The best city hikes and walks in Nsg Eselsbruch / Harlebachsystem

The Brilon market square offers a beautiful backdrop for the Rothaarsteig, which begins here. However, those who have a little more time should definitely stroll through the town and enjoy the outstanding atmosphere.

The Briloner Marktplatz offers a beautiful backdrop for the Rothaarsteig starting here. However, if you have a little more time, you should definitely stroll through the town and enjoy the outstanding atmosphere.

The Protestant City Church in Brilon is a listed church building, constructed in 1855/1856 by the architect F. A. Ritter according to a design by the Berlin architect Karl Friedrich Schinkel for the Prussian Standard Church. In 2022, the church tower had to be completely demolished due to significant structural damage and contamination. Demolition began in September 2022. A new west portal is planned for the church building in place of the tower. A new, freestanding bell tower is also planned for the church. Source: wikipedia.org

The Rothaarsteig begins at Brilon's market square with its historic town hall, old half-timbered houses and a modern savings bank building with the tourist information office.

The Rothaarsteig begins on the market square in Brilon (0 km) and is one of the "premium hiking trails" in the Sauerland. It is becoming increasingly popular as a "path of the senses". The 154 km long hiking trail first leads past the spa gardens and finally through the Rothaar Mountains over the Kahler Asten, the second highest mountain in NRW at 841 meters above sea level, to Dillenburg in Hesse. The Langenberg is the highest mountain in NRW (only 1.30 meters higher than the Kahler Asten) and is also on the Rothaarsteig between Olsberg-Bruchhausen and Willingen. (Source lwl.org)

WORKS BY THEODOR SPRENGER The history fountain was designed by the sculptor and painter Theodor Sprenger (+2003) from Madfeld. He also designed the Europe fountain (1980s) at the old tax office, the farmer's wife at the Mistemarkt, the donkey Huberta with his guide Theodor Isenberg in Königstrasse and the man sitting on the bench with Lümmel (dog) in Bahnhofstrasse. Lümmel was the name of Sprenger's dog, who served as his model for this work of art. (Source: Ulrich Trommer from December 29, 2023 on "brilon-totallokal.de")

TRADITION To conclude the Briloner Schnade, the Schnadezug (traditional procession) festively enters the town to the ringing of all church bells, and traditionally the procession circles the Kump 3 times. (Source: Haus Hövener)

HISTORICAL At this spot, the market fountain, also called Kump, used to be located. It was first mentioned in a document in 1360 and was the central point of the water supply. The fountain basin was the endpoint of a water pipe made of drilled oak logs. The pipe, laid in the ground, carried water over a distance of about 2 kilometers from a spring on the Poppenberg to the market square. The city had specifically hired a "Kumpmeister" (fountain master) whose job it was to maintain the water pipe. Even in dry periods, when other springs and wells in the city dried up, the population could get drinking water here. (Source: wikipedia + Museum Haus Hövener) According to an official report, the fountain was the only source of drinking water in the city until 1819, supplied with natural spring water in abundant quantities and with natural pressure. Outside of dry periods, the water flowed so abundantly that livestock could also be watered with the overflow. In the first half of the 19th century, various iron water pipes were laid from the Kump to improve the water supply. In the second half of the 19th century, these were gradually replaced by more modern water supply systems and, consequently, also by sewage systems. (Source: wikipedia)