Discover Werne: Half-Timbered Houses, History and Sim-Jü

Werne offers distinctive sights for a stay combining local history and outdoor activities. The Old Town Hall stands on the historic market square: it was built between 1512 and 1514 and finally completed in 1561. The half-timbered Wärmehäuschen ensemble in the historic town centre dates from the late 16th century. These two buildings reveal different chapters of the town’s history.

Historic buildings and local history

St Christopher’s Parish Church is one of the key stops on a town walk. Highlights include its octagonal baptismal font and a Madonna in Glory dating from the 15th century. Werne’s Jewish cemetery is also a protected historic monument; it has held this status since 1985.

Werne’s cultural history museum is housed in the Old District Office on Kirchhof. Spread over four floors, it covers prehistory and early history, the Middle Ages, the history of Werne and that of the Upper Diocese of Münster. Part of the Wärmehäuschen is used by the neighbouring town museum. Among the exhibits there is a chasuble: the priest’s vestment was found in the parish church in 1995. If you would like to see it, check whether the exhibition is open before your visit.

Town walks, hiking trails and cycling routes

A classic guided tour takes you through Werne’s historic town centre and lasts about an hour and a half. Arrange the tour with the town. The Capuchins at the Capuchin monastery and church on Südmauer offer another special way to visit: they are happy to show guests around behind the monastery walls. Confirm visiting arrangements with the monastery or the town in advance.

Those who prefer to explore on foot will find several different points of interest in Werne. Werne an der Lippe lies on the Baltic-Westphalian Way of St James. The town has also developed nine hiking trails in and around Werne in cooperation with Wanderclub Werne and the Sauerländischer Gebirgsverein. Check the town’s latest route information before setting off.

For a longer cycle ride, the signposted RadKreisUnna cycle route runs for a total of 100 kilometres from Unna via Werne to Ternscher See in Selm. Check the current waymarking before you set off. Rental bikes and e-bikes are available at the cycle station at Werne railway station; check availability in advance.

Brine baths and Sim-Jü

Solebad Werne offers outdoor bathing in six-percent brine across 560 square metres. Check the latest operating information before your visit. A very different occasion is the traditional Simon-Juda-Markt, which has been part of Werne since 1362. Today, Sim-Jü is the largest fair on the Lippe and draws tens of thousands of visitors to the town centre every year. If you are planning your trip around the fair, check the dates for the year you wish to visit.

A cultural itinerary featuring a town tour and museum offers a different focus from days spent on hiking trails or cycling. Trips to Sim-Jü depend on the dates for the year in question; for visits to the brine baths, check the latest operating information.

More to explore in the wider Unna destination

The wider Unna destination also has its own highlights. Cappenberg Collegiate Church is a three-aisled Romanesque pillar basilica, completed in 1148. Cappenberg Castle in Selm is one of the most significant examples of Westphalian Baroque monastic architecture. Nature lovers can visit the “Wälder bei Cappenberg” in the Unna destination: the European Union has designated them a “special area of conservation”, and the district of Unna has designated them a nature reserve. Numerous hiking routes pass through the woods.

Discover more destinations

Discover more destinations: Lünen, Bönen, Fröndenberg/Ruhr, Holzwickede, Unna, Schwerte, Selm, Kamen.

Back to the wider travel overview: Unna.