Discover Steinheim: Forest Trails, Furniture History and Traditions

Steinheim brings together trails through the forest and along the Emmer, insights into furniture history, and traditions that return each year. This makes the town appealing for a range of travel plans: you can focus on outdoor activities, explore local craftsmanship, or plan a stay around an event.

Hiking Trails Between the Forest and the Emmer

The interactive tour of Steinheim links 13 sights. It starts at the Steinheimer Kump, but you can begin the tour at any other point as well. The designated A hiking trails also pass through a variety of landscapes: four of the six routes run in and around the Steinheim Forest to the southwest. A1 and A2 follow forest tracks throughout, passing through species-rich mixed deciduous woodland.

Trails A3 and A4 loop around Hahneberg through a landscape of meadows, pastures and fields between the Emmer and the Steinheim Forest. The sections of trail described here are therefore quite distinct: mixed deciduous woodland is the main feature of A1 and A2, while A3 and A4 pass through open countryside shaped by agriculture. Which option best suits your outing depends on which of these landscapes you would like to experience.

Routes A5 and A6 take in the Emmer in different ways. A5 starts at an information board near the boules court on the “Im Altenhagen” path and passes through the Emmer floodplains towards Eichholz. Near Struckstein, the route crosses the Emmer and returns along the other side. A6 runs east of Eichholz as far as the Kluslinde, then follows the opposite bank of the Emmer back to Steinheim. This lets you compare specific routes when choosing a trail without treating the different paths as if they were the same.

Steinheim’s Furniture History

The Steinheim Furniture Museum presents the history of furniture making in Steinheim in the former furniture factory of Joseph Günther. The exhibition covers 900 square metres and traces developments over 120 years. Furniture from Steinheim businesses showcases a range of styles, from Historicism, Art Nouveau and Art Deco to period-style furniture and modern designs. These exhibits show how furniture design has changed through local production.

The museum also hosts up to four special exhibitions each year. Local artists, collectors and historians present works, photographs, pictures and objects. Topics range from current and historical issues to the town’s club life. This changing exhibition programme complements the museum’s account of the longer history of furniture making with other topics from Steinheim.

Traditions and Time in the Water

The Rose Monday parade is one of Steinheim’s annual traditions. It has drawn visitors to the town on the Emmer since the first Rose Monday parade of the modern era in 1911; according to the town, it attracts up to 25,000 visitors. Several marksmen’s clubs and brotherhoods also celebrate a Schützenfest every year. If you would like to plan your stay around an event, check the dates before travelling.

Rochus Day has historical roots: in 1637, the then-mayor Homissen and Steinheim’s town council established it as a town holiday and made the Rochus vow. The history of local traditions is therefore another of the themes that shape Steinheim, alongside its trails and furniture making.

For a day in the water, Steinheim’s outdoor pool has a 25-metre swimming pool and a diving facility with 5-, 3- and 1-metre boards. It also has a non-swimmers’ pool with a water depth of 60 to 125 centimetres, a wide water slide and a cascade shower. So, alongside hikes and museum visits, the pool offers another specific option to focus on when planning your trip.

When looking for a place to stay in Steinheim, you can start by asking what you want your days there to revolve around: the hiking trails, the Furniture Museum, a local tradition or the outdoor pool. This helps you tailor your choice to the experiences you would like to include in your stay.

Discover More Destinations

Discover more destinations: Vinsebeck, Sandebeck, Merlsheim, Nieheim, Beverungen, Gehrden, Marienmünster, Borgentreich.

Return to the regional travel overview: Höxter.