Schmallenberg
Encyclopedia
Schmallenberg is a town in the district of Hochsauerland. Relating to its area of 188 square miles (303 square kilometres) it is the largest town belonging to an administrative Kreis
(district) in the federal state of North Rhine/Westphalia
, Germany
.
at the mountain range Rothaargebirge
. It is situated approximately 16 miles (25 km) South of Meschede
, 25 miles (40 km) from Arnsberg
, 70 miles (112 km) from Dortmund
, 74 miles (120 km) from Cologne
, 86 miles (139 km) from Bonn
, 93 miles (150 km) from Düsseldorf
and 343 miles (552 km) from Berlin
.
and the Town of Meschede
, in the East to the Town of Winterberg
, in the South to the Town of Bad Berleburg
, and in the West to the Municipality of Eslohe (Sauerland)
and the Town of Lennestadt
.
Since the 1975 communal area reforms in the Sauerland
and Paderborn
the Town of Schmallenberg consists out of 83 quarters. They include the central town of Schmallenberg which was already named “Town of Schmallenberg” without other places before 1975. Furthermore Bad Fredeburg (“Town of Fredeburg” until 1975), the Freiheit
Bödefeld (market rights until 1975) and 80 villages:
The Town of Schmallenberg has a population of 26,203 inhabitants (31 December 2008) with all of its quarters. 6,367 people live in the central town.
was founded near the Wilzenberg mountain by Saint Anno II, Archbishop of Cologne.
The oldest available documents speaking of a “Town of Schmallenberg” are the arch bishop’s and the town concil’s deeds from 1243. There were several causes which let the place of “Smalenburg” (old German, “narrow castle”) receive town rights.
Before Schmallenberg received the town rights, there had been a castle of Schmallenberg which must have been destroyed around 1240. It was owned by the Archbishop of Cologne Conrad of Hochstadt
and the Grafschaft Abbey. The Knight Johann Kolve had the order to protect this castle. At this time, there already must have been some kind of settlement around. The archbishop did not consider the destroyed castle as useful any more. Furthermore, the local settlement was unprotected and in a risky situation because of the castle. That is why the archbishop and the Grafschaft Abbey wanted to fortificate
the place, leaving the old castle outside the town wall
.
In 1244 Schmallenberg received town rights and got a mayor and an own council. Johann Kolve, who had recommended this solution, became the commander of the new fortificated town. He got 30 shillings every year on St. Martin’s Day as an indemnity, an own property and a judicial immunity was granted. The new Town of Schmallenberg thanked Kolve for its new protecting wall. He did not have to pay taxes and did not have any civic duties.
There is an evidence from 1273 and 1292 of blacksmiths working in Schmallenberg and there have been knife smiths and hammer works for a long time. The town joined alliances with Medebach
, Hallenberg
and Winterberg
and was a member of the Hanseatic League
. It used to be a Colonian minting place in 13th century. After weapon techniques had changed and to the archbishop, Schmallenberg had lost its fotificated status, the town went through an economical crisis in the 16th century.
In 1812, the wall and its gates were torn down. In the big fire of 1822, 131 of 151 houses burnt down and Schmallenberg was rebuilt in the now characteristic structure (“Prussian ladder system”) with its half-timbered houses and slated roofs.
In 1800, the iron manufacturing was the second biggest in the whole Duchy of Westphalia
. When it collapsed because of major competition and high costs, textile industry developed in Schmallenberg. There already were seven firms belonging to textile industry in 1871. Manufacturing different kinds of textile should become the most important business type for the following years.
” of the textile industry
. The largest company today is the Falke company. This is why it is known as die Strumpfstadt (“the sock town
”). Today, 25 per cent of the population work in forest and wood economy or in tourism. In 2002 there were 7,924 jobs based on social insurances.
Major Schmallenberg companies are:
for Molecular Biology and Applied Ecology IME conducts research in the field of applied life sciences from a molecular level to entire ecosystems. The IME-Institute has around 140 employees working at the locations Schmallenberg and Aachen
.
n) B 236 and B 511 run through the town.
