Sauerland-Seelenorte Move Visitors in Altastenberg

Nature, art, and spirituality came together in a special way last Friday, June 26, at the St. Erasmus Pilgrimage Church in Altastenberg: Numerous guests accepted the invitation to the opening of an exhibition by artist and author Marlies Strübbe-Tewes, whose works focus on the Sauerland-Seelenorte.

Early in the afternoon, a roughly five-kilometer hike from the Kahler Asten to the “place of the soul” Gerkenstein set the mood for the event. Together with storyteller Meinolf Pape, the participants set out on a quest to discover traces in nature, combined with personal reflections and stories about the special significance of these places.

The subsequent exhibition opening then focused on the question of what “places of the soul” can stir within us. In his lecture “When Nature Speaks to the Soul: Awe, Gratitude, and Well-Being at ‘Seelenorte,’” Prof. Dr. Büssing from Witten/Herdecke University explained the scientific perspective on experiences in nature. He highlighted how places in the landscape can foster feelings of connection, mindfulness, and inner peace, and what impact these experiences have on personal well-being. Winterberg’s mayor, Michael Beckmann, and his deputy, Ernst Welticke, were also enthusiastic about the Sauerland-Seelenorte and their visual presentation as an exhibition.

“The Sauerland-Seelenorte represent a special quality of experience. They invite you to pause and perceive nature with all your senses,” emphasized Sabine Risse of Sauerland Tourism. “The fact that we were able to combine this theme with art and science today as part of the Spiritual Summer is a great enrichment.”

In a personal statement, artist Marlies Strübbe-Tewes provided insights into her work and the creation of the exhibition. Her works combine lyrical texts with expressive mandalas to create an emotional overall experience. The focus is less on the concrete depiction of a place and more on the inner resonances that arise during the experience. The exhibition is also intentionally designed as a space for exchange, reflection, and encounters.

Through this successful combination of a hike, a scholarly perspective, and artistic interpretation, it became clear just how diverse the “Sauerland-Seelenorte” project is. It combines nature tourism with mindfulness, culture, and personal experience, thereby creating new ways to engage with the Sauerland landscape.

Download the press release as a PDF here.

Press contact:
Rouven Soyka, Sauerland-Tourismus e. V.
Johannes-Hummel-Weg 1, 57392 Schmallenberg
Phone: 02974-969830, Email: presse@sauerland.com