Sundern (Sauerland): Sorpesee, winter and history

The Sorpesee is located in Sundern, between the districts of Langscheid and Amecke, amid the Sauerland landscape. There is also winter sports in Wildewiese, hiking trails and historic sites. This lets you choose different focuses for your stay—from paths along the water to mining and architectural history.

The Sorpesee and a trail with many themes

In Amecke, on the edge of the Sauerland reservoir, the 3.4-kilometre AiRlebnisweg trail runs for 3.4 kilometres. Its 20 interactive stations explore air, breathing and water. The trail is a destination for walkers and hikers and is illuminated throughout, open year-round and fully accessible. The themed stations give the trail its own character, while the lake provides the scenic setting.

Winter sports in Wildewiese

At Wildewiese, on the 648-metre-high Schomberg, there are five ski lifts, several runs up to 1,200 metres long and a ski school. Operations are seasonal. For cross-country skiing, there are about 50 kilometres of groomed trails. They run along the Homert ridge as far as the area around Röhrenspring; grooming is seasonal. The options therefore differ considerably: downhill runs and a ski school are complemented by an extensive network of cross-country trails, which stretches as far as Homert.

Hiking trails and discoveries along the way

There has been a dedicated mining trail in Endorf since 2004; guided tours are available. Hellefeld also has a connection to hiking: the village is part of the “Altes Testament” hiking area. For a themed town tour, head to Allendorf. There, the local history association “Fickeltünnes” explains important historical events and personalities. If you would like to include a tour in your plans, confirm the date in advance.

Mining, castles and palace history

The “Alte Kornbrennerei” museum in Sundern displays, among other things, exhibits from Sundern’s lighting industry and mining history. The ruins of Hachen Castle offer a different perspective on history: they stand on a castle hill rising 80 metres above the Ruhr Valley. Melschede Palace in Hövel dates from the 13th century, although its present-day Baroque appearance dates back to the 17th century. The museum, castle and palace each highlight different aspects of history, from industrial heritage to the development of a single building.

Langscheid: observation tower and Sky Bench

The observation tower at the war memorial in Langscheid offers views over the village and the surrounding landscape of the Sorpesee. It is open from March to November. Visitors can borrow the gate key in advance from the Haus des Gastes. Check the access information on site before your visit. The Himmelsbank Sorpesee is also located in the spa park by the Haus des Gastes and has been open to the public since October 2024.

Another view of the Hochsauerlandkreis

The Kahler Asten is located in the wider travel destination of Hochsauerlandkreis. At 841 metres, it is one of the highest elevations in North Rhine-Westphalia.

Choose accommodation based on your travel interests

When searching for accommodation in Sundern, it helps to first decide what your trip will focus on: are you particularly interested in the Sorpesee and the AiRlebnisweg, seasonal winter sports, or hiking and historic sites? These themes give your search direction without requiring you to fit every experience into one itinerary.

Discover more destinations: Meschede, Medebach, Eslohe, Bestwig, Brilon, Schmallenberg.

Go to the wider travel overview: Hochsauerlandkreis.