Discover Nordenau: Hiking Trails, Half-Timbered Houses and Unique Experiences

Nordenau combines a mountainous landscape, historic village details and a wide range of activities. Those looking for a holiday apartment or holiday home for a getaway that caters to different interests will find opportunities here for active days, leisurely walks and cultural discoveries. The paths around the village, its half-timbered character and the Rappelstein castle ruins are particularly distinctive.

Hiking trails with different highlights

The approximately 11-kilometre-long Daffodil Trail begins in Nordenau and leads through the Sauerland mountain landscape. This makes the route a practical starting point for planning your day if you would like to schedule a longer walk through the countryside. Another option is the circular trail around Nordenau (No2). It leads from Nordenau through the Wesenberg nature reserve to Hubertusstein and then back to Nordenau.

The circular trail around Nordenau (No4) also has its own character: From Nordenau, the route first climbs to the Heerhagen plateau, continues via Nesselbach and then returns to Nordenau via the Westfalenhang ski lift. The routes described make it easier to choose accommodation that suits your preferred plans for the day, without arranging every outing in the same way. The Daffodil Circular Trail begins and ends at the Haus des Gastes on Sonnenpfad, where parking is available.

Nordenau as a Historic Half-Timbered Village

Nordenau has the character of a historic half-timbered village. Some of its houses are more than 200 years old, while slate mining shaped the settlement. Slate is visible on many of the houses and gives the village a distinctive feature that can be discovered on a walk through Nordenau.

The Rappelstein castle ruins are one of the historic landmarks. Today, they serve as a viewing platform overlooking Nordenau, the Nesselbach Valley and the Land of 1,000 Mountains. Those interested in the history of the village can also visit the Nordenau Local History Museum in the Haus des Gastes, Sonnenpfad 2. Visits are possible during the office hours of Nordenau Touristik e. V.; additional visiting times can be arranged on request.

Spa Park, Healing Tunnel and Winter Activities

The Nordenau Spa Park complements the trails and historic impressions with walking paths, a playground, a barefoot water-walking pool, a ball court and ponds. If you are travelling with children, the playground can be included as a separate activity, while the walking paths and ponds offer a different focus for your stay. When choosing a holiday home or holiday apartment, the spa park can therefore be just as appealing as the longer hiking trails.

The Nordenau Healing Tunnel has a temperature of around 8°C year-round and humidity of almost 100 per cent. The air there is virtually free of dust particles, pathogens and allergenic pollen. You can ski or snowboard at the village's own ski lift; there is also a small toboggan slope near Nordenau. In addition to hiking, winter activities therefore provide further possible reasons to travel here.

Getting Around and Special Village Experiences

Bus route S40 operates in Nordenau. The “Kirche” stop can be used to reach the starting point of the circular trail around Nordenau (No4).

A special tradition is the torchlight hike at the end of the year. It leads around Nordenau by torchlight and ends at the Haus des Gastes with mulled wine and children's punch. This experience represents a seasonal occasion and should be incorporated into your personal travel plans accordingly.

More Destinations for Orientation

If you would like to continue your search for a suitable holiday apartment or holiday home beyond Nordenau, here are some additional destinations for orientation: Bad Fredeburg, Kirchilpe, Schanze, Westfeld, Dorlar, Kirchrarbach, Fleckenberg and Lenne.

For the higher-level travel overview: Schmallenberg.