Paderborner Land Route
250 km through the Paderborner Land
Stage 3
From Lichtenau to Bad Wünnenberg
This stage takes you from Lichtenau towards the northern foothills of the Sauerland. Along the way, you’ll cycle through broad valleys and across the open plateau of the Sintfeld. Time and again, sweeping views open up across the southern Paderborner Land. Some sections require a little extra stamina, but the effort is rewarded with impressive long-distance views and ever-changing landscapes.
Route information:
Total distance: 40 km
Start: Lichtenau, town center
End: Bad Wünnenberg, Aatal
Surface:
- 80% asphalt
- 20% compacted gravel
Lichtenau
Monastic heritage and far-reaching views
The River Altenau accompanies you along parts of the route through the Altenau Valley. Before exploring the valley in all its breadth, it’s well worth taking a detour to Dalheim. The former Augustinian monastery is now home to the LWL State Museum of Monastic Culture. Its historic buildings and permanent exhibition offer fascinating insights into monastic life in centuries past.
The surrounding villages also reveal the region’s rich history, with old churches and half-timbered houses shaping their character. From here, the route climbs onto the Sintfeld plateau. This open landscape is characterised by expansive fields and gentle hills. Wind turbines can often be seen on the horizon, adding a distinctive feature to the landscape of the southern Paderborner Land.
Bad Wünnenberg
Enjoy nature at the end of the stage
After the climbs and far-reaching views of the Sintfeld plateau, you’ll arrive in Bad Wünnenberg. Here, the Aatal nature experience area is a lovely place to round off the stage. Walking trails and a range of leisure activities make the valley well worth a visit for a short break away from the bike.
If your legs are feeling tired, why not try the Kneipp foot-treading pool to refresh them? It’s a relaxing way to end a stage filled with challenging climbs and sweeping views.