Winterberg, the Winter Sports Resort in the Heart of Germany
Winterberg is located in the federal state of North-Rhine Westphalia. The small town lies 668 metres above sea-level in the Rothaar Mountains. The town centre lies within very close proximity to the mountain Kahlen Asten, which is the third largest elevation in the Rothaar Mountains. The small town is internationally well-known for its staged bob and luge sleigh events. The extensive ski lift carousel in Winterberg is certainly the predominant winter sports resort in the Sauerland and it is very important for tourism in the region. It provides you with 21 ski lifts, 30 ski slopes and a 120 km long cross-country ski trail network.
Journey to Winterberg
Winterberg is situated in the heart of Germany and thus it can be easily reached from all directions. When coming from the East and West, you will need to travel via the A 44 and will use the motorway until you reach Winterberg.
If you arrive by train, you can the ICE connections as far as Dortmund. From Dortmund it takes less than 2 hours by regional train to reach Winterberg. Dortmund is also the nearest large airport.
The Town Structure of Winterberg
Since the year 1975, the town of Winterberg has been comprised of 15 urban districts. The district of Siedlinghausen is located only 450 metres above sea-level. The town centre of Winterberg is situated only 7km away. The district is shaped by nature, not only the tourist’s use the district to recuperate and unwind. Many green spaces, hiking trails and cross-country skiing trails, which can be used for mountain biking during the summer months, provide leisure activities to cater to every taste.
Altlastenberg is the highest situated location in the Sauerland. The district is also a curative health spa. From here you can reach the ski lift carousel in Winterberg in only a few minutes which is a reason why tourism in winter is so important here. However, there are not less tourists at Altlastenberg. Hiking or Nordic walking and the Winterberg bike park, will entice you.
Tourist Attractions in the Nature and in the Old Town
The main reason why Winterberg is so interesting is because of the nature. However, there are also some buildings which are worth a visit as tourist attractions. You should go take a look at theSt. Jakobus Kirche from the 13th Century in the old town area. The church as you see it today, dates back from the year 1971. Several fires meant that the building had to be rebuilt from scratch time andagain. The main altar is said to date back from the 18th Century, the two smaller side altars can be tracedback to the early 20th Century.
A real tourist magnet is theBobbahn von Winterberg “Winterberg Bobsled Run”. It has also made a name for itself on the television because Stefan Raab uses this run for his yearly wok world championships. The bobsled run is well-known and popular amongst athletes on a world-wide scale. During the winter months, races are staged here on a yearly basis. You can also experience what it is like to be a bobsledder. During the winter months you can plunge down the 1.6 km at top speeds with an experienced pilot.
A landmark of the town is the St.Georg ski jump. It was built in the year 1959 and it was often a venue for national and international competitions. In the year 2000, it was converted and in the year 2010 it was once again laboriously renovated so that the jumps can be used both in the summer and the winter. If you like to go hiking, then there is one place in particular that you need to see: die Ruhrquelle. It is only 2 km from the Winterberg town centre and this is where an important river has its source. You need to climb up the 695 metre mountain, the Ruhrkopf, from which the Ruhr emergesas a small and quiet spring. The area is a certified conservation area.
Cultural Highlights in Winterberg
The Westdeutsche-Wintersport-Museum „West German Winter Sport Museum“ in Winterberg in not only well-known in the municipal area. In Schultenhof in the district of Neuastenberg, you can take a look at an exhibition space of 250 square metres about how the winter sports developed.You will find out how skiers of today would have looked in the past. As a well-known winter sport resort, you will also learn about how the ski tourism developed into what it has become today both in the region and on a national scale. In the other rooms, you will also gain an insight into types of winter sports such as ice skating, tobogganing and bobsledding. The museum exhibition is rounded off with interesting facts all about the nature of the winter sport resort.
Culinary Range in Winterberg
As a pure tourist region, you will have a range of different opportunities for food and drink in Winterberg. You will find both small and rustic inns and pubs as well as haute cuisine.
You can also get good, simple cuisine at the ante Gastronomie. Whether you only want to snack on a small and quick bite or you want to let the evening fade away in the restaurant, the bistro and the restaurant will be the right choice. The menu changes on a monthly basis and thus you will find seasonal dishes on the menu.
A luxurious ambience awaits you in the restaurant „Vier Jahreszeiten“ of the four star hotel Astenrose. The cuisine uses products from the region so the mushrooms and berries are always fresh. A pork fillet with side orders can be purchased for less than 20 euros.