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Town in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany
Photo: Michael Kramer, CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Schmallenberg is a rural area in the Sauerland region of South Westphalia. Marketed as Schmallenberger Sauerland, it is a recognised health resort and popular vacation destination for hiking, winter sports, and other outdoor activities.
From the travel guide. Select a place for details, a map and what is nearby.
Westfälisches Schieferbergbau- und Heimatmuseum Holthausen
On about 2.500 m² you will find information about slate mining and other aspects of local history.
Wood Sculpture Path
In many ways the largest art project in the region: A total of 9 giant sculptures are hidden in the forests along a hiking route between Schmallenberg and Bad Berleburg on the other side of the Rothaar mountains. You don't need to walk the whole 25 km trail, though, as many of them can be reached conveniently from nearby parking lots.
Waldemai art gallery
At the bottom of the valley at the side of the picturesque Sorpe creek lies this private art gallery. The adjacent sculpture park has big and often humorous metal sculptures, some of which can be admired from the outside.
Schütte Arts Forge
Located in the historic "black factory", a former charcoal production facility, the forge today produces all kinds of decorative and practical metal works. There's a free exhibition, and the attached Café is a popular spot for some afternoon coffee & cake.
South Westphalia Gallery
Collection of about 7000 paintings, graphics, and sculptures by local artists. The gallery is located at the local heritage museum, see above for prices and hours.
Arts center with varying exhibitions, concerts and the like.
Built at the very beginning of the 13th century, this is not only one of the oldest churches in the area, it is also very well-preserved. The original contemporary frescoes were hidden under layers of paint for centuries and were rediscovered in 1936.
Wormbach has been a place of worship since long before Christianity replaced pagan beliefs. Later, became an important center for early Christianisation. The romanesque church from the mid-13th century also has re-discovered frescoes, including a mysterious set of zodiac signs that's still puzzling historians. The much younger altarpiece and other baroque style parts of the interior give the place a very different feel from the more plain appearance of the neighbouring Berghausen.
Downhill bike park with a wide variety of different trails and a lift go get you back to the top. It is suggested to make a reservation online in advance, as the number of tickets per day is limited. Helmet mandatory. Rental bikes and protection equipment available (first come first serve).
Outdoor swimming pool
Has a large wave pool, diving tower, beach volleyball court and plenty of space for sunbathing.
What started as an indoor playground for children has rapidly grown into a centre for all kinds of recreational activities. As usual with these kinds of venues, bringing your own food and drinks is not allowed.
1600 m² of indoor playground and another 1400 m² outdoors from May to September. Bring socks for indoors and be prepared for more than just a little splash of water outdoors.
Indoor climbing centre with climbing walls, high ropes course, slack line and a micro bowling alley.
500 m² of trampolines on steroids. Minimum age is 10 years (7 years from 10:00–13:00 on weekends), grown-ups welcome. Make sure there are no zippers, rivets, or other sharp parts on your clothes, as they could damage you or the equipment.
Changing selection of hologate virtual reality games. A maximum of 4 people can play at the same time, but you can come with a larger group and take turns.
Thermal baths
Small but modern and barrier-free. It has a bit of everything: Slides and other fun things for kids and toddlers, a decent pool for actual swimming, hot tubs and a steam bath for relaxing. Separate sauna area with 5 different saunas (ladies only on Wednesdays).
Hotel, restaurant, cafe, pub — the Stoffels does it all, does it well, and does it with an atmosphere.
Highly decorated fine dining with French style full-course dinner experience. Prior registration required, no à la carte options, guests are requested to arrive by 19:00.
This is where you go for your currywurst fix.
Handmade cakes and home-roasted coffee.
Pubs come and go, but it seems like the Schaukelstuhl (rocking chair) has always been there. Rustic atmosphere and a decent selection of cocktails.
Beim Schacka
The ambience of this place falls into the awkward zone of being too old to be hip and too new to be rustic, and that's exactly what makes it authentic. That, and the Innkeeper, who is well-known for his love for the blues and rock'n'roll.
The Habbels is one of Schmallenberg's cultural hot spots. It was built in 1929 as a dance and theatre hall and converted into a cinema in the 1950s. In the 2000s it was modernised and turned back into a general-purpose event location. Typically open on Saturday evenings, with a mixed program from hard rock tribute bands and 1980s dance parties to jazz and cabaret.
Luxury hotel with plenty of opportunities for all kinds of wellness, the golf course lies just a few hundred metres up the hill, and you won't even have to bring your own Porsche, as they have one available for renting during the summer months.
Outdoor and hiking supplies – without doubt the best address if you need a last minute backpack or a new pair of hiking boots.
When visiting the self-proclaimed city of stockings, you've got to check out some knitted goods for your feet. Stockings, tights, sportswear and of course high-tech socks for every occasion: running, hiking, skiing, or even arctic expeditions. You might even get a good deal on second grade quality items with minor blemishes.
By bus
Schmallenberg is part of the Regionalverkehr Ruhr-Lippe (RLG) Network. The town is connected to the surrounding cities through a number of hourly bus connections:
By train
The city is not directly accessibly by train. The closest train stations are in Lennestadt-Altenhundem, Meschede, Winterberg, and Aue-Wingeshausen.
On foot
There are several long-distance hiking trails passing through Schmallenberg. The E1 Long Distance Path passes through some of the most beautiful villages in the area.
By bike
Schmallenberg is connected to Lennestadt and Eslohe through the Sauerland Cycle Circuit (SauerlandRadring), a looped scenic bike road running largely on former railway lines.
By plane
There are no airports with scheduled traffic close-by. For business jets and the like, Siegerland airport (SGE) is the closest option.
On foot
Most villages are small enough to be conquered on foot, and the same is true for the historical centre of Schmallenberg. Outside the buildup areas, there are hiking routes galore (see Do section).
By bike
Historically, bikes were never really a viable option for anything but sports and child's play.
By bus
There are three types of scheduled bus services available, all of them can be used free of charge with the Sauerland Card:
By cab
Pretty much the only reason the average able-bodied local would ever consider taking a taxi here is for getting home from the pub or Schützenfest at the neighbor village late at night.
By plane
Schmallenberg-Rennefeld airfield (see Get in) is a great home base for cross-country flights in light aircraft and gliders.
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