Discover Plettenberg

Plettenberg extends into the river valleys of the Lenne, Else, Grüne and Oester. The green, wooded low-mountain landscape offers hiking and cycling trails; art, local history and leisure activities are also among the themes to explore on a trip. If you’re looking for a hotel in Plettenberg, you can start by considering whether hiking, cycling or culture will shape your stay.

Hiking trails with a range of profiles

Plettenberg’s hiking trail network covers 472 kilometres. Several descriptions are available to help you find your way around a particular tour: the P-Weg is a challenging, 63-kilometre circular hiking route that can also be hiked outside Marathon weekend. Another 63-kilometre hiking and mountain biking route also runs around Plettenberg. The same distance does not mean these are the same tour: the P-Weg is described as a challenging hiking route, while the second route combines hiking and mountain biking.

The Sauerland-Höhenflug is also relevant when planning a hike: Plettenberg is an access point and stage stop on this long-distance hiking trail. The town therefore offers both an extensive hiking network and clearly named routes, as well as a connection to a long-distance trail—distinct points of reference for planning.

Cycling and art along the way

The Lenneroute, an adventure cycling route, passes through Plettenberg. Another option is the Geschichtstour XL: this 40-kilometre cycling tour runs around and through Plettenberg and includes 20 historical and cultural stops. The tours therefore differ not only in length but also in their stated focus: the Geschichtstour explicitly combines cycling with places of historical and cultural interest.

The Plettenberger Kunstpfad explores the theme of art. Along the former railway line on the Hestenberg, it features 14 reproductions of works of art. If you’d also like to learn about the town’s history, the Plettenberger Geschichtspfad offers a different way to do so: information boards are located at notable places and buildings throughout the town.

Water, leisure and equipment

Swimming, stand-up paddling and picnicking by the shore are possible at the Oestertalsperre reservoir. Fishing and diving are also among the activities listed there. The water-based options range from spending time by the shore to activities on or in the water. When planning your trip, it’s helpful to distinguish these options from the hiking and cycling tours: they offer a separate focus on the reservoir.

AquaMagis is a leisure and adventure pool with a Caribbean-themed area and a sauna complex. Wilhelm 9 offers e-bike and SUP board rentals, as well as a bicycle garage. Check rental availability before your trip. This information adds a practical equipment angle to the routes and leisure destinations, without requiring you to plan a specific tour.

History and regional railway culture

The Schwarzenberg castle ruins are a hiking destination with surviving masonry. The castle was founded more than 700 years ago; its foundations remain after the fire of 1864.

The Sauerländer Kleinbahn runs through the Else Valley and evokes memories of travel in decades past. Guided visits to the Neu Glück lead ore mine explore Plettenberg’s mining history. Together with the Geschichtspfad, whose information boards are spread throughout the town, these places offer different ways to explore the past: by train, on a guided tour of mining history, or through information at notable places and buildings.

To choose between accommodation options and travel themes, you can weigh up these different focuses: hiking trails and a long-distance trail, cycling routes with or without historical stops, art on the Hestenberg, water activities, or places of cultural and historical interest. Plettenberg’s river valleys and wooded low-mountain landscape provide the common scenic backdrop.

Discover more destinations

Discover more destinations: Meinerzhagen, Iserlohn, Kierspe, Altena, Lüdenscheid, Halver, Neuenrade, Balve.

Return to the main travel overview: Märkischer Kreis.