On Saturday morning, a thick fog still hangs over Bad Berleburg, the night having been cold with light frost. Check your hiking gear, pack the provisions from the restaurant at the New CAPITOL into your backpack, and off you go by taxi bus to Kühhude. There, at an altitude of 700 meters, visibility is clear, and the sun slowly breaks through the clouds. The day is dedicated to a special nature experience with a culinary finale at the restaurant of the New CAPITOL.
The forest along the Rothaar ridge shines in vibrant colors. Around 15 kilometers of trail lie ahead on the WaldSkulpturenWeg Wittgenstein–Sauerland. Rüdiger Grebe, an experienced hiking expert from Bad Berleburg, brings insider knowledge. He knows the artists and their sculptures and shares insights into their artistic intentions. Even the titles spark curiosity: “No Easy Game,” “Stone-Age-Man,” or “The Monument of the Lost Falcon.” What might be behind them?
Visitors from outside the region are impressed, while locals are surprised at how much new they discover about the art right on their doorstep. Rüdiger Grebe doesn’t give long lectures but offers short insights or asks guiding questions, helping participants understand the artist’s intention and form their own emotional connection to the artwork. This leads to engaging and entertaining conversations, and time seems to fly by.
For the break at the Grünhaus sculpture, head chef Norman Pontzen has prepared a snack: pumpkin quiche with an olive dip, accompanied by a beer or an apple spritzer. What more could a hiker wish for? Re-energized, the group continues toward the Golden Egg, the hidden star of the WaldSkulpturenWeg. Almost everyone knows the sculpture above Bad Berleburg – or maybe not, as discussions reveal. Rüdiger Grebe offers a tip: “Take a look at the Golden Egg from below.”
At the end of the day, there is plenty to talk about. The group gathers at the restaurant of the New CAPITOL and looks forward to a three-course meal featuring Wittgenstein venison roast or a potato and lentil ragout with chickpea balls, accompanied by a good wine or a beer.
The first hiking special of the New CAPITOL is a success. A new edition is planned for 2025.