Discover Marsberg: Geology, History and Nature

Geology and history: vast stretches of time, tangible traces

In 2020, GeoPark GrenzWelten and the Museum of the City of Marsberg established a total of 13 geostations in the municipality of Marsberg. They explain Marsberg’s development over the past 400 million years. If you enjoy discovering connections across long stretches of time while on holiday, these stations offer a geological perspective that differs in theme from the historic buildings.

The origins of the collegiate church are attributed to Charlemagne. According to tradition, he had a Christian church built on the site of the Saxon sanctuary Irminsul. Remains of the old town wall can still be seen in Obermarsberg, including the Wasserturm and Buttenturm towers. The towers and wall remains make the town’s history tangible through visible traces of its built heritage, complementing the historical tradition with specific places to visit.

Nature in the Hochsauerlandkreis

The Siebenbuchen nature reserve is located north of Meerhof, a district of Marsberg, in the Hochsauerlandkreis. It has a forest discovery trail with interactive stations, bridges over wetlands and bodies of water, and viewing platforms. If you enjoy following a route with a variety of stops, Siebenbuchen offers a specific focus on nature.

The Hochsauerlandkreis is a member of the Sauerland-Rothaargebirge Nature Park, with areas in the Homert and Rothaargebirge nature parks. It is one of Germany’s largest nature parks. Activities include hiking and cycling, environmental education facilities and underground tours. Alongside the specific example of Siebenbuchen, there are also other nature and activity options to choose from in the Hochsauerlandkreis.

Distinctive places and a range of activities

The bird care station in Marsberg-Essentho has been operating for over 40 years. Visits and guided tours are only possible by prior arrangement. A visit therefore cannot be assumed to be possible at short notice; arrange it in advance. The Grube Reinhard leisure facility (Meilerplatz) on the Diemel near Giershagen offers a different focus: an open, covered multi-purpose pavilion houses an information centre for bionics, the regional mining industry and geology. Check visit options in advance.

The sporting activities also vary considerably. The Marsberg archery course is located on the site of a former copper mine and covers 5.9 hectares. Two circuits currently use 3.4 hectares and have 14 and 18 stations, respectively. These figures refer to the course’s total area and the section currently in use. As the area in use and the layout may change, check the details before your visit.

The “Griffbude” is a 150-square-metre bouldering area with 33 climbing routes across three difficulty levels. The “Bolz-Arena” is an indoor football pitch with green artificial turf and a playing area measuring 20 × 13 metres. If you are choosing between the sporting activities, the routes and difficulty levels on the one hand and the fixed pitch dimensions on the other provide different points of reference. Check with the respective operators for current availability.

Choose a holiday apartment to suit your plans

The places mentioned can serve as reference points when choosing a holiday apartment: Obermarsberg for the town wall and towers, Marsberg-Essentho for the bird care station, and the area near Giershagen for the information centre. First, consider which themes matter most to you, then base your search on the location you want. If you are also planning a sporting focus, you can include the facilities and activities described in your itinerary.

Discover more destinations

Helminghausen, Obermarsberg, Leitmar, Padberg, Bredelar, Beringhausen, Nesselbach, Arnsberg

Back to the regional travel overview: Hochsauerlandkreis.