With more than 5,000 square kilometers of land offering plenty of vacation and excursion experiences—that’s what the Sauerland has to offer. With this size, it is considered the largest contiguous vacation and recreation area north of the Main River. The region spans several districts: the Olpe District, the Märkischer District, the Hochsauerland District, and the Soest District, all of which are located in North Rhine-Westphalia. However, the Hessian municipalities of Willingen and Diemelsee are also part of the Sauerland. Around 1.1 million people live in this area.
The Sauerland is full of experiences—in the landscape and with the landscape. As befits a picturesque low mountain range, the landscape gently undulates between mountains and valleys. The region encompasses three nature parks, and five large and many small lakes nestle into the landscape like blue gemstones. Underground lie stalactite caves and numerous visitor mines, and there are also a variety of excursion destinations to be found throughout the area. Out in the fresh air, locals and vacationers go hiking, biking, or even climbing. Or they visit indoor attractions such as water parks and adventure pools, saunas and thermal baths, arcades, technology museums, and exciting exhibitions. All of them promise plenty of experiences throughout the year.
The Sauerland is also popular in winter: with more than 130 ski lifts and 300 hectares of slopes, as well as 500 kilometers of high-quality cross-country ski trails at higher elevations, it is the largest winter sports area north of the Alps. Sledding, tobogganing, winter hiking, or horse-drawn sleigh rides provide even more winter fun.
No wonder, then, that more than 2.5 million people visit the Sauerland annually, accounting for nearly 8 million overnight stays. This makes the Sauerland a top vacation destination in North Rhine-Westphalia.
But where does the name “Sauerland” actually come from? This regional designation can be traced back to the 14th century, though its origins date as far back as the 12th century. It presumably referred to the “southern land”—at least when viewed from the Westphalian centers of Dortmund, Soest, and Münster at that time.
The Sauerland dialect (Siuerlänner Platt) is a distinct Low German language. Many of its words are still used today by locals in the Sauerland in everyday speech: “Woll” to end a sentence, “Mauken” for feet, or “Schnuck” for sweets.
Here you can download the following overview map of the region.