Iserlohn Tourist Attractions
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Situation and characteristicsIserlohn, situated on a plateau in northern Sauerland, surrounded by forest-covered hills, is one of the most important industrial and commercial towns in Westphalia.
St Mary's Church
Iserlohn has preserved some remains of its old walls. A little way south of the Markt is St Mary's Church (St Marien), with a Romanesque west tower. It has a Flemish carved altar (c. 1400) and Gothic choir-stalls (c. 1500).
Countryfolk's Church
South of St Mary's Church in Iserlohn can be seen the Bauernkirche of St Pankratius (Pancras), originally Romanesque but later rebuilt in Gothic style.
Municipal Museum
Southeast of the Bauernkirche in Iserlohn, in the Haus der Heimat, is the Municipal Museum (geology, history of the town and of local industry).
Dechenhöhle
4km/2.5mi west of Iserlohn, on the road to Letmathe, can be found the entrance to the Dechenhöhle (on right of road), a stalactite cave discovered in 1868, with an interesting museum.
Surroundings
Hemer
At Hemer, 7km/4.5mi east of Iserlohn, is the Heinrichshöhle (discovered 1812), which is accessible for a distance of 350 m/385yd.Nearby is the "Felsenmeer" ("Sea of Rock"), a series of rocky gorges below tall beech trees.
Balve
15km/9mi southeast of Hemer lies Balve. The parish church of St Blasius (Blaise) is a hall-church of the late 12th C., with 13th C. wall paintings. Adjoining the church is the Museum of Prehistory (minerals, fossils, finds from the Balver Höhle).At the north end of the town is the Balver Höhle (Balve Cave; 80 m/260ft long by 20 m/65ft wide), which was occupied by man in the Ice Age. It is now used as a hall for concerts and other events.At Wocklum, near the Balver Höhle, is the Luisenhütte, a charcoal-fired smelting works of 1732 which operated until 1865 (open to visitors).
