Places of History
Do you need inspiration for your next excursion in North Rhine-Wesphalia? Here you will find a selection of historic sights worth seeing in neanderland such as moated castles and churches. Explore the history and stories of the places and combine several to an individual excursion to remember. Be it for a weekend or a longer vacation – the District of Mettmann offers something for everyone. We have listed some day excursions through neanderland here.
Historic Town Centres
These treasures with their numerous historic buildings are very special destinations for an excursion. The historic village of Gruiten and the town centres of Mettmann, Velbert-Langenberg, Velbert-Neviges and Wülfrath are particularly beautiful examples of the typical architecture of the Niederbergisches Land. Ratingen boasts the only medieval town centre.
INFO:
Haan-Gruiten
www.historisches-dorf-gruiten.de
Velbert-Langenberg and Velbert-Neviges | Tel. 02051-60550
www.velbert-tourismus.de
Wülfrath | Tel. 02058-18305
www.wuelfrath.de
Mettmann
www.mettmann.de
Wasserburg (Moated Castle) Haus zum Haus, Ratingen
The moated castle is a testimony to the Franks’ ability to defend themselves, picturesquely located in a shallow dip on the banks of the Anger.
INFO:
Am Mühlenkämpchen | 40878 Ratingen | Tel. 02102-992417
www.ratingen.de
Catholic Parish Church St. Peter and Paul, Ratingen
Beside the nave of Essen cathedral, this church in Ratingen ranks amongst the earliest hall churches of the Rhineland. A particular attraction is the monstrance turret dating from the 14th century.
The Ratinger Kirchenmusik at the town’s traditional parish church St. Peter und Paul is one of the centres of church music of the archdiocese Köln and presents a comprehensive concert programme with well-known visiting organists from all over the world – exciting and at the same time visionary at the new concert console.
INFO:
Grütstraße 2 | 40878 Ratingen | Tel. 02102-26041
www.st-peter-und-paul-ratingen.de
www.orgelwelten-ratingen.de
Open daily from 8 a.m. – 6 p.m.
(Visits only outside the times of church services)
Church window of St. Suitbertus, Heiligenhaus
One special feature of the parish church St. Suitbertus are the high-reaching elaborate windows by freelance artist Wilhelm Buschulte. The interior of the neo-Gothic church is illuminated in varying color nuances depending on the time of day and weather, inspiring visitors to meditate in the calm. Light is the defining element of this type of art.
INFO:
Parish church St. Suitbertus | Hauptstraße 132 | 42579 Heiligenhaus
Tel. 02056-5858-0 | Fax 02056-5858-11 | www.kyriake.de
Bücherstadt (Book Town) Langenberg, Velbert-Langenberg
Langenberg’s old town with its historic half-timbered houses, picturesque corners and lanes and the pretty little shops is the perfect setting for a book town, where not only bibliophiles feel at home.
INFO:
Tel. 02052-925714
www.buecherstadt-langenberg.de
Die Buchmacherey (Bookmaking), Velbert-Langenberg
At Josef Altmanns “Buchmacherey - Der Gutenberg” you can get to know the old craftsmanship of a bookmaker in a variety of participatory activities. Extensive material and tools as well as historical methods are used to uncover the roots of today's cultural techniques and lead to a better understanding of current technology. On request, numerous events and workshops can be booked, including on the subject of the Bible or the Middle Ages.
INFORMATION:
Mühlenstr. 10 | 42555 Velbert-Langenberg | Phone: 02052-8352386
www.gutenbergbibeldruck.com
Opening Hours: Tue – Thu 10 am-2 pm and by arrangement
Historic Town House Langenberg
The Historische Bürgerhaus (Historic Town House) is a cultural heritage and the landmark of Langenberg’s historic town centre. Between typically Bergisch timber-frame and slate houses, surrounded by small alleys, the monumental, castle-like house has been standing for more than 100 years. It offers rooms for cultural events, seminars, festivals, a historic room for wedding ceremonies and facilities for sports activities. The art project ‘Grundsteinkisten’ (corner stone boxes), a permanent exhibition of works by renowned artists, is especially worth seeing.
INFO:
Hauptstraße 64 | 42555 Velbert | Tel. 02052-927440
www.buergerhaus-langenberg.de
Hardenberg Castle with Outer Bailey, Velbert-Neviges
The 13th century castle is in the process of being converted, but the outer bailey provides a setting for many events, amongst which a diversified programme of concerts and plays and an annual medieval market.
