Discover Bönen: Flierich, the Seseke and the Headframe

Bönen offers three different starting points for planning a trip: Flierich’s half-timbered village centre, paths along the Seseke and industrial heritage at the headframe. Depending on your interests, you can focus on village architectural history, a walk or cycle tour, or art at the former mining site. Hiking Tour 6 lists specific starting points and route distances; the cycle route also offers a connection to the river and the themes of an art project.

Flierich: Village Centre and Bakehouse

Flierich’s village centre is a sight to see in Bönen. The Protestant village church is dedicated to Saint Michael and surrounded by a half-timbered ring of buildings typical of the Middle Ages. Flierich’s bakehouse complements the village setting as a half-timbered building with a bakehouse and a small local history museum. The two buildings each have a distinct focus: the church stands out for its dedication and surrounding buildings, while the bakehouse brings together half-timbered construction, a bakehouse and a local history museum. Flierich therefore offers a specific focus if you are interested in village architecture and local history.

Cycling along the Seseke

A section of the Seseke cycle route runs through Bönen; following the river, the route leads from Bönen via Kamen to Lünen. Along the route, the 2010 art project “Walking on Water” is linked to installations spaced several kilometres apart. The works relate to the Seseke, the river’s transformation or the theme of water; some works may have been temporary. This means the cycle route can be explored both for its course and for the water-related themes of the art project. To the east, the Seseke nature reserve directly borders the municipality of Bönen.

Hiking Tour and Starting Points

The route description for Hiking Tour 6, “Bönen and Flierich,” dated 2017, gives a distance of 12.5 kilometres starting from Flierich or Lenningsen; starting from Bönen station adds 3 kilometres. It lists Bönen station as the start and end point. Alternatively, you can begin the tour at Lenningsen Old Station or in Flierich. The information makes it possible to compare the starting points by route length. Check current trail conditions before setting off.

Cycle Station and Tours

The cycle station at Bönen Bürgerbahnhof is part of the municipal service centre. It offers 240 modern bicycle parking spaces and professional services. If you plan to use the station, you can ask the operator about specific service details in advance. The ADFC local group of the Unna district association regularly offers cycle tours in and around Bönen. For planning dates, it is a good idea to check the current tour schedule directly with the organiser.

Headframe and Landmark Art

The 68-metre-high headframe of the decommissioned Köningsborn III/IV mine is the easternmost point of the Landmark Art Route. Mischa Kuball’s light art installation “Yellow marker” makes the compact, cuboid structure look like a slender lighthouse at night. The artistic aspect is tangible in the contrast between the headframe’s block-like shape and the described slender lighting effect. The mountain bike facility near the mine headframe opened in 2014.

Discover more destinations: Lünen, Selm, Kamen, Bergkamen, Werne, Fröndenberg/Ruhr, Schwerte, Unna

Go to the main travel overview: Unna.