Olpe: Discover Nature, Water and Culture

For hiking, there is a well-signposted network of trails, with options ranging from easy walking paths to challenging routes. The Rothaarsteig is designated as a quality or premium hiking trail in the Olpe district. Those who prefer travelling on two wheels can explore the SauerlandRadring, a touring route in and around the district. The Ruhr-Sieg cycle path passes through Attendorn, going by the fire brigade museum, the Südsauerland Museum, the Biketurm and the Gildehaus in the town centre. This route also offers a reason to combine cycling with a look at Attendorn’s cultural attractions.

One striking viewpoint on Biggesee is the BiggeBlick viewing platform, which offers views across the lake and Gilberg Island, as well as of the ruins of Waldenburg Castle. The platform is 90 metres above the ground. Passenger boat trips are also available on Biggesee and Listersee. Those wishing to include water and scenic views in their travel plans will find two different ways to give the lakes special attention.

Beneath the ground lies Atta Cave: a guided tour lasts about 40 minutes, and visitors enter the cave through an 80-metre-long tunnel. Both details are useful for planning a day, without implying a walking time or any additional time requirement. The Galileo Park offers a very different kind of discovery. Its four pyramids host changing exhibitions; “Tinkering + Puzzling” features around 50 interactive exhibits that visitors can tackle alone or as a team. It is especially appealing to visitors who enjoy solving puzzles and trying things out together.

The cultural attractions also vary considerably. The Gildehaus Attendorn is housed in a lovingly renovated, listed building dating from the late 19th century, on Kleiner Markt. It displays items still in use today and replicas of historical exhibits from Attendorn’s guilds and craft guilds. The Attendorn Fire Brigade Museum presents the history of firefighting across more than 700 m², including old hand-operated pumps, wooden ladders and vehicles. Educational materials enable children and young people to explore this history independently.

The Panorama Park Sauerland and the Elspe Festival offer a different kind of visitor experience. Panorama Park is a wildlife and adventure park covering 80 hectares. In summer, the Elspe Festival stages the Karl May Festival and operates as a show and festival park centred on attractions involving people, animals and nature. Rides, carousels and roller coasters are not part of its concept. Those who would rather see a small historic building can visit the bone mill in Finnentrop-Fretter, built around 1900. It is housed in a small half-timbered building with a waterwheel, right beside the widely known SauerlandRadring.

Other special interests range from the Wendener Hütte, which is almost 300 years old and dates back to long before industrialisation, to a Sauerland-themed trip that includes a tasting of Original Sauerländer Bockwurst at the Metten factory shop. The district also has groomed cross-country ski trails through the snow-covered forests of the Ebbe and Rothaar ridges. Nature, cycling, culture and these special excursions offer different ways to shape a stay.

When choosing a holiday apartment in the Olpe district, these interests can help guide your choice of location: the attractions mentioned are spread across several towns and suit different kinds of excursions. So first consider whether hiking and lakes, museums and history, a park visit or cycling will be the focus of your stay.

Explore the towns in the district

For more information, visit the town pages for Attendorn, Finnentrop, Olpe, Lennestadt, Wenden, Drolshagen and Kirchhundem.

For the broader travel overview: North Rhine-Westphalia.

More destinations

More places in the same destination:

Herford.