Discover Sprockhövel

Sprockhövel combines visible traces of mining with historic townscapes and routes along former railway lines. This gives you different options when planning your trip: industrial heritage, local history, or cycling and hiking routes. The routes also differ considerably in their course and length.

Mining history and historic townscapes

The site of the Alte Haase mine, which closed in 1969, is home to the highly visible Malakow Tower and the adjoining Sprockhövel Industrial and Cultural Park. The tower is a reminder of the town’s mining history; the park directly adjoins the former mine site.

The historic center of Niedersprockhövel also tells a story of a long building history: it includes numerous buildings dating from the 17th to the 19th century, some of which are listed. The Evangelical Church in Niedersprockhövel stands out for its Baroque dome. Together, the town center and the former mine site offer different points of interest if you are interested in Sprockhövel’s history and architecture.

Cycling and hiking routes along former railway lines

The Glückauf Trail is a popular walking and cycling route in Sprockhövel and Hattingen, and is also known as the old coal railway. Another option is the Alte Trasse cycling and hiking route, which is around 19 kilometers long. In Sprockhövel, it follows a former railway line and is designed to be family-friendly.

At 57 kilometers, the Ruhr-to-Ruhr loop offers a different scale in terms of length. It follows former railway lines and connects Hattingen, Sprockhövel, Gevelsberg, Wetter and Witten. The routes mentioned can therefore be distinguished by their length: around 19 kilometers for the Alte Trasse and 57 kilometers for the loop. The Glückauf Trail, in turn, is particularly closely linked to mining history because it is known as the old coal railway.

Along the Alte Haase Trail and other traces of mining

The Alte Haase Trail runs through different landscapes and mining areas in two described sections. Its first section passes through the town center of Niedersprockhövel and immediately to the west, over the Hölter Egge ridge. This ridge lies between the valleys of the Sprockhöveler Bach and the Paasbach. The second section runs south of the town center through the area where mining at the Alte Haase mine was concentrated between 1950 and 1965. This period refers to the peak of mining in the area; 1969 is the year the mine closed.

Another visible trace is the Max shaft subsidence, a depression beside the hiking trail in Schevener Holz, about 100 meters east of Schevener Straße. It formed when the former underground workings collapsed. The Max shaft was a 111-meter-long, inclined shaft belonging to the Stock und Scherenberg mine in the Mausegatt seam. The mine extracted coal there from 1810 to 1840. The focus here is therefore on different periods of mining than on the Alte Haase Trail.

More destinations in the Ennepe-Ruhr district

The wider Ennepe-Ruhr district also has its own destinations for day trips. Hiking and jogging are possible at the Glörtalsperre reservoir; during the warm summer months, you can swim there in clean, natural water. In Hattingen, the “Path of Iron” at the LWL Industrial Museum Henrichshütte follows the flow of materials—from ore, coke and lime to molten pig iron. A glass elevator takes visitors to the 55-meter-high “Giant,” which offers a view of the region’s past and present. These examples complement Sprockhövel’s local history and routes with other themes in the wider destination.

Discover more destinations: Breckerfeld, Gevelsberg, Wetter, Schwelm, Herdecke, Witten, Ennepetal, Hattingen

Return to the main travel overview: Ennepe-Ruhr district.