Local news can be received from the West German Broadcasting
(WDR). There is a regional WDR studio in Siegen
which is daily broadcasting news for South Westphalia on WDR 2
radio (on FM
93.8 MHz) and in the Lokalzeit show for South Westphalia on television (WDR Fernsehen
). Another local radio cannel is Radio Sauerland from Meschede
which can be received at 89.1 MHz in Schmallenberg and on different frequencies in the whole Hochsauerlandkreis.
Schmallenberg has ten elementary school
s (Grundschulen
) and three secondary school
s (a Hauptschule
, a Realschule
and a Gymnasium).
There also is one Special School for children with learning difficulties (Valentin-Schule), one Special School of the Hochsauerlandkreis for emotional and social development, elementary and secondary level one (Martinsschule Dorlar), one Folk High School (Volkshochschule
) and a District’s School of Music (Kreismusikschule).
or to the nearby Kneipp spa Bad Fredeburg are always worth a visit. There are some local museums like the Slate Mining and Home Museum in Holthausen, the Cutlery Factory Hesse in Fleckenberg, the Monastery Museum in Grafschaft or the Jurisdiction Museum in Bad Fredeburg.
Annual events in many quarters of Schmallenberg are the Schützenfest
e (“marksmen’s festivals”). There are 20 Schützenverein
e (“marksmen clubs”) in town. The biggest one is the Schützengesellschaft Schmallenberg 1820. The oldest Schützenverein in the modern Town of Schmallenberg is the St.-Jodokus-Schützenbruderschaft Wormbach. It was founded in 1525.
Schmallenberg has a lot of hiking
trails adding up to approximately 2,500 kilometres, leading through forests, across mountains and through valleys. The Rothaarsteig
, a hiking trail along the Rothaargebirge mountain range from Brilon
to Dillenburg
, leads through the town area. Recently, the town at the upper course of the river Lenne
has developed into one of Westphalia’s
winter sport
centers. The Nordic Center of North Rhine/Westphalia
and the Cross-Country Skiing Center Hochsauerland are both located in Westfeld. 250 kilometres of cross-country ski
tracks and 30 ski lifts make any kind of skiing possible.
Districts of Germany
The districts of Germany are known as , except in the states of North Rhine-Westphalia and Schleswig-Holstein where they are known simply as ....
(district) in the federal state of North Rhine/Westphalia
North Rhine-Westphalia
North Rhine-Westphalia is the most populous state of Germany, with four of the country's ten largest cities. The state was formed in 1946 as a merger of the northern Rhineland and Westphalia, both formerly part of Prussia. Its capital is Düsseldorf. The state is currently run by a coalition of the...
, Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
.
Geography
Schmallenberg is located in the middle of the SauerlandSauerland
The Sauerland is a rural, hilly area spreading across most of the south-eastern part of North Rhine-Westphalia, in parts heavily forested and, apart from the major valleys, sparsely inhabited...
at the mountain range Rothaargebirge
Rothaargebirge
The Rothaargebirge is a low mountain range reaching heights of up to 843.1 m in North Rhine-Westphalia and Hesse, Germany....
. It is situated approximately 16 miles (25 km) South of Meschede
Meschede
Meschede is a town in the Hochsauerland district, in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. It is the capital of the district Hochsauerlandkreis.-Geography:Meschede is situated in the Ruhr valley, near to the Hennesee, south of the nature-park Arnsberger Wald...
, 25 miles (40 km) from Arnsberg
Arnsberg
Arnsberg is a town in the Hochsauerland district, in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. It is the location of the Regierungsbezirk Arnsberg's administration and one of the three local administration offices of the Hochsauerlandkreis.-Geography:...
