Rüthen: City Gates, Views and Trails

Rüthen combines historic buildings with scenic views and trails. If you’re looking for a hotel in Rüthen, it can help to first decide what you want to focus on during your stay: local history, views, hiking or cycling.

City Gates and Architectural History

The Hexenturm is the only fully preserved defensive tower of Rüthen’s fortifications. The tower houses a small exhibition documenting the witch trials. It can be visited as part of a guided city tour; check current visiting arrangements in advance. The Hachtor was built around 1300 from Rüthen green sandstone and is the last surviving of the four city gates.

The historic town hall was built between 1726 and 1730 in the Baroque style. Its preserved interiors are used for cultural events and civil wedding ceremonies; these uses may change. Haus Buuck is considered probably the oldest residential house in Rüthen and a typical Hanseatic-era merchant’s house. Its three-story attic dates back to 1609. The building types each have a distinct character: the defensive tower and city gate are part of the fortifications, Haus Buuck represents the merchant’s house, and the town hall reflects a later Baroque building phase.

Views, Hiking and Cycling

The Rüthen water tower is 35 meters high, with a climbable viewing platform at a height of 29 meters. From there, you can enjoy views toward the Haarstrang ridge, the heights of the Brilon Forest and Arnsberg Forest Nature Park. The platform height and the tower’s total height refer to different points on the tower.

The Erlebniswanderweg trail starts at the parking lot by the Hachtor. Route I, marked in blue, is rated easy and is about two kilometers long. As local trail conditions can change, check for current notices before setting out. For cyclists, the MöhnetalRadweg runs through Rüthen. Meadows, green forests and gentle hills shape the landscape along the route—offering a different perspective on the surroundings than the viewing platform. The disc golf course in Rüthen-Kallenhardt is presented as an outdoor activity for families and groups.

Nature and Culture in Kallenhardt

In Rüthen-Kallenhardt, the Hohler Stein cultural cave is located in a nature reserve named after the Lörmecke stream. The cave’s name refers to the cultural site; the nature reserve’s name refers to the stream.

Museums in the wider Soest destination

In the wider Soest destination, the Osthofentormuseum uses information panels, large-format texts, photos, graphics and a scale model of the city to provide an overview of the city’s more than 1,000-year history and topographical development. The Wilhelm Morgner Museum with RAUM SCHROTH presents temporary exhibitions as well as a permanent exhibition of the Soest Expressionist artist Wilhelm Morgner. As temporary exhibitions change, it’s worth checking the current program before your visit.

Discover more destinations: Kallenhardt, Warstein, Werl, Erwitte, Wickede, Lippetal, Ense, Welver.

Go to the wider travel overview: Soest.