Sauerland - gently rolling hills and romantic half-timbered buildings

Relatively sparsely populated with many wooded areas and rolling hills, the Sauerland region is the ideal place for exhilarating encounters with nature and winter sports. Set in this idyllic countryside, you will find a number of picturesque towns and villages with historical old quarters, proud castles, magnifi cent palaces and tranquil abbeys. Also known as the cradle of German industrialisation, the region has a number of cultural and historical attractions from this period including reservoirs, mines and technical monuments.

Sauerland underground
Part of the Rhenish Slate Mountains - formed approx. 320 million years ago as the reef and lagoon deposits of a shallow primordial ocean, the Sauerland region has a wealth of spectacular dripstone caves. Attendorn is home to Germany's largest dripstone cave with its bizarre sculptures. At Ramsbeck ore mine near Attendorn, you can go 300 metres underground to discover how this raw material that was once so important to the region was mined. Experienced miners share stories on their former work down the mines in the original tunnels where the temperature remains a constant 12°C.

Panoramic views of the Sauerland region in Winterberg
The home of the Bobsleigh and Skeleton World Cup, Winterberg is a high altitude resort. However, if you want to go even higher, the Panorama Adventure Bridge is the ideal attraction. This spectacular construction stretches for 420 metres around 20 metres above the Winterberg Cap. At the foot of this breezy walkway, the bobsleigh run, summer toboggan run and numerous pistes of the Sauerland Bike Arena offer 2,000 km of downhill thrills. The Sauerland is a superb area for leisure activities, walking and winter sports. In addition to the facilities in Winterberg, the Sauerland Wintersports Arena also has a number of ski areas and highlights including ski jumping in Willingen. Walking enthusiasts will fi nd a selection of wonderful routes such as the Rothaarsteig trail. A great day out is also to be had at Fort Fun adventure park, which has many attractions based around the theme of the Wild West.

A monument of national importance - Luisenhütte
On the edge of Sauerland's Homert nature reserve, visitors can discover the historical roots of the iron and steel industry in the Ruhr area. In Balve-Wocklum near Arnsberg, in the heart of a haven for walkers and Nordic walkers, is a water-powered, charcoalfired smelting works. The only one of its kind to be preserved intact in Germany, the site consists of an entire site with an iron foundry and surrounding buildings.

A cultural experience - "Sauerland Autumn"
All year round, visitors to the Sauerland region can see a multitude of fascinating churches, religious art and interesting museums such as the large Sauerland Museum or the Doll Museum in Schmallenberg. Especially popular is the "Sauerland Autumn" in October, the world's largest brass band festival which presents a host of amazing music in unusual venues.

Altena Castle - the first youth hostel in the world
The former residence of the Counts of Altena- Mark, Altena Castle houses the oldest regional history museum in Westphalia. Visitors to the Mark regional museum can see ancient armoury and weapons, antiques as well as curiosities and objects made by artists and craftspeople. Altena Castle is famous around the world as the site of the first permanent youth hostel, which was opened here in 1912. At the International Youth Hostel Museum, visitors can see what it was like to sleep on straw mattresses.

Close to nature - hiking along the Rothaarsteig trail
Enjoy nature at its best along one of Germany's best-known hiking trails, the Rothaarsteig. Running for a distance of 154 kilometres, it offers a number of marked trails through a varied landscape. Also featuring a suspension bridge, the Woodland Sculpture Trail and various themed stations, the Rothaarsteig trail is bringing hiking into the 21st century.

The lure of water
Created during the age of industrialisation in the Ruhr area, the biggest reservoirs in the Sauerland region include Lake Biggesee with the Listertal dam, which holds back 21.6 million cubic metres of water. Both swimming and water sports are permitted on the reservoir. Around its shores there are a number of excellent campsites and holiday apartments.

Sauerland - a mecca for cheese and beer lovers
The Sauerland region has a similar climate to the area where Emmental cheese comes from. The milk produced by Sauerland cows and goats is used to make a first-class selection of cheeses. Many local restaurants servea range of home-made cold meat specialities. Various types of potato and mushroom complete the culinary experience. Another regional speciality is Potthucke, a baked potatodough with pork sausage spread and bacon. In addition, visitors can enjoy a cosmopolitan selection of dishes with an experimental twist at the region's restaurants. The Sauerland region is also home to three of ermany's best-known breweries.