Did you know that Germany’s longest suspension bridge and the second longest worldwide is only around an hour from Dortmund ? If you’re not afraid of heights, you can cross the 665m long suspension bridge, which hangs 100m in the air above a valley in the beautiful region of Sauerland in Germany. You’ll find everything you need to know here about crossing the Skywalk and about visiting Willingen, in this post.
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A secret winter wonderland – one hour from Dortmund
ONLY ONE HOUR from Dortmund in Germany you will find a secret paradise for hiking, skiing and adventure.
You might have heard of Winterberg in North-Rhein Westphalia – a winter paradise for locals in the region- but Willingen is located right next to the border of the region in Hessen. Willingen makes up, along with Winterberg and other local areas, the region Sauerland.
In the summer, Willingen is known for its hiking opportunities and in the winter, for skiing and the world-cup ski-jumping, which takes place at the Mühlenkopfschanze. However, did you know, that you can also cross Germany’s longest suspension bridge here?
If you’re planning a visit to Willingen, make sure to visit the following places, including the Skywalk:
Places to visit in Willingen (Upland):
Willingen Viaduct
The Viaduct in Willingen is a 294m long railway bridge, built at the beginning of the 20th century (1914-1917). Trains cross over the viaduct once an hour in both directions. From Willingen station you can travel with the direct regional trains over the viaduct toward Brilon Wald and Marburg. (RB97).
Ettelsberg Seilbahn
The cable car takes you from the centre of the village in Willingen to a height of 875m. Taking the Seilbahn to Ettelsberg allows for the perfect opportunities for hiking, sledging and skiing at the top of the mountain.
Ettelsberg See
At a height of 875m, you’ll find the Ettelsberg See. The lake is located directly next to the top-station of the cable car. Not only are the views from the lake incredible, it is also used as a storage lake for producing snow in the winter months for the ski-pistes.
Hochheideturm- free entry viewing tower
At the top of Ettelsberg, the 62m high Hochheideturm is a free entry tower and viewing platform, providing the best views across the whole of Willingen and the entire ski resort.
K1 Cable Car
The K1 cable car is interconnected with the rest of the ski-resort in Willingen, including the Ettelsberg Seilbahn. But- did you know, that the K1 cable car was the first 8-seater cable car to be built worldwide? It’s located directly next to the bike park, which is popular in the summer months.
Looking to go skiing in Willingen? The resort in Willingen connects four different mountains together with multiple slopes. All of the slopes are either blue or red. Please be aware, however, that you have to traverse a red run to get back to the Ettelsberg Talstation- so beginners should start on the blue-runs, marked out on the map. You can practice on these using the button-lifts, next to the Ettelsberg Talstation.
Mühlenkopf Ski Jump – the largest ski jump worldwide
Did you know that the world cup ski jumping takes places in Willingen every year? At the end of January through to beginning of February every year, the FIS world-cup ski jumping takes place.
TIP: During the rest of the year, you can pay 2 euros to take a lift to the top of the ski jump. From the top, you will have amazing views onto Stryck and the Skywalk Willingen.
Visiting Skywalk Willingen
You may have heard of the Geierlay Hängeseilbrücke , which is located in Rheinland-Pfalz. However, have you heard of Skywalk Willingen?
The Skywalk is the longest suspension bridge in the whole of Germany. It was planned to be the longest worldwide, however now holds the record of the second longest. Here are the most important facts about the suspension bridge:
•The Skywalk is suspended in the air at a height of 100m above the ground.
•The total length of the suspension bridge is 665m.
•You are able to walk in both directions over the suspension bridge, included in the price of the ticket.
•The Skywalk weighs over 168 tonnes in total.
As you walk over the bridge, you may feel the vibrations. Don’t worry- this is completely normal that the bridge ‘bounces’ or sways from side to side. You can also hold onto the handrail on either side of the bridge whilst crossing.
How much does it cost to cross the Skywalk?
It costs 11 euros to cross the Skywalk. With one ticket, you are able to cross in both directions. Furthermore, there are combi-tickets available with the Ettelsberg Seilbahn.
For more details about the Skywalk and ticket information, check out their website here.
Arrival: how to get to Skywalk Willingen
By public transport: Take the RB97 from Marburg/Brilon Wald to Willingen. You can either walk to the Skywalk from here (approx 60 mins) or you can alternatively take the Ettelsberg Seilbahn and walk (approx 20 mins).
By car: You can drive directly under the Skywalk, then walk to the top of the bridge – or take funicular from the car park to the bridge entrance.
Are you looking for more fairy-tale or action-packed travel destinations and day-out ideas in Germany? Click here to discover more about Cochem an der Mosel- one of Germany’s most beautiful fairy-tale towns.
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