Discover Kamen: churches, art and the Seseke

Kamen combines striking architectural heritage with traces of its mining past and a newly redesigned Seseke. In the town centre, you’ll encounter medieval features and buildings from later periods; along the river, landscape transformation meets art. There’s also a museum with engaging historical exhibits and paths to explore on foot or by bike. This lets you combine culture with outdoor activities as you plan your trip.

Medieval traces and striking landmarks

The Old Market was originally the centre of medieval Kamen and remains a meeting place and venue for events in the town centre. The Old Town Hall is a stucco building with a partly enclosed arcade loggia; it served as Kamen’s town hall until 1976. A surviving section of the old town wall stands at the western entrance to Ostenmauer. The wall was built in the 13th century from green Anröchter sandstone.

St Paul’s Church is Romanesque, with its first structure dating to the 12th century. Its tower, which leans towards the west, is considered a landmark of Kamen and tilts against the prevailing wind direction. The Margarethenkirche Methler offers a different perspective on Romanesque architecture: this Late Romanesque hall church has the oldest known church roof truss in Westphalia.

Historic buildings with other functions also shape the town’s character. The Five-Arch Bridge over the Seseke is one of Germany’s oldest railway bridges still in operation and has been preserved in its original condition. At Kamen Technopark, the headframe and former changing house of the Monopol colliery are reminders of the town’s industrial past. Heeren Castle is an early Baroque moated castle that can be hired for weddings and conferences. As it is privately owned, access may be restricted.

See and explore the town’s history

The House of City History brings together the local history museum, a historical archive and a research library. Its programme includes exhibitions, guided tours, talks, readings, concerts and educational activities. A model shows Kamen as it was around 1750. At a children’s station, visitors can try on replicas of medieval helmets and coifs. If you’d like to see the museum exhibitions or attend a particular programme, check the latest dates before your visit.

A historical walking tour, lasting about 90 minutes, takes you around key sites in the town centre. Check its availability before your trip. It’s a way to combine visits to historic buildings with a focused introduction to the town’s history.

The Seseke: river landscape and art

The Seseke has been transformed from a straight, concrete-lined watercourse into a naturally meandering river. Shallow-water zones and retention areas are part of the project, alongside new habitats; renaturation has encouraged the return of flora and fauna. The public artwork NOW and the River uses gabions to frame views of the Seseke and explores the themes of time and change. Along the Seseke Route, you’ll also find the Pixel Tube, which uses landscape art to reflect the transformation from wastewater canal to river.

Centrally located Seseke Park combines playgrounds and picnic lawns with a beach volleyball court. The park is next to the Seseke cycle route, offering a different focus for your visit from the historic sites in the town centre. For an active outing, there’s also a 17-kilometre beginner-friendly cycling tour around Kamen, which runs almost entirely on cycle paths away from motorised traffic. Bike rides along the Seseke and the Körne add to the options.

Tailor your stay to your interests

The attractions lend themselves to different kinds of day out: the town’s history, churches and museum offer a cultural focus, while the park and cycle paths put exercise and the Seseke centre stage. If you’re travelling with children, trying on the replicas at the museum is a specific activity you can enjoy together, while the playgrounds in Seseke Park offer a different setting. You can compare accommodation in Kamen to suit the kind of trip you have in mind.

Discover more destinations: Bönen, Bergkamen, Schwerte, Holzwickede, Fröndenberg/Ruhr, Lünen, Selm, Werne.

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