, 70 miles (112 km) from Dortmund
Dortmund
Dortmund is a city in Germany. It is located in the Bundesland of North Rhine-Westphalia, in the Ruhr area. Its population of 585,045 makes it the 7th largest city in Germany and the 34th largest in the European Union....
, 74 miles (120 km) from Cologne
Cologne
Cologne is Germany's fourth-largest city , and is the largest city both in the Germany Federal State of North Rhine-Westphalia and within the Rhine-Ruhr Metropolitan Area, one of the major European metropolitan areas with more than ten million inhabitants.Cologne is located on both sides of the...
, 86 miles (139 km) from Bonn
Bonn
Bonn is the 19th largest city in Germany. Located in the Cologne/Bonn Region, about 25 kilometres south of Cologne on the river Rhine in the State of North Rhine-Westphalia, it was the capital of West Germany from 1949 to 1990 and the official seat of government of united Germany from 1990 to 1999....
, 93 miles (150 km) from Düsseldorf
Düsseldorf
Düsseldorf is the capital city of the German state of North Rhine-Westphalia and centre of the Rhine-Ruhr metropolitan region.Düsseldorf is an important international business and financial centre and renowned for its fashion and trade fairs. Located centrally within the European Megalopolis, the...
and 343 miles (552 km) from Berlin
Berlin
Berlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...
.
Neighbouring communities
Schmallenberg in the North borders to the Municipality of BestwigBestwig
Bestwig is a municipality in the Hochsauerland district, in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany.-Geography:Bestwig is situated on the river Ruhr, approx...
and the Town of Meschede
Meschede
Meschede is a town in the Hochsauerland district, in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. It is the capital of the district Hochsauerlandkreis.-Geography:Meschede is situated in the Ruhr valley, near to the Hennesee, south of the nature-park Arnsberger Wald...
, in the East to the Town of Winterberg
Winterberg
Winterberg is a town in the Hochsauerland district of North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany and a major winter sport resort of the Wintersport Arena Sauerland.-Geography:...
, in the South to the Town of Bad Berleburg
Bad Berleburg
Bad Berleburg is a town, in the district of Siegen-Wittgenstein, in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. It is one of Germany's largest towns by land area. It is located approx...
, and in the West to the Municipality of Eslohe (Sauerland)
Eslohe
Eslohe is a municipality in the Hochsauerland district, in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany.- Neighbouring municipalities:* Finnentrop* Lennestadt* Meschede* Schmallenberg* Sundern- Division of the town :...
and the Town of Lennestadt
Lennestadt
Lennestadt lies in the Sauerland in southeast North Rhine-Westphalia and is a community in Olpe district. It is the district’s most populous municipality....
.
Division of the town
Sauerland
The Sauerland is a rural, hilly area spreading across most of the south-eastern part of North Rhine-Westphalia, in parts heavily forested and, apart from the major valleys, sparsely inhabited...
and Paderborn
Paderborn
Paderborn is a city in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany, capital of the Paderborn district. The name of the city derives from the river Pader, which originates in more than 200 springs near Paderborn Cathedral, where St. Liborius is buried.-History:...
the Town of Schmallenberg consists out of 83 quarters. They include the central town of Schmallenberg which was already named “Town of Schmallenberg” without other places before 1975. Furthermore Bad Fredeburg (“Town of Fredeburg” until 1975), the Freiheit
Market town
Market town or market right is a legal term, originating in the medieval period, for a European settlement that has the right to host markets, distinguishing it from a village and city...
