Lieberfrauenweg (Streifzug #25)

The hike begins at the business incubator. It still contains the former delivery office of the Herder company, which received goods from the women selling goods. Founded as a company in 1727, the family business dates back to 1623. The trail leads into the Pilghauser Bach valley and through the hamlets of Oben-, Mittel-, and Untenpilghausen. The village, likely named after a pilgrimage route, was first documented in 1334. Down in the woods, one first catches sight of the Pilghauser and then the Neuenhauser Kotten, both dating from the mid-19th century.

The Nöhrenkotten, which the path then leads towards, already existed before 1715. The farm buildings were converted into residences, as was the Brücker Mill further downstream in the Nacker Bach stream. From the edge of the forest, you can see the manor house of the old Schirpenbruch moated castle. The former knight's seat, a fief of the Counts of Berg and the seat of the Schirpe family, dates back to the beginning of the 15th century. Next come the oil mill from 1685 and the Haasen Mill, located below the hamlet of the same name. This mill already existed in 1711 and now houses a restaurant.

Those who wish to shorten or split the route can take the SB25 bus line from the "Haasenmühle" stop to the "Technologiezentrum". 

The hike continues to the Wipper floodplain and the Wipperkotten, located before the village of Wippe, which already belonged to the Nesselrode estate on the other side of the Wupper River in 1605. The outer mill of the double mill complex is now used as an industrial and grinding museum. The sheep mill behind it no longer exists.

The Hohlenpuhler Weg, where a small cottage once stood, leads to the Friedrichsaue. Just before Friedrichstal, a hiking trail branches off to the left into the forest and climbs steeply to the Friedrichshöhe. At the top, there is an impressive panoramic view stretching all the way to the Rhine plain!

The path leads across the Lache stream into the Weinsberg Valley. At least 23 mills or cottages once stood there, strung along the stream like pearls on a necklace. Some of these, converted into residences, still exist today. You'll pass the Enderskotten, dating from the 18th century, and the Johänntgesbrucher Mill from 1660, which once served as a grinding mill and grain mill. The path then leads through dense forest. Where a lone house peeks through the trees, the Evertzkotten once stood. Nothing remains of the Lauterjungs, Schaafen, Claubergs, and Wüsthofskotten; only the street of the same name bears witness to the Pereskotten. At the junction with Regerstraße, the path meets the Küllenbergs Kotten. Before its construction in 1837, the Platzhofer Mill stood there from 1720. The building complex as it appears today dates from 1885.

After crossing Platzhofstraße, you will reach the residential building of the former Königsmühle (King's Mill). For many years, it housed a tavern. The mill itself is documented as early as 1488 as Claismühle. Passing the former Königsmühle cottage, the route continues to the left through the park and the Weegerhof housing estate, a housing cooperative. Via Zweigstraße, Gasstraße, and Grünewalder Straße, you will then return to the business incubator.