Düdinghausen: Nature, Trails and Village History

Düdinghausen combines a striking mountain landscape with trails, religious traditions and insights into the village’s history.

Landscape around the Kahler Pön Panoramic Mountain

Düdinghausen lies at the foot of the 774 m-high Kahler Pön panoramic mountain. The village is located in the Medebach Bay European Bird Sanctuary, the Sauerland Mountain Hiking Park and the GrenzWelten National Geopark.

A special feature of the landscape is the montane berry-shrub heathland of the Rothaar Mountains. These are among the most important remaining examples of this vegetation type in Central Europe, which is now highly endangered.

The Kahle Pön Nature Trail is a circular route with twelve stations that leads from the district of Düdinghausen through one of the few remaining upland heaths on the ridges of the Sauerland to Ka-Lied. From there, it offers an excellent view over the Medebach Bay. The twelve stations form the sections of the nature trail.

Hiking Trails and Geological Insights

Another highlight is the Geological Circular Trail. It includes the quarries with information boards, the hollow way “Meggers Holtweg” and the Riepenschlucht gorge.

The Geological Circular Trail is a 6.2 km-long premium trail and the first extra tour on the Sauerland-Höhenflug trail. At 6.2 km, the route is clearly defined as a circular trail in its own right for day planning.

Churches, Customs and Pilgrimage Trails

The neo-Gothic Church of St. John the Baptist dominates the appearance of the historic village center. Highlights include the ceiling paintings by church painter Bergenthal and the numerous stained-glass windows. The church is also part of a pilgrimage trail connecting several churches and chapels.

This pilgrimage trail includes St. Antonius Church, the Düdinghausen Resurrection Chapel, the St. John the Baptist Church in Düdinghausen, the St. Antonius Chapel in Titmaringhausen, St. Nicholas Church in Referinghausen, the St. John the Baptist Church in Deifeld, the Marien Chapel on the Heidenstraße and St. Antonius Church in Oberschledorn.

Religious customs are also associated with the village throughout the year. At Easter, the Easter Cross tradition is observed: on Easter Sunday, lights are arranged in the shape of an approximately 15 m-high cross on the steep slope below the chapel. A Way of the Cross procession also takes place every Good Friday in remembrance of the Passion of Jesus Christ.

Village History and Woodturning Demonstrations

The Dreggestobe and the Kulturspeicher comprise exhibition rooms reflecting the atmosphere of around 1900. The small exhibitions focus on the history of the village, particularly its church history and the vanished village of Wieferinghausen.

At the Dreggestobe, woodturning demonstrations featuring bowls, wreaths and decorative items are offered. Demonstrations are scheduled for Thursdays from 3 to 5 p.m. from March to October; group visits at other times can be arranged by appointment. When planning a visit, the period from March to October is just as important as the scheduled Thursday time slot from 3 to 5 p.m.

Another historical site is the court square in Düdinghausen. From there, there are wide-ranging views of forests and meadows. In the Middle Ages, legal matters concerning the people of the Free County of Düdinghausen were heard here.

For further options when choosing a destination, you can also visit the following local pages: Referinghausen, Medelon, Oberschledorn, Küstelberg, Titmaringhausen and Dreislar.

For the overarching travel overview: Medebach.