explore forest work and forestry history: one through stops on specialist topics, the other through historic objects, pictures and records.

Another option is the 84-kilometre Sauerland Cycle Ring, which connects Finnentrop, Eslohe, Schmallenberg and Lennestadt and follows former railway lines. A historical city tour offers insights into Schmallenberg’s history and introduces local characters such as the Floigenkasper and the Breybalg. If you would like to include this tour in your plans, check current dates and booking options in advance.

Choose the focus of your trip

This way, your search is guided by the itinerary you actually want to plan, rather than by a general idea of what a stay should offer.

Discover more destinations: Werntrop, Gellinghausen, Obringhausen, Schanze, Oberhenneborn, Dorlar, Westfeld, Rehsiepen.

Go to the overview of the wider destination: Schmallenberg.