Brilon between the Old Town, geology and hiking trails

Brilon combines a historic Old Town with fascinating insights into Earth’s history and several trails that start at the market square. Distinctive experiences include the historic Schnade procession, the Haus Hövener City Museum and the Geological Fault. During your stay, you can choose between local history, hiking trails and a short themed walk.

Old Town, Schnade procession and Haus Hövener

The Brilon Schnade procession is one of Westphalia’s largest and most original folk festivals and plays an important role in preserving local customs and traditions. It has been documented as a boundary walk since 1388, and its tradition goes back more than 620 years.

Brilon’s Old Town preserves architectural heritage from earlier centuries, including a half-timbered ensemble on the market square. Brilon Town Hall was built around 1250, has a Baroque façade and is considered one of Germany’s oldest town halls. The imposing west tower of the Provost Church of St. Peter and St. Andrew is known as a landmark of the town. Seasonal tower climbs at the church are offered from May to October.

The Haus Hövener City Museum is also located right on the market square. The building has largely been preserved in the condition it was in in 1910. An interactive town model offers insights into life in Brilon in past centuries; themed guided tours of the town can also be booked through the museum. On display are original Iguanodon bones, discovered in 1978 in a quarry near Brilon-Nehden.

Geological contrasts and trails

The approximately 8-kilometre-long Brilon Geological Fault trail brings to life a range of geological evidence from the Devonian period. This includes the limestone hills of the Brilon plateau and the diabase deposits of Bilstein. Geological transitions and panoramic views shape the themed trail; a highlight is the viewing platform on the 634-metre-high Bilstein spoil heap. If you are interested in landscapes and rocks, this trail offers a different focus from the architectural history of the town centre.

Both the certified Rothaarsteig and the certified Briloner Kammweg start at the market square. The Rothaarsteig section from Brilon to Bruchhausen is 17.02 kilometres long and passes through Olsberg. The main route of the Gewerkenweg starts or ends in Brilon at the Haus Hövener Museum. This gives you several named routes to choose from, including a specific distance for the connection to Bruchhausen.

A shorter loop and more discoveries

The DinoSpuren Nehden is a family-friendly themed circular trail in Brilon-Nehden that explores dinosaur tracks. The loop is approximately 800 metres long and has no strenuous climbs. This makes it quite different from the 17.02-kilometre Rothaarsteig stage: if you are travelling with children or would prefer a short themed walk, it offers another way to discover Brilon.

The Brilon Landscape Therapy Trail is another option, at 2.54 kilometres long. Its features include the Feenklang sound installation, which refers to Brilon’s forest fairy. When planning your days, you can choose between geological panoramas, a longer hiking stage and shorter themed trails. If you choose Brilon as your holiday destination and stay in a holiday apartment, this mix of experiences can help you decide what to focus on during your trip.

Discover more places via the pages for Alme, Madfeld, Radlinghausen, Brilon-Wald, Gudenhagen, Nehden, Hoppecke and Bontkirchen.

For the higher-level travel overview: Hochsauerlandkreis.