Holiday Home Willingen in Sauerland: Backpack and hiking boots in the trunk and go!

During a stay in the municipality of Willingen, you are surrounded by the beautiful Sauerland, a region in Germany much loved by Dutch tourists for mountain biking and hiking. Climb the banks of the Diemelsee and enjoy the rolling meadows dotted with forests. Then hop on a gondola and soar above the treetops to the Ettelsberg, or take in panoramic views from the Skywalk, the longest suspension bridge in Germany! Curious about what you can experience in the heart of Sauerland? Read on and book a holiday home in Willingen!

Recreation on and around the Diemelsee from your holiday home in Willingen

Sailing on the water while enjoying the long valleys with forests and fields of rapeseed, as sailboats drift by. The Diemelsee is a place that truly sparks the imagination and is synonymous with relaxing recreation. There is nothing to mar the landscape, and many of the shores are arranged for sunbathing or swimming in water of excellent quality. The low mountain range surrounding the lake lures cyclists and mountain bikers into nature. Hikers are drawn to benches with views of flower-covered slopes and the shimmering blue lake.

Climb the Ettelsberg from your holiday home in Willingen

A fun attraction that takes you to panoramic heights is the Ettelsberg cable car. It’s not only the view that draws visitors to the top: the mountain is also the starting point for thrilling downhill mountain bike rides and scenic hikes. The gondola ride itself is a great experience, as you float just above forests and rolling fields. Be sure to take the gondola ride in winter as well, when it’s open to visitors who want to enjoy the snowy landscape. At the foot of the Ettelsberg, you can explore the Kyrill Path, named not after the area but after storm Kyrill, which devastated the Schanze Forest. The damage was deliberately left behind, making the trail a unique and fascinating route.

Challenge your fear of heights on the Skywalk and the high ropes course

One of the best-known attractions in Willingen, not suitable for those with vertigo, is the Skywalk. At over 665 meters, it is the longest suspension bridge in Germany. Another favorite for climbing enthusiasts is the high ropes course near the Willingen ski jump. Secured to a cable, you step from one trapeze to another. The course includes several more elements, which can even be climbed in winter, all with a panoramic view of the snowy mountains.

Follow Stage 11 of the Sauerland Höhenflug from Korbach

Charming towns are easy to find in the Willingen region! Korbach, for example, is a beautiful place full of half-timbered houses. Just outside the town on a hill lies the Eisenberg ruins with an educational trail about gold mining. A visit to Korbach can also be nicely combined with the Wellingerhausen volcano route. With a distance of almost 7 kilometers and an elevation gain of 100 meters, this route is ideal for recreational hikers. Looking for more adventure? Follow the last stage of the long-distance Sauerland Höhenflug trail from Korbach to Düdinghausen. As the name “high flight” suggests, you’ll walk along Sauerland’s highest hilltops!

Fort Fun Abenteuerland

If toboggan runs, the high ropes course, and the Skywalk aren’t enough, there’s even more fun to be had from your holiday home in Willingen at the Fort Fun Abenteuerland amusement park! In addition to roller coasters and water slides, you’ll find attractions like the Wild Eagle, where you can fly like a hang glider. The little ones can drive classic cars or American-style vehicles. Other attractions are perfect for shared fun with family or friends, such as the log flume and the Los Rapidos water slide.

Winter sports in Willingen

Many Dutch tourists know Winterberg as Sauerland’s main winter sports destination. However, Willingen follows close behind. An advantage over Winterberg is that Willingen offers both a gondola and a covered 8-person chairlift. Although the ski area is smaller, it boasts Sauerland’s longest slope. Thanks to a partnership with neighboring ski resorts, a ski pass also gives access to other ski areas in the region.

Kellerwald-Edersee National Park

A nearby nature reserve with UNESCO World Heritage status is Kellerwald-Edersee National Park, famous for its gnarled beech trees. A walk here is a truly special experience. Discover the ancient forests along more than 10 marked hiking routes ranging from 5 to 15 kilometers. The signposting is excellent, with plenty of information to help you choose the right trail. You can also explore the park with the guidance of a Dutch-speaking guide.

Take a trip to Kassel Castle

One of the top attractions you’ll remember from your holiday in Sauerland is Löwenburg Castle, a granite fairytale castle that feels like it belongs in Scotland. In the surrounding Bergpark Wilhelmshöhe estate, you’ll also find a waterfall cascading down a long stone staircase, a collection of cascades from a rocky hill and an aqueduct. The romantic Wilhelmshöhe Palace is also located in the park. Altogether, Bergpark Wilhelmshöhe is well worth a day trip!

Rent a holiday home in Willingen

Willingen is a destination in Sauerland that attracts visitors year-round. In winter, you can ski down the region’s longest slope; in spring and summer, you can hike and mountain bike around the Diemelsee; and in autumn, you can explore the magical beech forest of Kellerwald-Edersee National Park. Sauerland is also the perfect region for tobogganing fun close to the Dutch border. And there’s even more to do, from a high ropes course and a suspension bridge to Fort Fun Abenteuerland! Looking for short hiking routes with views of beautiful lakes or long treks across high ridges? Rent a holiday home in Willingen and enjoy an exciting outdoor holiday in Sauerland!