Trade routes – experience horizons

Trade has always been the origin of many settlements and today's
cities. Important trade routes used to run through Europe. Hellweg was one
these central trade routes. He connected the cities of today early on
Ruhr area and even today you often read the street name, which reminds of the important history.

The starting location
This circuit starts at the train station in Unna, which is well connected to the regional rail network. If you come by car, you can usually find paid parking spaces near the city center.

start of the tour
From the train station in Unna, the tour first leads eastwards along the paths of the former Hellweg. At junction 35, the route branches off to the south.

The strand of hair
The route leads over the Haarstrang, a small mountain range north of the Ruhr. There are a few meters of altitude to overcome. You will always be rewarded with beautiful views. The horizon is wide and in good weather conditions views far into the Sauerland are possible. A descent finally leads down to the Ruhr Valley near Wickede.

The Ruhr Valley Cycle Path
As an important river, the Ruhr was a central trade route early on. Horses pulled the barges upstream across the Ruhr. Today, the popular Ruhr Valley Cycle Path often runs directly along the water via these former towpaths, also known as towpaths.
The route leads to Fröndenberg / Ruhr via the RuhrtalRadweg. A visit to the chain forge museum is worthwhile at the weekend (please note the opening times!). The route continues across fields and past farms. ´
 
The rise after Opherdicke
From junction 37, the route leads steeply uphill again to the Ardey Mountains. The ascent to Opherdicke is exhausting, an e-bike makes the tour much more relaxed. The Opherdicke House is a beautiful moated castle that was first mentioned in 1176. In addition to exhibition and gallery rooms, chamber concerts also ensure that the historic building is appropriately culturally used.

Back to the starting point
 The route leads back to Unna through a beautiful natural landscape. A visit to the "Center for International Light Art" in the former Linden brewery is particularly worthwhile. Light artists from all over the world have refined the cellar vaults of the former brewery with extraordinary light installations. There are numerous restaurants and cafés in the beautiful old town. Every two years, the event "Un(n)a Festa Italiana" is one of the city's highlights.