INFO:
Zum Hardenberger Schloss 1 | 42553 Velbert
www.schloss-hardenberg.de
Mariendom, Velbert-Neviges
This impressive concrete building, designed by Gottfried Böhm, is Europe’s most modern sacral building. The pilgrim cathedral attracts every year thousands of pilgrims and impresses even the regular tourist by its exceptional architecture. One of the highlights of the Mariendom is the rose window.
INFO:
Elberfelder Straße 12 | 42553 Velbert | Tel. 02053-93180
www.mariendom.de
Open workdays 6.30 a.m. - 8.30 p.m.,
Sundays and holidays 8.30 a.m. – 8 p.m.
(Visits only outside the times of church services)
Organ of the St. Lambertus church, Mettmann
Regional cantor Matthias Röttger will show you the century-old ‘Queen’ of the St. Lambertus church on advance notice.
INFO:
Markt | 40822 Mett mann | Tel. 02104-74671
www.kirchenmusik-lambertus.de
Lokschuppen, Erkrath-Hochdahl
The Lokschuppen is an impressive monument from the times of the Bergisch-Märkische railway (1843 – 1886). A museum visualizes the history of West Germany’s oldest railway line.
INFO:
Ziegeleiweg 1-3 | 40699 Erkrath | Tel. 02104-47763 and 0151-40783501
www.lokschuppen-hochdahl.de | opening hours on request
Reformation Church, Hilden
One of the most important late gallery basilicas in the Roman style at the Lower Rhine.
INFO:
Marktstraße 18 | 40721 Hilden | Tel. 02103-984230
www.evangelisches-hilden.de
Moated castle Haus Graven, Langenfeld
The impressive 14th century moated castle houses an exhibition place and a cultural forum.
INFO:
Haus Graven 1 | 40764 Langenfeld
www.haus-graven.de
Castle compound open in summer months Wednesday to Friday 1 p.m. – 6 p.m., Saturday, Sunday and holidays 11 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Exhibitions: Saturday, Sundays and holidays: 2 p.m. – 5 p.m.
Historic Schalenschneider-Kotten (Workshop), Langenfeld
The reconstructed workshop displays the production of wooden knife handles for the cutlery industry, which has been an important industrial branch in the regions of Bergisches Land and Langenfeld until the late 20th century.
On every first Sunday of a month, the Förderverein Stadtmuseum offers a guided tour through the historic workshop. A contribution of € 2,50 per person is requested, a prior registration is not required.
INFO:
Schalenschneider-Kotten: Düsseldorferstraße/Volksgarten
40764 Langenfeld
Town museum/archive Langenfeld in the Freiherr-vom-Stein house:
Hauptstraße 83 | 40764 Langenfeld | Tel. 02173-4410
www.kulturelles-forum-langenfeld.de
Exhibitions open Tuesday to Sunday 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.
MonChronik, Monheim am Rhein
History comes to life in Monheim and Baumberg! The history of Monheim am Rhein goes back more than 800 years. In the fashion of an open air museum spanning across the entire town, the MonChronik creates links between the many historical sites and animates their history. Liesel and her geese accompany you on your way through town. A dedicated smartphone app lets you go for a walk with one of Liesel’s geese – virtually and interactively.
INFO:
Stadt Monheim am Rhein | Tel. 02173-276444 | www.monchronik.de
Deusser-Haus (Deusser House) – Collection on Local History, Monheim am Rhein
August Deusser (1870-1942), a German „Sonderbund“ painter, spent many years in Monheim living in the Deusser manor house built in 1848. Archaeological findings, historical documents, agricultural and handicraft exhibits, and Rhine shipping models provide an insight into the long history of Monheim and the world of work and everyday life in the past. Admission is free.
INFO:
An d’r Kapell 2 | 40789 Monheim am Rhein | Tel. 02173-51454
heimatbund-monheim(at)t-online.de | www.monheim-heimatbund.de
On Sundays 11 a.m. – 1 p.m., guided tours available by prior booking
Straße der Gartenkunst zwischen Rhein und Maas (Garden Art Route)
The „Straße der Gartenkunst zwischen Rhein und Maas“ (Garden Art Route between the Rhine and the Maas) connects the jewels of garden art in North Rhine-Westphalia and the Netherlands, and arouses your desire to explore beautiful gardens. On eleven different tours 57 big and small, public and private parks and gardens are available to discover. Three of these gardens are in neanderland.