Hiking with a sharpened eyeElectoral Thiergarten Arnsberg

Even if it sounds exaggerated, this circular trail through the forests of the Sauerland is an eye-opener for hikers. Over a distance of around twelve kilometres, the route leads past many stations that tell the story of times gone by, sometimes more, sometimes less visibly. Whether unmissable relics such as the ruins of an old castle, a reconstructed charcoal burner's hut and mighty giant trees or barely recognisable contemporary witnesses such as boundary walls, hollow ways or former pile slabs: The "Kurfürstlicher Thiergarten Arnsberg" circular tour sharpens the eye, even for the seemingly insignificant, and is therefore also a school of observation.

Hannah and Silke set off through the Arnsberg forests and made a variety of discoveries along the way.

Searching for clues in the forest and meadowManor and Rüdenburg

Dominion times, what a view! The panoramic view was also the reason why Rüdeburg Castle was built on this very ridge almost 1000 years ago. From up here, the former lords of the castle were able to control the valleys of the surrounding countryside, the Ruhr and once important trade routes. All that remains of the castle today are the foundation walls, some of which are covered in wild vegetation, but that doesn't matter: we can hardly take our eyes (and lenses) off the beautiful view of Arnsberg anyway.

Not quite as old and much better preserved is the part of a former manor house that also lies on the edge of the path. Elector Maximilian Heinrich of Bavaria once used and extended it as a hunting lodge. He was also the one who had an "electoral animal garden" created here, which today gives the hiking trail its name. The remaining part of the former manor house is now home to the Arnsberg Forest Training and Experimental Forestry Office and can therefore only be viewed from the outside.

How people once used the forestCharcoal pile and charcoal burner's hut

Well, what's that? At the edge of the forest, we come across two small cone-shaped, moss-covered huts. The accompanying information solves the mystery: in front of us are reconstructions of a charcoal burner's hut and a charcoal pile, as they were found in many places in the Sauerland up until the 19th century. Charcoal burners burnt wood in the charcoal kilns and lived in a small, very simple hut made of sticks and brushwood right next door. Very interesting and a nice place for a break.

In other places, traces of the extinct charcoal-burning profession can only be recognised on closer inspection: here and there, a round, levelled area indicates the former location of a charcoal pile.

Encounters with treesNatural forest and tree personalities

Impressive monuments do not have to be built by human hands: In the middle of the forest, we come across huge and mighty trees that already stood in the same place during the lifetime of Elector Max Heinrich. The Goethe oak, the Schiller beech and the Max Heinrich beech are 350 to 380 years old. Although the Schiller beech was felled by hurricane "Kyrill" in 2007, it still shows its impressive size lying horizontally on the ground.

A jumble of partly fallen trees and broken branches catches our eye in another part of the forest. It looks wonderfully wild - and we learn that this is a natural forest cell. There is no human intervention in this area and the development of the forest is left entirely to nature.

We could have sat down by the water, up on the mountain or in the centre of Arnsberg's old town for hours.... so relaxing and still something to look at!

Our favourite places

  • Banks of the Ruhr: Here at the beginning of its course through the landscape, the Ruhr is still wild, free and unbound. The meandering river meanders just outside Arnsberg and, in combination with the bench and playground on the banks, makes a great resting place - and a beautiful photo motif anyway.
  • Bench at the Kreuzber Chapel: A cosy little church behind you, a fantastic view of Arnsberg and the surrounding countryside in front of you. The bench at the Kreuzberg Chapel is a uniquely beautiful place to stop and a really special photo spot, especially at dawn or dusk.
  • Old town of Arnsberg: Small alleyways, crooked half-timbered houses and a church tower that towers over everything: in some corners of the old town of Arnsberg, time seems to have stood still. Together with cafés, restaurants, shops and the Sauerland Museum, which tells the story of regional history from its beginnings to the present day, the old town is definitely worth a visit!

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