Arnsberg Government Region, Administrative region in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany
Arnsberg Government Region is an administrative unit in North Rhine-Westphalia that covers the Sauerland hills and parts of the eastern Ruhr area. The area ranges from industrial centers like Dortmund and Bochum to forested uplands with reservoirs and small towns.
The government region was created in 1815 when Prussia organized its newly acquired western territories after the Congress of Vienna. The boundaries were adjusted later but remained largely the same when North Rhine-Westphalia was formed after the Second World War.
Old half-timbered farmhouses and slate-roofed churches in the Sauerland villages show how people here have built with wood and stone for centuries. In the smaller towns you still find towers and archways that once served as defenses and now act as everyday landmarks.
The district administration is based in the town of Arnsberg, where residents can file applications or request information. Most places in the area are accessible by regional trains, though the Sauerland hills often require switching to a bus.
The forests and rivers here served in the Middle Ages as venues for the Vehmic courts, secret tribunals that often convened outdoors at specific assembly sites. Some of these old court sites in remote woodland areas can still be recognized today as ground monuments.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.