Townapedia
Luedenscheid-Rathaus1-Bubo
Luedenscheid-Rathaus1-Bubo · Bubo, CC BY-SA 3.0
Lüdenscheid-Kulturhaus-01 new
Lüdenscheid-Kulturhaus-01 new · derivative work: Pro2 ( talk )..., CC BY-SA 3.0
Nattenbergstadion
Nattenbergstadion · PeLei, CC BY-SA 3.0
PhaenomentaLuedenscheid01
PhaenomentaLuedenscheid01 · Silvercork, CC BY-SA 3.0
Lüdenscheid-Erlöserkirche-01
Lüdenscheid-Erlöserkirche-01 · Silvercork, CC BY-SA 3.0
Lüdenscheid, Pestalozzi-Grundschule
Lüdenscheid, Pestalozzi-Grundschule · Silvercork, CC BY-SA 3.0

Lüdenscheid, Germany

Lüdenscheid is a town of 79,386 people in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany.

Loading the weather...
Population79,386 GeoNames
Elevation423 m 1,388 ft
Time zoneEurope/Berlin
Land area87.0 km² 912 people per km²
Nearest airportDortmund Airport (DTM) 33 km
Advertisement

Why visit Lüdenscheid

Townapedia lists 65 museums and landmarks, 52 parks and trails, 194 places to eat, 12 places to stay and 59 attractions in and around town.

Highlights include Kulturhaus Lüdenscheid, Homertturm, Humboldt Villa and Phänomenta Lüdenscheid.

About Lüdenscheid

Lüdenscheid (German pronunciation: [ˈly:dn̩ʃaɪt] ) is a city in the Märkischer Kreis district, in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. It is located in the Sauerland region.

From the Wikipedia article Lüdenscheid (this version), under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Travel tips from other travellers: Lüdenscheid on Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0).

Photos of Lüdenscheid

Things to do59

Kulturhaus Lüdenscheid

Cinema and theater · 0.7 km

9 Freiherr-vom-Stein-Straße, Lüdenscheid

Open in Google Maps · Wikipedia

Homertturm

Scenic view · 4.8 km

33 Homert, Lüdenscheid

Open in Google Maps · Wikipedia

Park-Theater

Cinema and theater

Gebäude eines Kinos

19 Parkstraße, Lüdenscheid

Open in Google Maps · +49 2351 919777

Filmpalast Lüdenscheid

Cinema and theater · 1.0 km

68b Werdohler Straße, Lüdenscheid

Open in Google Maps · +49 2351 671964

Lüdenscheider Altstadtbühne e.V.

Cinema and theater · 0.6 km

21 Luisenstraße, Lüdenscheid

Open in Google Maps · +49 2351 24430

Theater in der Schlesinger-Fabrik

Cinema and theater

Theaterbühne

49 Am Westhang, Lüdenscheid

Open in Google Maps

Berghahn

Scenic view · 4.9 km

Open in Google Maps

Hirschberg

Scenic view · 4.9 km

Open in Google Maps

Hofladen Bühner

Farm and orchard · 6.8 km

Regionale Lebensmittel, Wein, Käse, Deko-Artikel

We-Sa 09:00-17:00, Su 11:00-16:00

Open in Google Maps

Hohenstein

Scenic view · 5.7 km

Open in Google Maps

Homert

Scenic view · 4.8 km

Open in Google Maps · Wikipedia

Kälberberg

Scenic view · 4.9 km

Open in Google Maps

47 more on the map.

Museums and landmarks65

Humboldt Villa

Monument and historic site · 0.6 km

Villa Hueck

36 Humboldtstraße, Lüdenscheid

Open in Google Maps · Wikipedia

Phänomenta Lüdenscheid

Museum

1 Phänomenta-Weg, Lüdenscheid

Mo off; Tu-Fr 09:00-17:00; Sa,Su,PH 11:00-18:00

Open in Google Maps · Wikipedia · +49 2351 21532

AWO "Jugendtreff Knast Lüdenscheid"

Monument and historic site · 1.7 km

Wachgebäude mit Arrestzellentrakt - des ehemaligen Kasernenkomplexes Buckesfeld

1 Alte Wache, Lüdenscheid

Mo-Fr 16:00-20:00; Sa-Su off

Open in Google Maps

Kleiderkammer Lüdenscheid

Monument and historic site

Kapelle und Torbogen des alten evangelischen Friedhofes

29 Mathildenstraße, Lüdenscheid

Mo,We,Fr,Sa,Su off; Tu,Th 09:00-12:00

Open in Google Maps

Psychologische Beratungsstelle Lüdenscheid

Monument and historic site

Historische Villa

15 Lessingstraße, Lüdenscheid

Mo,We,Th 09:00-12:00, 14:30-16:30; Tu,Fr 09:00-12:00; Sa-Su off

Open in Google Maps

Evangelische Jugendhilfe Friedenshort GmbH - Ambulante Hilfen

Monument and historic site · 0.6 km

Wohnhaus

13 Liebigstraße, Lüdenscheid

Open in Google Maps · +49 2351 668157

Seniorenwohngemeinschaft "Villa Basse"

