Discover Ennepetal
Accommodation in Ennepetal
In Ennepetal, impressive cave worlds meet a lively history of crafts and industry. There are also viewpoints, opportunities to observe animals and hiking trails with a wide variety of stops.
Caves, Reservoir and Views
Kluterthöhle is the Ruhr region’s only National Natural Monument. It comprises 380 passages, some of which are included in guided tours. These include standard tours as well as crawling and climbing tours. This allows visitors to explore the cave through different tour formats, although no tour covers all of its passages.
Heilenbecke Reservoir also stands out: it is considered the oldest reservoir in South Westphalia. The Hohenstein viewing platform offers a different perspective on the landscape. Built on a rocky slope, it offers views of the Ennepe valley and the Ahlhausen estate.
Animal watching takes centre stage in Hülsenbecker Tal. Animals can be observed in wildlife enclosures, bird aviaries and on the ponds, including ducks, goats, donkeys, fallow deer, guinea pigs and raccoons, as well as many other animals. A visit to the valley thus complements the caves and viewpoints with another way to experience the surrounding area.
Industrial Heritage to See and Experience
The brick building of the Ennepetal Industrial Museum tells the story of changing uses: it was originally built in 1890 to produce wood screws and served as an iron foundry from 1951 to 2005. The collection includes castings related to the company’s history, models, tools and photographs from the foundry era. The architecture also visibly preserves the building’s history: its ceilings are supported by 60 cast-iron columns.
The museum offers hands-on ways to explore technology, particularly through casting and forging. It also covers the region’s mining history and machining processes. Anyone interested in manufacturing methods and work processes will find a different way to engage with industrial history here than simply looking at buildings and collection pieces.
At Krenzer Hammer, this heritage is combined with work that continues to this day: the historic tool factory lies in the Ennepe valley and is Ennepetal’s last still-operating open-die forge. It produces specialist tools for various professions. Visits and guided tours about the art of forging are offered for schools and other interested groups; under supervision, participants can make a small forged item. If you are planning a visit, it is advisable to check the latest tour dates.
Two Hiking Routes with Different Itineraries
The “Sun, Forest and Water” hiking route begins at Klutertbad. It passes through Hülsenbecker Tal, Dorn, Niederhülsenbecke, the Uhlenbart car park and Heilenbecke Reservoir before reaching Niederklütingen, Filde, Herminghausen, Rüggeberg and Willringhausen. It then runs back through Hülsenbecker Tal to Klutertbad.
The Craftsmen’s Trail starts in Voerde and follows the forest nature trail, Bilsteiner Kopf and the Ennepe valley to Krenzer Hammer. Other stops include Finkenberger Mühle, Landbäckerei Hasenkehrmühle and Hasper Reservoir; from there, the route returns to Voerde. Both routes are listed as taking approximately six hours to walk. When choosing between them, you can therefore focus above all on the stops listed for each route and its itinerary.
More Perspectives in Ennepe-Ruhr District
The wider travel destination of Ennepe-Ruhr District also offers its own outings and things to discover. Hiking and jogging are possible at Glörtalsperre; during the warm summer months, visitors can also swim there in clean, natural water.
In Hattingen, the “Path of Iron” at Henrichshütte traces the process from ore, coke and limestone to molten pig iron. A glass elevator takes visitors up to the 55-metre-high “Giant”, which offers a view of the region’s past and present. From the tower of Blankenstein Castle, the view extends across the Ruhr valley and the historic centre of Blankenstein. At Hattingen City Museum, museum talks, workshops and activities combine historical topics with the opportunity to try out artistic techniques for yourself.
This way, you can make your choice based on the experiences that interest you, without combining the different places and trails into a single route.
Discover more destinations: Gevelsberg, Sprockhövel, Witten, Hattingen, Breckerfeld, Schwelm, Herdecke, Wetter.
View the wider travel overview: Ennepe-Ruhr District.
