Niederberndorf: Chapels, Stations of the Cross and Circular Route

Chapels in Niederberndorf

If you are looking for a hotel for a stay focused on chapels, local history and trails, Niederberndorf offers specific themes to help you plan. The village combines a historic chapel in the town centre with a Stations of the Cross and a circular route. Bus route 345 serves Niederberndorf; check the current timetable before travelling.

The Catholic St. Blasius Chapel in Niederberndorf was built in the 17th century, at its core. Inside is a magnificent Baroque altar. St. Blasius also marks the centre of Niederberndorf. The building’s age and the altar offer two different points of interest when exploring the chapel: its construction period on the one hand, and the altar’s Baroque design on the other.

Another religious building is the Kohlhagen Chapel. Josef and Berta Sasse built it in 1938. It lies between Berghausen and Niederberndorf and belongs to Niederberndorf. Its interior paintings depict the stylised patron saints of Nieder- or Oberberndorf, Heiminghausen and Mailar. The images thus feature patron saints from several of the places named.

Trails and stories

The Schmallenberg-Berghausen Stations of the Cross lead from Niederberndorf to Kohlhagen. The circular route around Niederberndorf (NB2) is different: it starts in the village, passes through a wooded area around Kohlhagen and returns to Niederberndorf. This gives you two types of route to choose from—a Stations of the Cross with Kohlhagen as its destination, and a circular route that returns to its starting point. This can help when deciding between a trail with a named destination and a loop.

Along Lauschpohl Tour 2, several Lauschpöhle bring stories, legends, myths and anecdotes from the past to life through audio. This way of sharing stories offers a different focus from the chapels and their architectural history.

More things to explore in Schmallenberg

Schmallenberg itself has other distinct cultural and natural attractions. Schmallenberg’s old town has a uniform Neoclassical architectural character and many restored half-timbered houses. In Schmallenberg-Latrop, the Forestry Museum displays historic tools, pictures of life in the forest and village in earlier times, historic forester’s office records, and information about the development of the chainsaw. The old town and the museum therefore have different focuses: historic architecture on the one hand, forestry and village life on the other.

The Family Adventure Trail in Schmallenberg is around three kilometres long and has 13 stations about forests, animals, wood and birds. The Forestry Workers’ and Foresters’ Trail in Schmallenberg-Latrop runs for 4.5 kilometres and has 17 stations about forest ecology and timber use. The two trails differ in length, number of stations and subject matter.

The historic guided tour of Schmallenberg offers insights into the town’s history and introduces local characters such as the Floigenkasper and the Breybalg. Check current dates or booking arrangements in advance. The 84-kilometre Sauerland Cycle Ring connects Finnentrop, Eslohe, Schmallenberg and Lennestadt and follows former railway lines.

Discover more destinations: Niederhenneborn, Bödefeld, Kirchilpe, Fleckenberg, Bad Fredeburg, Dorlar, Arpe, Sellinghausen.

For the main travel overview: Schmallenberg.