Iserlohn Travel Guide — Best Time, Things to Do & Where to Stay

Why Iserlohn

Iserlohn is the largest city by population and area within the Märkischer Kreis district and the broader Sauerland region of North Rhine-Westphalia in west-central Germany. Situated at the northern edge of the Sauerland near the Ruhr River, it functions as a prominent mid-sized urban center with special administrative status, managing municipal responsibilities such as local youth and social affairs.

The town's documented history traces back to around 985 with the estimated founding of the Pancratius church, also known as the Bauernkirche. A written record explicitly citing the settlement as lon appeared in 1150, and the Count of the Mark officially granted Iserlohn its municipal rights in 1237. Later local reorganizations in 1975 led to the incorporation of the surrounding ex-municipalities of Letmathe, Hennen, Sümmern, and Kesbern into the modern city limits.

Among the principal attractions in Iserlohn are the Dechenhöhle caves, which were uncovered in 1868 during the construction of the Hagen-Iserlohn railway line. Visitors can explore a 360-meter portion of the subterranean cave system to view its collection of stalactites and stalagmites. Above ground, the Danzturm stands as a recognized landmark on a hill south of the old town. Open to the public with a small inn at its base, the tower offers views across the surrounding valley and hills, and its image is incorporated into the emblem of the local Iserlohner brewery.

In the eighteenth century, the town gained artistic recognition for Iserlohn boxes, which were tobacco and snuff containers featuring engraved or embossed lids that frequently depicted Prussian King Frederick the Great. Modern cultural life is highlighted by the annual Schützenfest held at the Parkhalle on Alexanderhöhe. Alongside this event, the local peace committee has hosted a three-day free benefit music festival around the historic Bauernkirche each year since 1991.

For athletic and educational pursuits, Iserlohn is home to the Iserlohn Roosters, a first-division DEL ice hockey team that plays at the 4,967-capacity Eissporthalle Iserlohn, as well as the Iserlohn Kangaroos basketball team in the Pro B division. The city also hosts two universities of applied sciences, including the headquarters and a primary branch of the South Westphalia University of Applied Sciences on Alexanderhöhe, which offers degree coursework in engineering and informatics.