These amazing 40 meters high rock formations, halfway between Dortmund and Hanover, close to the smaller cities Bielefeld and Paderborn, are really worth visiting if you are driving in the area. The sight is quite well known amongst the Germans, but it seems like the international tourists have not yet really discovered it. We stopped here on our way back home form the Netherlands in April.
There is not much around the little town HORN-BAD MEINBERG IN LIPPE, so you will have to drive that extra kilometers to get here, but it is worth it. When you look at the map, you can really say the rock are “in the middle of nowhere”. To get to them, you can either make a LONGER HIKE to the rocks on one of the many HIKING TRAILS around here, or you drive to the main entrance with your car. There is a BIG PARKING, you will have to pay for that. The sight is FREE OF CHARGE, but if you want to CLIMB THE STAIRS TO THE TOP, you will have to pay 4€ (adults) and 2€ (kids under 14 years of age). There is also a nice INFORMATION CENTRE at the entrance.
These rock formations are over a 100 million years old and ever since the 16th century, they have been an object of great discussions. Many THEORIES, LEGENDS and SPECULATIONS have been associated with the rocks ever since, connections to anti-Semitism and nationalism have been mentioned as well. We have distanced ourselves from all these historical facts and assumptions and just ENJOYED THE VIEWS.
Besides the high rocks, there is also a SMALLER LAKE, a nice MEADOW, perfect for a little break or a picnic, CAVES and ROCK RELIEF. Going up the STAIRS is a must as the views are very nice from the top and it allows you to see the ROCKS FROM DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVES.
You can easily spend a couple of hours here, especially if you combine it with a shorter or longer HIKE around the NATURE RESERVE, surrounding the rocks. Check out the famous HIKING TRAIL called HERMANNSWEG. But even if you are very limited with time, you can see the place in just about half an hour and it is still worth it, especially if you have a nice sunny day like we did. You can combine it with visiting the known SPA TOWN of BAD PYRMONT, which is just 45 minutes drive away.
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