Bödefeld (market rights until 1975) and 80 villages:
|
Kirchilpe Kirchilpe is a locality in the municipality Schmallenberg in the district Hochsauerlandkreis in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany.... Kirchrarbach Kirchrarbach is a locality in the municipality Schmallenberg in the district Hochsauerlandkreis in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany.... Kückelheim Kückelheim is a locality in the municipality Schmallenberg in the district Hochsauerlandkreis in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany.... Landenbeckerbruch Landenbeckerbruch is a locality in the municipality Schmallenberg in the district Hochsauerlandkreis in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany.... Lanfert Lanfert is a locality in the municipality Schmallenberg in the district Hochsauerlandkreis in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany.... Oberrarbach Oberrarbach is a locality in the municipality Schmallenberg in the district Hochsauerlandkreis in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany.... |
Rellmecke Rellmecke is a locality in the municipality Schmallenberg in the district Hochsauerlandkreis in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany.... Rimberg Rimberg is a locality in the municipality Schmallenberg in the district Hochsauerlandkreis in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany.... Rotbusch Rotbusch is a locality in the municipality Schmallenberg in the district Hochsauerlandkreis in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany.... Sellmecke Sellmecke is a locality in the municipality Schmallenberg in the district Hochsauerlandkreis in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany.... Sonderhof Sonderhof is a locality in the municipality Schmallenberg in the district Hochsauerlandkreis in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany.... |
The Town of Schmallenberg has a population of 26,203 inhabitants (31 December 2008) with all of its quarters. 6,367 people live in the central town.
Twin Towns
Schmallenberg twin towns are:-
Burgess HillBurgess HillBurgess Hill is a civil parish and a town primarily located in the Mid Sussex district of West Sussex, England, close to the border with East Sussex, on the edge of the South Downs National Park...
(United KingdomUnited KingdomThe United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
) -
WimereuxWimereuxWimereux is a commune in the Pas-de-Calais department in the Nord-Pas-de-Calais region of France.-Geography:Wimereux is a coastal town situated some north of Boulogne, at the junction of the D233 and the D940 roads, on the banks of the river Wimereux. The river Slack forms the northern boundary of...
(FranceFranceThe French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
)
History
In 1072 a Benedictine monastery of GrafschaftGrafschaft Abbey
Grafschaft Abbey is a community of the Sisters of Mercy of Saint Charles Borromeo, formerly a Benedictine monastery, in Schmallenberg in the Sauerland, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany.-First foundation:...
was founded near the Wilzenberg mountain by Saint Anno II, Archbishop of Cologne.
The oldest available documents speaking of a “Town of Schmallenberg” are the arch bishop’s and the town concil’s deeds from 1243. There were several causes which let the place of “Smalenburg” (old German, “narrow castle”) receive town rights.
Before Schmallenberg received the town rights, there had been a castle of Schmallenberg which must have been destroyed around 1240. It was owned by the Archbishop of Cologne Conrad of Hochstadt
Konrad von Hochstaden
Konrad von Hochstaden was Archbishop of Cologne from 1238 to 1261.-Life:Konrad was a son of Count Lothar of Hochstadt, canon of St. Maria ad Gradus and of the old Cologne Cathedral, and Mathilde of Vianden. His date of birth is unknown, and nothing is known of his early youth...
and the Grafschaft Abbey. The Knight Johann Kolve had the order to protect this castle. At this time, there already must have been some kind of settlement around. The archbishop did not consider the destroyed castle as useful any more. Furthermore, the local settlement was unprotected and in a risky situation because of the castle. That is why the archbishop and the Grafschaft Abbey wanted to fortificate
Fortification
Fortifications are military constructions and buildings designed for defence in warfare and military bases. Humans have constructed defensive works for many thousands of years, in a variety of increasingly complex designs...
the place, leaving the old castle outside the town wall
Defensive wall
A defensive wall is a fortification used to protect a city or settlement from potential aggressors. In ancient to modern times, they were used to enclose settlements...
.
In 1244 Schmallenberg received town rights and got a mayor and an own council. Johann Kolve, who had recommended this solution, became the commander of the new fortificated town. He got 30 shillings every year on St. Martin’s Day as an indemnity, an own property and a judicial immunity was granted. The new Town of Schmallenberg thanked Kolve for its new protecting wall. He did not have to pay taxes and did not have any civic duties.
