Serving as the capital of Hochsauerlandkreis, Meschede is a riverside town in the Ruhr Valley. It was originally founded around a convent in the 10th century and by 1572, it had established itself as a member of the Hanseatic League. Due to the strategic importance of its railway station, Meschede was heavily bombed by Allied forces during World War II.
Things to do in Meschede
On the bank of the Ruhr River is the Hallen und Freibad Meschede, a leisure complex with both indoor and outdoor swimming pools. Adjacent is a children’s playground and a soccer pitch where you can kick a ball around. On the other side of the river is the pump track of Meschede’s bike park, plus the centuries-old Klausenkapelle with its Gothic-style carved altar.
A short drive from Meschede is the Lörmecke-Turm, a 35-metre-high observation tower in Arnsberg Forest Nature Park. It was constructed using 144 Douglas fir trunks, which have been crisscrossed around a spiral steel staircase. It’s one of the many highlights along the long-distance Sauerland-Waldroute hiking trail, which takes in ancient forests and sparkling lakes between Iserlohn and Marsberg.
Closer to Meschede are the ruins of Burg Eversberg, which offer wonderful views across the Ruhr Valley from its hilltop setting. It is believed to have been built in the 12th century by Count Eberhard von Arnsberg but fell into disrepair in the 16th century. A wooden viewing platform now climbs the stone remains of the castle’s former keep.
Getting around Meschede
Meschede is just under an hour’s drive from Dortmund and 40 minutes from Dortmund Airport, which has flights to destinations across Europe. Regular trains connect to the Meschede railway station and buses travel through the town. The centre of Meschede is compact enough to explore on foot.