Monument and historic site · 1.1 km

Mehrfamilienhaus

10 Breslauer Straße, Lüdenscheid

Open in Google Maps · +49 2351 3798600

Wohn- & Lebensgemeinschaft für psychisch behinderte Menschen

Monument and historic site · 1.0 km

Ehemalige Fabrikantenvilla

43 Schützenstraße, Lüdenscheid

Open in Google Maps · +49 2192 920040

Baudenkmal Sauerfelder Straße 7

Monument and historic site

Ehemalige Reichs- und Landeszentralbank

7 Sauerfelder Straße, Lüdenscheid

Open in Google Maps

Evangelischer Friedhof Lüdenscheid-Mathildenstraße

Cemetery · Protestant

Alter evangelischer Friedhof

Open in Google Maps

Historische Schule Winkhausen

Monument and historic site · 4.4 km

Das Gebäude steht zum Verkauf.

141 Volmestraße, Lüdenscheid

Open in Google Maps

Regionalforstamt Märkisches Sauerland

Monument and historic site · 0.7 km

Ehemaliges Eichamt

42 Parkstraße, Lüdenscheid

Open in Google Maps

53 more on the map.

Parks, trails and playgrounds52

Spielwigge

Hiking and trails · 4.4 km

Open in Google Maps · Wikipedia

Stilleking

Hiking and trails · 3.6 km

Open in Google Maps · Wikipedia

Fernhagener Bach und Jubachtal

Hiking and trails · 6.0 km

Open in Google Maps · Wikipedia

Nattenberg-Stadion

Sports field and stadium · 1.5 km

Open in Google Maps · Wikipedia

Wildgehege Mesekendahl

Park · 5.6 km

1 Mesekendahl, Schalksmühle

We-Fr 13:00-18:00; Sa,Su,PH 10:00-19:00

Open in Google Maps

Captain Fun - Kids Club

Playground

33 Wilhelmstraße, Lüdenscheid

Mo-Sa 10:00-20:00; Su off

Open in Google Maps

Familienbad Nattenberg

Sports field and stadium · 1.3 km

59 Talstraße, Lüdenscheid

Mo 10:00-21:00; Tu-Fr 06:30-21:00; Sa,Su,PH 08:00-20:00

Open in Google Maps

Steinbruch Arenritt

Hiking and trails · 5.3 km

Open in Google Maps · Wikipedia

Naturschutzgebiet Geßhardthöhle

Hiking and trails · 4.8 km

Open in Google Maps · Wikipedia

Naturschutzgebiet Volmetal

Hiking and trails · 4.9 km

Open in Google Maps · Wikipedia

40 more on the map.

Advertisement

Restaurants and cafes194

Landbäckerei Sommer

Bakery

Im Erdgeschoss des Pergamon-Zentrum.

2 Bahnhofsallee, Lüdenscheid

Mo-Fr 06:00-18:00; Sa 06:00-14:00; Su 08:00-15:00

Open in Google Maps · +49 2351 6702009

Restaurant Da Sebastiano

Restaurant · Italian · 1.4 km

Italienisches Restaurant

24 Buckesfelder Straße, Lüdenscheid

Mo off; Tu-Sa 11:30-14:00, 17:30-22:00; Su off

Open in Google Maps · +49 2351 27012

Restaurant Heerwiese

Restaurant · German · 2.1 km

Restaurantgebäude.

136 Heedfelder Straße, Lüdenscheid

Mo, Th, Fr, Sa, Su 11:00-14:30, 17:30-22:00; Tu,We off

Open in Google Maps · +49 2351 6904

Baguetteria Pronto

Restaurant · Italian · 1.0 km

2 Worthstraße, Lüdenscheid

Mo-Su 12:00-21:30; Tu off

Open in Google Maps · +49 2351 6686555

Bäckerei Hesse

Bakery

Bäckerei

3-7, Lüdenscheid

Mo-Fr 07:00-18:00; Sa 07:00-16:00; Su 08:00-16:00

Open in Google Maps · +49 2351 4337797

Eiscafe & Café Amore Mio

Ice cream · Ice Cream

Eiscafe

33 Knapper Straße, Lüdenscheid

Mo-Tu 12:00-20:00; We off; Th -Sa 12:00-22:00; Su 14:00-20:00

Open in Google Maps

Wirtshaus zum Schwejk

Restaurant · German

Nachklassizistisch dekoriertes Wirtshaus

1 Kirchplatz, Lüdenscheid

Mo,We,Th,Fr,Sa 17:00-24:00; Tu off; Su 12:00-24:00; PH 12:00+

Open in Google Maps · +49 2351 9741488

Steak-Haus Hulda

Restaurant · International

Restaurant

1, Lüdenscheid

Mo off; Tu-Sa 11:00-15:00, 17:30-22:00; Su 11:00-15:00

Open in Google Maps · +49 2351 9265304

Steakhaus Restaurant Hubertus

Restaurant · Croatian, International

Restaurant.

