Discover Bönen: Half-timbered houses, the Seseke cycle path and industrial heritage

Bönen has three distinct sides: village history in the centre of Flierich, the Seseke as a landscape and cycling theme, and industrial heritage around the winding tower of the disused Köningsborn III/IV colliery. When choosing accommodation, you can first consider which of these themes you want to shape your stay. A visit to the historic village centre, a cycling or walking tour, and landmark art each offer a different focus for your time in Bönen.

Flierich: village church, half-timbered houses and bakehouse

The centre of Flierich itself is a sight in Bönen. The Protestant village church is dedicated to Saint Michael and surrounded by a ring of half-timbered buildings typical of the Middle Ages. If you are interested in village history and architectural styles, you will find several specific points of interest here. The Flierich bakehouse is also a half-timbered building: it contains a baking room and a small local history museum. If you plan to make a visit to the museum a fixed part of your itinerary, check visiting arrangements in advance.

Seseke: cycle path, landscape and art project

For orientation, it is important to distinguish between the nature reserve and the cycle path: the Seseke nature reserve borders directly on the eastern boundary of the municipality of Bönen. A section of the Seseke cycle path, by contrast, runs through Bönen; along the river, the cycle path leads from Bönen via Kamen to Lünen. This route description thus connects the local section with the two other named towns.

The 2010 art project “Walking on Water” included installations along the Seseke cycle path. They related to the Seseke, the redevelopment of the watercourse or the theme of water, and were spaced a few kilometres apart. The project therefore links the cycle path with art themes, without implying that every individual work is permanent.

Cycling tours, cycle station and walking tour

The ADFC local group of the Unna district association regularly offers cycling tours in and around Bönen. Check the current dates directly with the organiser before planning. At Bürgerbahnhof Bönen, the cycle station is part of the municipal service centre. It offers 240 modern bicycle parking spaces with professional service; check specific service details with the operator in advance.

The description, dated 2017, of walking tour 6, “Bönen and Flierich”, names Bönen station as the start and finish; alternative starting points are the Old Lenningsen Station or Flierich. The stated distance from Flierich or Lenningsen is 12.5 kilometres; starting from Bönen station adds 3 kilometres. It is therefore important to take the starting point into account when planning the distance. Check current trail conditions before setting off.

Winding tower and landmark art

The 68-metre-high winding tower of the disused Köningsborn III/IV colliery in Bönen marks the eastern end of the Route of Landmark Art. At night, Mischa Kuball’s light artwork “Yellow marker” makes the compact, cuboid structure look like a graceful lighthouse. Here, the tower’s clean form meets the artwork’s nocturnal lighting effect. A mountain bike facility was opened near the mine tower in 2014. Check current usage options before visiting.

Discover more destinations: Unna, Holzwickede, Fröndenberg/Ruhr, Bergkamen, Kamen, Schwerte, Werne, Lünen.

Back to the main travel overview: Unna.