There is an evidence from 1273 and 1292 of blacksmiths working in Schmallenberg and there have been knife smiths and hammer works for a long time. The town joined alliances with Medebach
Medebach
Medebach is a town in the Hochsauerland district, in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany.-Geography:Medebach is situated approx. 15 km east of Winterberg, 17 km south-west of Korbach and 45 km north of Marburg.- Neighbouring municipalities:...
, Hallenberg
Hallenberg
Hallenberg is a town in the Hochsauerland district, in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany.-Geography:Hallenberg is situated approx. 15 km southeast of Winterberg and 35 km north of Marburg.- Neighbouring Places :* Allendorf* Bad Berleburg...
and Winterberg
Winterberg
Winterberg is a town in the Hochsauerland district of North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany and a major winter sport resort of the Wintersport Arena Sauerland.-Geography:...
and was a member of the Hanseatic League
Hanseatic League
The Hanseatic League was an economic alliance of trading cities and their merchant guilds that dominated trade along the coast of Northern Europe...
. It used to be a Colonian minting place in 13th century. After weapon techniques had changed and to the archbishop, Schmallenberg had lost its fotificated status, the town went through an economical crisis in the 16th century.
In 1812, the wall and its gates were torn down. In the big fire of 1822, 131 of 151 houses burnt down and Schmallenberg was rebuilt in the now characteristic structure (“Prussian ladder system”) with its half-timbered houses and slated roofs.
In 1800, the iron manufacturing was the second biggest in the whole Duchy of Westphalia
Duchy of Westphalia
The Duchy of Westphalia was a historic territory in the greater region of Westphalia, located in the east of modern North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. Originally, Westphalia formed with Angria and Eastphalia one of the three main regions of Saxony...
. When it collapsed because of major competition and high costs, textile industry developed in Schmallenberg. There already were seven firms belonging to textile industry in 1871. Manufacturing different kinds of textile should become the most important business type for the following years.
Economy
Since 19th century Schmallenberg traditionally was a “Sauerland centerSauerland
The Sauerland is a rural, hilly area spreading across most of the south-eastern part of North Rhine-Westphalia, in parts heavily forested and, apart from the major valleys, sparsely inhabited...
” of the textile industry
Textile industry
The textile industry is primarily concerned with the production of yarn, and cloth and the subsequent design or manufacture of clothing and their distribution. The raw material may be natural, or synthetic using products of the chemical industry....
. The largest company today is the Falke company. This is why it is known as die Strumpfstadt (“the sock town
Sock
A sock is an item of clothing worn on the feet. The foot is among the heaviest producers of sweat in the body, as it is able to produce over of perspiration per day. Socks help to absorb this sweat and draw it to areas where air can evaporate the perspiration. In cold environments, socks decrease...
”). Today, 25 per cent of the population work in forest and wood economy or in tourism. In 2002 there were 7,924 jobs based on social insurances.
Major Schmallenberg companies are:
- FALKE-GROUP (textile industry, 2010: 3,086 employees)
- Burgbad AG (bathroom furniture manufacturer with headquarters in Bad Fredeburg)
- Feldhaus (construction company)
Fraunhofer Society
The Fraunhofer InstituteFraunhofer Society
The Fraunhofer Society is a German research organization with 60 institutes spread throughout Germany, each focusing on different fields of applied science . It employs around 18,000, mainly scientists and engineers, with an annual research budget of about €1.65 billion...
for Molecular Biology and Applied Ecology IME conducts research in the field of applied life sciences from a molecular level to entire ecosystems. The IME-Institute has around 140 employees working at the locations Schmallenberg and Aachen
Aachen
Aachen has historically been a spa town in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. Aachen was a favoured residence of Charlemagne, and the place of coronation of the Kings of Germany. Geographically, Aachen is the westernmost town of Germany, located along its borders with Belgium and the Netherlands, ...
.
Air transport
Schmallenberg’s aerodrome is the Airfield Rennefeld between the villages of Wormbach and Werpe. ICAO-Code: EDKR .Private transport
The Federal Highways (BundesstraßeBundesstraße
Bundesstraße , abbreviated B, is the denotation for German and Austrian national highways.-Germany:...
n) B 236 and B 511 run through the town.
