Travel

10 reasons to visit the Ruhr region

Over decades its disused coal mines and industrial plants have become museums and arts venues, wastelands are green again, and rivers blue at last. The Ruhr, Germany's biggest industrial region, has reinvented itself.

Zollverein Coal Mine, Essen

The Zollverein coal mine in Essen was once the largest colliery in Europe. Above and below ground, up to 8000 miners worked around the clock. Now the mine complex is an architectural and industrial monument and, since 2001, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It houses the Ruhr Museum, which sees itself as the region's memory and conveys its cultural history vividly.
North Duisburg Landscape Park

Duisburg was an important steel production site. In the blast furnaces of the old Duisburg-Meiderich ironworks alone, millions of tons of pig iron were produced. Since 1994, the steel colossus has not only been open to the public; it's also become a performance venue and sculpture, immersed in color by British artist Jonathan Park's light installation.
Rheinorange, Duisburg

The steel sculpture "Rheinorange" marks the confluence of the Ruhr and Rhine rivers. From here, steel from the Ruhr valley was shipped to the world. The sculpture is in the middle of Duisburg's port district - at the height of the industrial age, the center of all Rhine shipping. Duisburg now has Europe's largest inland port. A harbor boat tour is a unique experience.
Oberhausen Gasometer

Oberhausen's gasometer has become its landmark. Towers like this stored gas created as a byproduct of coking, and supplied it to the surrounding industrial plants. In 1988 the gasometer was decommissioned. Since then it has been used as a spectacular exhibition hall and venue for artists such as Christo and Olafur Eliasson. Its roof is an observation platform.
Century Hall, Bochum

This enormous hall was built in 1902 as a pavilion for an industrial and trade show. Later it became part of the Bochum cast steel works. The steel structure, with a surface area of 8900 square meters, is now used for performance events and is the central venue of the Ruhrtriennale music and theatre festival, which takes place every summer.
Westphalian Industrial Museum, Dortmund

At the turn of the 20th century, there were 17 coking plants in the Ruhr region. They turned coal into coke, which is essential to steel production. The Hansa Cokery has been a listed monument since 1998 and is part of the Westphalian Industrial Museum. On eight historical sites, this decentralized museum brings industrial history to life. The picture shows the Hansa Cokery's compressor hall.
German Mining Museum, Bochum

It's the world's largest mining museum and one of Germany's most visited. What's exciting is that under the museum compound is a faithfully reconstructed mine that offers insights into the world of mining. The complex was built in the mid-19th century to train miners under realistic conditions.
Grimberg Bridge, Rhine-Herne Canal

In the heyday of the mining industry, rivers led a miserable existence, channeled and turned into sewers. They were supplemented by hundreds of kilometers of canals to enable the transport of goods to the Rhine. The canals and rivers have now been transformed into recreational areas. The many new bridges that have been built are striking and architecturally surprising.
Halde Rheinpreussen, Moers

Colliery slag heaps take the place of mountains. Underground coal mining produced enormous amounts of waste rock and debris, which were piled up into huge heaps. Of more than 200 slag heaps, 20 are walkable. Once they get to the top, visitors are often greeted with impressive landscape art and giant sculptures. The memorial "Geleucht" by Otto Piene is modelled on a mining lamp.
Industrial Heritage Trail

Decommissioned steel works, coal mines, cokeries and slag heaps: the Industrial Heritage Trail offers an exciting journey through time. There are circuits for cars and for bicyclists. The circular road system comprises 400 kilometers, and there is a 700-kilometer network of cycle trails. Both routes promise an intense encounter with past and present in this region in transition.

Zollverein Coal Mine, Essen

The Zollverein coal mine in Essen was once the largest colliery in Europe. Above and below ground, up to 8000 miners worked around the clock. Now the mine complex is an architectural and industrial monument and, since 2001, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It houses the Ruhr Museum, which sees itself as the region's memory and conveys its cultural history vividly.
North Duisburg Landscape Park

Duisburg was an important steel production site. In the blast furnaces of the old Duisburg-Meiderich ironworks alone, millions of tons of pig iron were produced. Since 1994, the steel colossus has not only been open to the public; it's also become a performance venue and sculpture, immersed in color by British artist Jonathan Park's light installation.
Rheinorange, Duisburg

The steel sculpture "Rheinorange" marks the confluence of the Ruhr and Rhine rivers. From here, steel from the Ruhr valley was shipped to the world. The sculpture is in the middle of Duisburg's port district - at the height of the industrial age, the center of all Rhine shipping. Duisburg now has Europe's largest inland port. A harbor boat tour is a unique experience.
Oberhausen Gasometer

Oberhausen's gasometer has become its landmark. Towers like this stored gas created as a byproduct of coking, and supplied it to the surrounding industrial plants. In 1988 the gasometer was decommissioned. Since then it has been used as a spectacular exhibition hall and venue for artists such as Christo and Olafur Eliasson. Its roof is an observation platform.
Century Hall, Bochum

This enormous hall was built in 1902 as a pavilion for an industrial and trade show. Later it became part of the Bochum cast steel works. The steel structure, with a surface area of 8900 square meters, is now used for performance events and is the central venue of the Ruhrtriennale music and theatre festival, which takes place every summer.
Westphalian Industrial Museum, Dortmund

At the turn of the 20th century, there were 17 coking plants in the Ruhr region. They turned coal into coke, which is essential to steel production. The Hansa Cokery has been a listed monument since 1998 and is part of the Westphalian Industrial Museum. On eight historical sites, this decentralized museum brings industrial history to life. The picture shows the Hansa Cokery's compressor hall.
German Mining Museum, Bochum

It's the world's largest mining museum and one of Germany's most visited. What's exciting is that under the museum compound is a faithfully reconstructed mine that offers insights into the world of mining. The complex was built in the mid-19th century to train miners under realistic conditions.
Grimberg Bridge, Rhine-Herne Canal

In the heyday of the mining industry, rivers led a miserable existence, channeled and turned into sewers. They were supplemented by hundreds of kilometers of canals to enable the transport of goods to the Rhine. The canals and rivers have now been transformed into recreational areas. The many new bridges that have been built are striking and architecturally surprising.
Halde Rheinpreussen, Moers

Colliery slag heaps take the place of mountains. Underground coal mining produced enormous amounts of waste rock and debris, which were piled up into huge heaps. Of more than 200 slag heaps, 20 are walkable. Once they get to the top, visitors are often greeted with impressive landscape art and giant sculptures. The memorial "Geleucht" by Otto Piene is modelled on a mining lamp.
Industrial Heritage Trail

Decommissioned steel works, coal mines, cokeries and slag heaps: the Industrial Heritage Trail offers an exciting journey through time. There are circuits for cars and for bicyclists. The circular road system comprises 400 kilometers, and there is a 700-kilometer network of cycle trails. Both routes promise an intense encounter with past and present in this region in transition.

Date 07.11.2018
Number of pictures 10
Author Anne Termèche (ms)
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Travel

10 reasons to visit the Ruhr region

Zollverein Coal Mine, Essen

North Duisburg Landscape Park

Rheinorange, Duisburg

Oberhausen Gasometer

Century Hall, Bochum

Westphalian Industrial Museum, Dortmund

German Mining Museum, Bochum

Grimberg Bridge, Rhine-Herne Canal

Halde Rheinpreussen, Moers

Industrial Heritage Trail