Embedded in the wild and romantic landscape of the Hönnetal lies Balve, home of the largest open cultural cave in Europe. Whether nature, history or rustic half-timbered house flair - the modern small town offers varied leisure activities and an excellent quality of life.
Around 12,000 inhabitants call Balve and its villages home. Visitors will find a wide variety of accommodation and restaurants as well as charming shopping opportunities, such as farm stores. The historic town center impresses with pretty half-timbered houses and the parish church of St. Blasius is always worth a visit.
The heart of the town is the Balver Höhle, where the third largest mammoth tusk in the world was found. The Fantastischen Vier already recorded their MTV Unplugged in the impressive culture cave. Today, a wide variety of events are held here, often with international artists. The Luisenhütte Adventure Museum, Germany's oldest preserved blast furnace, is also a culturally interesting place. In the immediate vicinity, the Museum of Early and Prehistory takes its visitors on a journey through 400 million years of Balve's history.
The Wasserschloss Wocklum enchants its guests with a very special atmosphere. At the Balve Optimum horse show, the who's who of the equestrian scene holds the reins every year. In addition, the castle is the picturesque venue for the varied "Landpartie" with around 150 exhibitors. Fancy some pure nature? Then the Hönnetal valley right on the doorstep beckons with beautiful nature and views, for example on a hike on the quality hiking trail Sauerland-Waldroute. Nearby Sorpesee offers refreshment with numerous leisure and water sports activities for young and old.