Hemer

Felsenmeer and Heinrichshöhle give Hemer a distinctive natural landscape and cave profile. They are joined by the “Sundwiger Schätze” GeoPfad and cultural attractions such as the Felsenmeer Museum and Hemer’s autumn festival.

Karst Landscape and Circular Trail at Felsenmeer

Felsenmeer Hemer is a karst landscape. A circular trail, which can be explored free of charge, leads to viewing platforms and panoramic bridges. The area has been a nature reserve since 1968 and is part of the European Natura 2000 network of protected areas. The landscape experience and its designated protected status go hand in hand here: the striking rock formations are the centerpiece of a visit, while the circular trail connects the viewpoints and bridges.

The “Sundwiger Schätze” GeoPfad adds 18 stops to this landscape experience. It is 2.6 kilometers long, and there are no information boards along the route. Information about the stops is available online on the Ruhrgebiet GeoPark website. This lets you access information about the trail’s topics digitally before or during your visit, rather than looking for information boards along the way.

Choose Hikes and Routes to Suit You

The GeoPfad is divided into a northwest route with stops 1 to 12 and a southeast route with stops 13 to 18. Each is around 1.3 kilometers long, including the outward and return journeys. The two sections therefore provide a practical guide for planning your walk; the lengths are approximate and refer to both the outward and return journeys in each case.

The GeoPfad’s cave trail is narrow and uneven and suitable only for pedestrians. A nearby access road or cycle path provides a barrier-free alternative. If you choose accommodation in Hemer, these different route conditions may be relevant when planning your day. The GeoPfad starts at the Heinrichshöhle parking lot, In den Weiden 29, 58675 Hemer. The Sundwig Meise bus stop is 50 meters away; check public transport connections before you travel.

Heinrichshöhle and the Felsenmeer Museum

Heinrichshöhle was opened to visitors between 1903 and 1905 by Heinrich Meise, then an innkeeper in Sundwig. A standard guided tour lasts about 40 minutes. The program also includes special themed tours, educational programs and tours for children. Check the dates for your preferred tour so you can fit this cave experience into your stay.

The Felsenmeer Museum is run by the Hemer Civic and Local History Association. Group tours can be arranged by phone, including outside opening hours. For groups who want to explore local history as well as the landscape, the museum offers a separate activity.

Town Festival and Other Regional Highlights

The history of Hemer’s autumn festival dates back to 1972; according to the City of Hemer, it is one of the region’s most popular town festivals. Regularly mentioned attractions include fairground rides, walking acts, clowns, and a children’s flea market on Saturdays and Sundays. The city also lists more than 250 exhibitors, arts and crafts and food stalls, as well as a car market and an autumn fair. These attractions are spread across an event site well over a kilometer long on Saturdays and Sundays. The program may vary from one year to the next.

The wider destination of Märkischer Kreis offers other distinct cultural attractions. Altena Castle is a monument of national importance and was the site of the world’s first and therefore oldest permanent youth hostel. The German Wire Museum is an interactive experience museum about wire production, past and present. Hands-on stations invite visitors to take part; the museum also covers the technological, social, economic and cultural history of wire.

Luisenhütte also offers a unique insight into regional history: the experience museum illustrates how iron was produced there and further processed into cast products. Balver Höhle, meanwhile, is considered one of Europe’s most important archaeological sites for Middle Paleolithic cultures because of the archaeological finds discovered there. These attractions complement Hemer’s focus on nature and caves with distinct opportunities to explore the culture and history of Märkischer Kreis.

When choosing accommodation, you can consider whether you want to devote most of your time to Felsenmeer and the GeoPfad, a guided tour of Heinrichshöhle, or a broader mix of nature and culture. Discover more destinations: Halver, Herscheid, Kierspe, Iserlohn, Lüdenscheid, Menden, Plettenberg, Werdohl.

View the wider travel overview: Märkischer Kreis.