In the south of the hilly, heavily forested Sauerland is Kirchundem. The Sauerland’s natural beauty plays a large role in daily life, not to mention bringing visitors from all over.
It’s also a historic town with over 90 buildings from various periods of history. For the best examples of period architecture look no further than the Art Nouveau City Hall (built at turn of last century) or the Oberhundem Embroidery Museum (located at Rüsper Straße 1) that highlights the intricate work in a 300-year-old half-timbered building.
Also don’t miss out on Schloss Adolfsburg, a stately Baroque castle (1670).
But, the most grand building is the Romanesque church of Sts. Peter & Paul, still striking after 650 years. Just about each of Kirchhundem’s 37 hamlets has a village church under historical preservation — you’ll have stay a night (or two) if you want to see them all.
With all that out of the way, it’s time to do what you came for: exploring the Sauerland. If you climb the Rhein-Weser-Turm (in Oberhundem) you’ll have an excellent eagle-eye view across this refreshing region.
With your feet planted firmly back on the ground, take any number of trails (via bicycle or your own legs) that lead off in all directions. Any place that’s just as popular in the cold of winter (think winter sports) as in the warmth of summer is something special.
If you’ve brought the kids along, they’ll think the Panorama-Park is awesome (and it is). You’ll see everything from wolves, to Bison, and you can even let the little ones feed the animals over at the petting zoo. This park takes the natural landscape into consideration with exhibits on indigenous plants and kilometer after kilometer of walking trails.
You’ll be in for a really great time if you’re here on May 1 for the Grand Prix of Silberstone. Don’t think fast cars careening through the city streets. Think grown men on a preschooler’s toy “bobby car” careening down the streets.
That’s reason enough to come Kirchhundem, everything else is extra!
