Discover Barntrup: Trails, Art and History

Barntrup brings together tangible evidence of its history, hiking trails, outdoor art and natural scenery. The Protestant Church, Barntrup Castle and cigar making represent different chapters; circular trails, viewpoints and the outdoor swimming pool offer other highlights. When planning your trip, it helps to first decide whether culture, activity, scenery or swimming will shape your stay.

Cultural history in buildings and museums

The Protestant Church in Barntrup was founded in 1317. Barntrup Castle was built between 1584 and 1588 as a two-storey house with three corner towers. The courtyard is open to visitors; the house and castle park are not accessible because they are privately owned. Check the visitor access arrangements in advance, as access information may change.

The Alverdissen Local History Museum explores local cultural history, regional minerals and taxidermy of native animals. Its exhibits also include fossilised sea lilies from the Alverdissen quarry. Another chapter in the town’s history is the Steneberg cigar factory: from 1861 to 1956, its main production site was in Barntrup. During this period, cigars were considered a distinctive feature of Barntrup.

Hiking and art along the way

More than 20 art installations are located at prominent points along the Barntrup Art Trail. The trail is certified as a “Quality Trail – Discovery Tour”. The Grafenweg is all about a circular hike: it is about 18 kilometres long and starts at Alverdissen Castle. The Weg der Blicke offers a different scale. It is a marked circular hiking route of almost 146 kilometres through the northern Lipper Bergland and comprises ten stages. This puts a single circular hike alongside a much longer, multi-stage route.

Before setting out, it is worth checking the latest trail markings and notices, as trail conditions may change. Certification status may also change.

Nature views and other experiences

In Sonneborn, the summit of the 285-metre-high Knappberg is a protected nature area because of its sometimes rare plant species. From the windmill stump on the Saalberg, the view stretches across the upper Bega and Humme valleys, the Weser Hills and the Teutoburg Forest. These natural highlights offer different things: plants and conservation at Knappberg, and expansive views from the Saalberg.

Barntrup has an outdoor swimming pool with a 50-metre pool and a non-swimmers’ area. You can swim laps or relax and splash around there. At Alverdissen station, the Lippische Landeseisenbahn operates regional services between Extertal-Bösingfeld and Dörentrup once a month. If you plan to take one of these services, check the current timetable.

In the wider Lippe travel region, the Lippe hiking network covers around 2,000 kilometres. It includes part of European long-distance path E1 as well as the award-winning Hermannshöhen and Hansaweg hiking trails.

Views and swimming offer other ways to shape your stay. You can therefore choose accommodation based on the kind of stay you are planning in Barntrup.

Discover more destinations: Schieder-Schwalenberg, Blomberg, Kalletal, Lügde, Lage, Leopoldshöhe, Detmold, Bad Salzuflen

Back to the main travel overview: Lippe.