1 Heedfelder Straße, Lüdenscheid

Mo 17:30-23:00; Tu off; We-Sa 12:00-14:30, 17:30-23:00; Su 12:00-22:00

Open in Google Maps · +49 2351 25657

Cafe Extrablatt Lüdenscheid

Cafe · International

2, Lüdenscheid

Mo-Sa 08:30+; Su,PH 09:30+

Open in Google Maps · +49 2351 4323523

Café - Der kleine Prinz

Restaurant · German

15 Luisenstraße, Lüdenscheid

Mo-Fr 10:00-17:00; Sa 09:00-15:00; Su off

Open in Google Maps · +49 2351 27495

Eiscafé Leone

Cafe · Italian

33 Wilhelmstraße, Lüdenscheid

Mo-Sa 09:00-20:00; Su off

Open in Google Maps · +49 2351 24061

182 more on the map.

History

While first settlement in the Lüdenscheid area is confirmed for the 9th century, the first mention of the place as a village was made in 1067 and as a city in 1268. In the 15th and 16th century Lüdenscheid was a member of the Hanseatic League. Since 1609 the town belonged to the Electorate of Brandenburg, the later Prussia. In 1815 it became part of the new Prussian Province of Westphalia, and 1975, with the creation of the Märkischer Kreis, became seat of its administration. In 1898 the aluminium framework of the first Zeppelin airship was built in the factory of Carl Berg in Lüdenscheid.

From the History section of Lüdenscheid on Wikipedia, under CC BY-SA 4.0.

More about Lüdenscheid

Geography

Lüdenscheid is located on the saddle of the watershed between the Lenne and Volme rivers which both empty into the Ruhr river (which subsequently flows into the Rhine), with three smaller valleys leading to them. The saddle has a height of 420 meters, higher elevations on the watershed are an unnamed hilltop of 505 meters in the north, and the 663 meters high Nordhelle in the Ebbe Mountains range. In the surrounding mountainous area, six dams created reservoirs to regulate the water flow in the Ruhr and supply drinking water. The mountainous nature of the city's territory gave rise to the nickname "Bergstadt" (mountain town). The original settlement circles around the church built on a ledge of the slope above the saddle.

Economy

Lüdenscheid is a predominantly industrial city with small and medium-sized firms in the metal and plastics industry. The largest company employs 2,000 people in Lüdenscheid, with other firms employing 800 people or less.

The economic importance came to the fore in the Middle Ages, when the city became a centre for metal ore mining in the surrounding area, through the ("osemund"/osmond iron). The ore was processed by the hammers and wire drawers of Lüdenscheid, serviced by water power in the surrounding valleys. A number of artisanal smitheries in Lüdenscheid made finished products out of those materials. In order to market these products to a wider area, Lüdenscheid joined the Hanseatic League.

With the emergence of the industrial age, the production of buttons and buckles played a large role, reflected in the Button Museum. Later, new materials like aluminium, bakelite, and plastics were adopted. A supporting industry producing the forms for the stamping, blanking, pressing and casting emerged and still plays an important part in Lüdenscheid's industry.

Production of parts of the auto industry and of fittings for electrical installations play an important role as well as continuous casting of aluminium profiles. Products notable to end consumers are lamps and lighting systems and toys.

Arts and culture

The Lüdenscheider Altstadtbühne is a part of the culture in Lüdenscheid. It is based in the Luisenstraße. The chairman is Christel Gabler. A well-known actor is Peter Zimmer.

Education

One of the five branches of South Westphalia University of Applied Sciences is in Lüdenscheid. See also the Fachhochschule Südwestfalen (FH SWF)), which offers various engineering programmes and is located in the city.

From the Wikipedia article Lüdenscheid, under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Notable people from Lüdenscheid

Born in Lüdenscheid, according to Wikidata (CC0). Each name links to its Wikipedia article.

Where to stay12

Churches and places of worship42

Advertisement

Shopping55

Gas and EV charging18

Schools, colleges and libraries48

Advertisement

Healthcare25

Map of Lüdenscheid

250 places. The map loads OpenStreetMap tiles when you open it.

Getting there and nearby towns

Dortmund Airport (DTM) is the nearest airport with scheduled flights listed in OpenStreetMap, 33 km away.

Drive times are estimates from straight-line distance, not routes.

Towns near Lüdenscheid

Keep exploring

Reviews, tips and questions

Loading what members have shared...

Sources and licences

Photo credits

Page built November 9, 2026. Spotted a mistake? Tell us or suggest a place.