Media
The Westfalenpost and the Westfälische Rundschau each have a local edition in Schmallenberg and appear as daily newspapers. The free advertising newspaper Sauerlandkurier is coming out on Wednesdays and Sundays.Local news can be received from the West German Broadcasting
Westdeutscher Rundfunk
Westdeutscher Rundfunk is a German public-broadcasting institution based in the Federal State of North Rhine-Westphalia with its main office in Cologne. WDR is a constituent member of the consortium of German public-broadcasting institutions, ARD...
(WDR). There is a regional WDR studio in Siegen
Siegen
Siegen is a city in Germany, in the south Westphalian part of North Rhine-Westphalia.It is located in the district of Siegen-Wittgenstein in the Arnsberg region...
which is daily broadcasting news for South Westphalia on WDR 2
WDR 2
WDR 2 is a radio channel produced by the Westdeutscher Rundfunk public broadcasting organization in Germany. It focuses on contemporary pop music for an adult audience.-FM:*Aachen / Euregio 100.8 MHz*Eifel 101.0 MHz*Monschau 94.2 MHz*Kölner Bucht 100.4 MHz...
radio (on FM
FM broadcasting
FM broadcasting is a broadcasting technology pioneered by Edwin Howard Armstrong which uses frequency modulation to provide high-fidelity sound over broadcast radio. The term "FM band" describes the "frequency band in which FM is used for broadcasting"...
93.8 MHz) and in the Lokalzeit show for South Westphalia on television (WDR Fernsehen
WDR Fernsehen
WDR Fernsehen is a regional public service television station owned & operated by Westdeutscher Rundfunk and serving North Rhine-Westphalia. It is one of the seven regional "third programmes" that are offered within the federal ARD network....
). Another local radio cannel is Radio Sauerland from Meschede
Meschede
Meschede is a town in the Hochsauerland district, in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. It is the capital of the district Hochsauerlandkreis.-Geography:Meschede is situated in the Ruhr valley, near to the Hennesee, south of the nature-park Arnsberger Wald...
which can be received at 89.1 MHz in Schmallenberg and on different frequencies in the whole Hochsauerlandkreis.
Education
Elementary school
An elementary school or primary school is an institution where children receive the first stage of compulsory education known as elementary or primary education. Elementary school is the preferred term in some countries, particularly those in North America, where the terms grade school and grammar...
s (Grundschulen
Education in Germany
The responsibility for the German education system lies primarily with the states while the federal government plays only a minor role. Optional Kindergarten education is provided for all children between three and six years of age, after which school attendance is compulsory, in most cases for...
) and three secondary school
Secondary school
Secondary school is a term used to describe an educational institution where the final stage of schooling, known as secondary education and usually compulsory up to a specified age, takes place...
s (a Hauptschule
Hauptschule
A Hauptschule is a secondary school in Germany and Austria, starting after 4 years of elementary schooling, which offers Lower Secondary Education according to the International Standard Classification of Education...
, a Realschule
Realschule
The Realschule is a type of secondary school in Germany, Austria, Switzerland, and Liechtenstein. It has also existed in Croatia , Denmark , Sweden , Hungary and in the Russian Empire .-History:The Realschule was an outgrowth of the rationalism and empiricism of the seventeenth and...
and a Gymnasium).
There also is one Special School for children with learning difficulties (Valentin-Schule), one Special School of the Hochsauerlandkreis for emotional and social development, elementary and secondary level one (Martinsschule Dorlar), one Folk High School (Volkshochschule
Folk high school
Folk high schools are institutions for adult education that generally do not grant academic degrees, though certain courses might exist leading to that goal...
) and a District’s School of Music (Kreismusikschule).
