Discover Arnsberg: History, Monasteries and the Ruhr

Arnsberg combines historic buildings and monasteries with activities along the Ruhr and routes through the town center. When planning your trip, you can consider whether you would mainly like to discover the history of the Arnsberg district, focus on a monastery visit, or set aside time for a tour. These priorities offer different ways to experience the destination and can help you look for suitable accommodation for your trip.

Upper Town and Schlossberg: History in the Arnsberg district

A prominent landmark in Arnsberg’s Upper Town is the early Gothic St. George’s town chapel. It was built in 1323 at the initiative of Count Wilhelm of Arnsberg; the sacristy was added in 1730. The 44-meter-high bell tower stands right next to the chapel. It was once the southern main gate of Arnsberg’s old town, or Upper Town. The chapel and tower thus represent two different aspects of history: sacred architecture and a former gate function.

The Schlossberg plateau offers sweeping views over the Arnsberg district. The castle could be experienced in its original size using an app among the ruins that still remain on Schlossberg. A municipal announcement from 2025 described this digital experience; check whether the app is currently available before your visit. This lets you consider the view from the plateau and the app experience as two different aspects of a stay on Schlossberg. As access conditions can change, it is a good idea to check the latest information before your visit.

Guided city tours are one way to discover the historic heritage of the Arnsberg district. The Arnsberg Monastery Route conveys history from two perspectives; check the latest information if you are considering this route for your plans.

Monasteries and Dated Works of Art

Oelinghausen Monastery is located in the Holzen district and is a pilgrimage site that attracts many thousands of visitors. The church nave has rich Baroque furnishings, created in 1712 by the sculptor Wilhelm Spliethoven, known as Pater, from Volbringen (Ense). The monastery also has three medieval depictions of the Cross, dating from 1150, 1270 and 1380, as well as a Romanesque Madonna figure from around 1200. The dates and styles bring the different periods in which the artworks were created into focus: the Madonna figure is Romanesque, the depictions of the Cross are medieval, and the church nave’s furnishings were created later, in the Baroque period.

Another historical highlight is Wedinghausen Monastery. It developed into an intellectual center with a scriptorium and a monastic school that was already in existence around 1300. A scriptorium was a place for writing; together with the monastic school, it points to the scholarly work that was part of the monastery’s historical life. Oelinghausen and Wedinghausen therefore offer different points of interest if you are interested in sacred art, monastic history or education in the Middle Ages.

Cycling, Geocaching and Paddling

The Ruhr Valley Cycle Route passes through Arnsberg’s medieval town center as an experience stop. Alongside the cycling route of the Arnsberg Monastery Route, a geocaching trail with nine stations runs nearby. Visitors must find five numbers at the stations to open the final cache. This offers a second, puzzle-based way to engage with the route in addition to cycling. Before setting out, check whether the geocache is currently available, and if you are planning a cycling trip, look up the latest route information.

Guided canoe tours are offered on the Ruhr in Arnsberg for less experienced paddlers. The options are quite different: you can experience the town center as a stop on the Ruhr Valley Cycle Route, the geocache adds search tasks to the cycling route of the Arnsberg Monastery Route, and canoe tours take you out on the water. If a canoe tour is an option for you, check with providers about current availability and schedules before you arrive. This will help you plan around the tours that are actually available.

Nature in the wider destination of Hochsauerlandkreis

The wider destination of Hochsauerlandkreis offers another way to experience nature and outdoor activities. Arnsberger Wald Nature Park has a well-developed network of hiking trails. Mountain biking, hiking and skating are associated both with the nature park and with the city’s green spaces. This complements Arnsberg’s cultural and historical sights with additional opportunities for activities at the regional level. If you would like to cycle, check local route information and permitted uses in advance.

Discover more destinations: Neheim-Hüsten, Herdringen, Bestwig, Hallenberg, Medebach, Meschede, Winterberg, Olsberg.

Back to the regional travel overview: Hochsauerlandkreis.