Schmallenberg, Hanseatic city in Hochsauerlandkreis, Germany
Schmallenberg is a town in Hochsauerlandkreis, North Rhine-Westphalia, covering an area of roughly 303 square kilometers (117 square miles). The territory includes numerous villages and hamlets scattered among hills and forests.
The town received its rights in 1244 following the destruction of a castle. Over centuries Schmallenberg evolved from a trading hub to a center of textile manufacturing known as the sock town.
The name comes from old Smalenburg, a 13th-century castle. Today life spreads across more than 80 small villages and hamlets, many of them nestled in valleys between forested hills.
Federal highways B236 and B511 lead directly into the area, while regional buses connect the different villages. Nearby train stations offer connections to larger towns in the surroundings.
Several of the small spa villages and hamlets have received national awards for their design. The economy has shifted from textile production to wood processing, forestry, and tourism.
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