Culture
Starting from Schmallenberg, trips to the castle ruin Rappelstein in Nordenau, the Grafschaft AbbeyGrafschaft Abbey
Grafschaft Abbey is a community of the Sisters of Mercy of Saint Charles Borromeo, formerly a Benedictine monastery, in Schmallenberg in the Sauerland, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany.-First foundation:...
or to the nearby Kneipp spa Bad Fredeburg are always worth a visit. There are some local museums like the Slate Mining and Home Museum in Holthausen, the Cutlery Factory Hesse in Fleckenberg, the Monastery Museum in Grafschaft or the Jurisdiction Museum in Bad Fredeburg.
Annual events in many quarters of Schmallenberg are the Schützenfest
Schützenfest
A Schützenfest is a traditional festival or fair featuring a target shooting competition in the cultures of both Germany and Switzerland....
e (“marksmen’s festivals”). There are 20 Schützenverein
Schützenverein
A Schützenverein is in German language countries a voluntary association featuring sport-shooting either on Olympic levels or historic weapons....
e (“marksmen clubs”) in town. The biggest one is the Schützengesellschaft Schmallenberg 1820. The oldest Schützenverein in the modern Town of Schmallenberg is the St.-Jodokus-Schützenbruderschaft Wormbach. It was founded in 1525.
Sport
Hiking
Hiking is an outdoor activity which consists of walking in natural environments, often in mountainous or other scenic terrain. People often hike on hiking trails. It is such a popular activity that there are numerous hiking organizations worldwide. The health benefits of different types of hiking...
trails adding up to approximately 2,500 kilometres, leading through forests, across mountains and through valleys. The Rothaarsteig
Rothaarsteig
The Rothaarsteig is a 154.80 km long hiking trail along the crest of the Rothaargebirge mountain range in Germany in the border region between the states of North Rhine-Westphalia and Hesse...
, a hiking trail along the Rothaargebirge mountain range from Brilon
Brilon
Brilon is a town in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany, that belongs to the Hochsauerlandkreis.- Geography :Brilon is situated on the Brilon Heights at an altitude of about 450 m on the upper reaches of the river Möhne...
to Dillenburg
Dillenburg
Dillenburg is a town in Hesse's Gießen region in Germany. The town was formerly the seat of the old Dillkreis district, which is now part of the Lahn-Dill-Kreis....
, leads through the town area. Recently, the town at the upper course of the river Lenne
Lenne
The Lenne is a river in the Sauerland area in North Rhine-Westphalia, western Germany, a left tributary of the Ruhr.Having its source on top of the Kahler Asten near Winterberg in an intermittent spring at an elevation of 2,687 feet, the Lenne ends after a course of 128 km flowing into the...
has developed into one of Westphalia’s
Westphalia
Westphalia is a region in Germany, centred on the cities of Arnsberg, Bielefeld, Dortmund, Minden and Münster.Westphalia is roughly the region between the rivers Rhine and Weser, located north and south of the Ruhr River. No exact definition of borders can be given, because the name "Westphalia"...
winter sport
Winter sport
A winter sport is a sport which is played on snow or ice. Most such sports are variations of skiing, ice skating and sledding. Traditionally such sports were only played in cold areas during winter, but artificial snow and ice allow more flexibility...
centers. The Nordic Center of North Rhine/Westphalia
North Rhine-Westphalia
North Rhine-Westphalia is the most populous state of Germany, with four of the country's ten largest cities. The state was formed in 1946 as a merger of the northern Rhineland and Westphalia, both formerly part of Prussia. Its capital is Düsseldorf. The state is currently run by a coalition of the...
and the Cross-Country Skiing Center Hochsauerland are both located in Westfeld. 250 kilometres of cross-country ski
Ski
A ski is a long, flat device worn on the foot, usually attached through a boot, designed to help the wearer slide smoothly over snow. Originally intended as an aid to travel in snowy regions, they are now mainly used for recreational and sporting purposes...
tracks and 30 ski lifts make any kind of skiing possible.