Xanten: Want to see strangely located ancient ruins? In the Ruhr area you can take a tour of a medieval town called Xanten, where the Romans left behind their mark on Germany. It's a great way to spend an afternoon, and, as a side note, you'd be visiting the only German town that begins with an X! Submitted by Hillary, Pennsylvania
See the world through the eyes of an elephant…
Hamm: This popular Maximilianpark was created for the National Garden Show in 1984 on the site of the Maximilian colliery. Its symbol is the glass elephant which has been built onto the disused coal washery, and whose head is accessible by lift. The elephant looks over a huge landscape of flowers, woodlands and the famous the Butterfly House. A variety of cultural events takes place in the park as well as in the old colliery.
Spend the night in a medieval castle…
Altena: Burg Altena is an old castle located in the small village Altena in the southern Ruhr area. You can enter all areas of the medieval castle, see old knight suits of armor and their weapons. You can even spend a night in the old dormitories which are now the castle's youth hostel!
See a field made out of light bulbs…
Unna: Coal, steel, soccer & Good Beer! This funky arts center is in the center of Linden beer brewing territory. On the ground floor are great bars and restaurants. Below the surface, however, a mysterious world of light and shadows has sprung to life in the old vaulted cellars. Be prepared to take off your shoes, be spooked, hear voices, see some strobe lighting and see things that aren’t there at all! Submitted by Tom J., New York.
Eat real German fast food…the currywurst
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Everywhere: Berlin and the Ruhr have a friendly competition. Who does currywurst belong to? This sausage, originally created in Berlin, is also a Ruhr area specialty. “Cult imbisses” are found throughout the area featuring the best currywurst around. The Dönninghaus in Bochum is one such imbis, or café, that even tour guides stop at. Want to hear a song about the special sausage? Currywurst song --- Update: Mike R. from Florida added: Be sure to pair the curry wurst with a Moritz Fiege Radler, the local beer from Bochum. Cool top + super taste!
Visit the Ruhr area’s Buckingham Palace…
Essen: Alfred Krupp, an industrial tycoon, finished the additions on his sprawling family complex Villa Hügel in 1873. His “humble abode” has been compared to Buckingham Palace, and, situated on a hill over Lake Baldeney, the views are certainly better. Since 1986, Villa Hügel has held world renowned art exhibitions, and offers daily tours of the mansion.
See fire dragons…
Dortmund: The Westfalenpark is one of the largest parks in the area. As you wander through the park, there are spinning wheels, games and crazy mirrors hidden along the way. Make sure you don't miss the adventure playground or water activities. In the summer, huge open air parties and concerts as well as the famous 'Festival of Lights' with burning fire figures are something to check out. The park has an overhead cable-car system to present you with a great view from above.
NEW ADDITIONS FOR 2008...........
Listen to your voice echo in an Industrial Cathedral...
Oberhausen: The Oberhausen gasometer is an old gas tank that has been converted into Europe's largest exhibition hall, a kalidescopic "eye in the sky". You can take a tour, view the art exhibits, or give out a shout and hear your echo 7 times...visit website
Go to a Love Parade....
August of every year: "You can dance among 1.2 million half-clothed partiers, listening to technomusic pumped by the world's best DJ's through 1 story speakers, carried through the city on flat-beds of trucks! Sounds crazy? It is...." Submitted by Julie from New York university, visiting student at the University of Bochum... Utube video...
Ice-skate around the world's most beautiful mine...
Essen: In winter the Zeche Zollverein, a UNESCO world heritage site, sets up an ice-skating rink around the abandoned factory site.
Grab a mug of beer & take a tour with an old miner...
Essen: "You are led around an old mine by people who used to work there. In your hand is a big mug of local beer. They tell you about daily life underground - the dust and the noise and catching mice, and the stories that make you and them smile." Submitted by Julie, visiting student at the University of Bochum. Tours take place every friday at the Zeche zollverein.
Wander through twisted streets...
Hattigen: In this little romantic town you can look for a 'church' in a 'bar', admire the old timber houses, and follow the 30 fun signs put out for tourists. I came during christmas time and drank Gluhwein (a heated wine in a coffe mug) at the beautiful christmas market. Sumitted by Tom J., New york.
Dive into a blaze of black and yellow colors...
Dortmund: The Signal Iduna Park is the biggest soccer stadium in Germany and the home of the soccer team Borussia Dortmund. German soccer fans keep their 'thumbs pressed' during a home game, to wish the team luck (different than in the USA, where people cross their fingers for luck!). It's an unbelievable atmosphere when you are sitting in the middle of over 80,000 people singing the Borussia Dortmund hymn, which translates to "You never walk alone", and swinging their black and yellow banners. Submitted by Juliane H., New York
Check out your local Bude...
Everywhere: Did you forget to buy something at the supermarket? No problem! Go to the next small corner shop, called Bude or Trinkhalle . They're a dime a dozen in the Ruhr Area. Their history goes back the initiative of the coal mines' owners. In the 19th century the water didn't taste so good and so the workers satisfied their thirst with alcohol. To stop the abuse of the alcohol the first Buden were opened in the front of the coal mines. There, the workers could buy clean and fresh water. Today, the selection goes from food to stamps to tooth paste, along with a nice chat with the owners and the other locals.
Find the hidden celebrities in Recklinghausen...
Recklinghausen: You don't have to go to Hollywood to see some famous actors. You just have to buy a ticket for the Ruhrfestspiele to find a bit of hidden celebrity. Stars like Kevin Spacey and Cate Blanchett present their theatre plays during this festival. The Ruhrfestspiele start on May 1st with an outdoor-festival for free. During this time, you can enjoy concerts, theatre plays, comedy, and dancing performances. And maybe meet a star or two.
Dance in the streets...
Bochum: Summertime is party time in the Ruhr Area. So it's sometimes hard to decide what to do. But there's one event that i think shouldn't be missed: Bochum Total. In the whole city of Bochum are many stages where you can enjoy 80 concerts of famous and newcomer bands. Everyone is in a great mood, sitting outside, and you get to hear new kinds of music that you may have never known before.
Discover what a Schreber Garden is...
Everywhere: What is typical of the Ruhr Area? If you asked me I would say the former coal mines, the Buden and the Schrebergaerten . What's a schreber-garden? I had never seen one of these in the USA, but you can find them in every city of the Ruhr Area. It's a kind of tic-tac-toe board of small gardens, one next to another: When people live in an apartment or small home and yet still crave nature and the ability to plant things, they can buy or rent a small plot of land within a Schrebergarden, so that they can watch their plants grow. People usually also add a garden shack for hanging out and barbequing, or socializing with triends or neighboors on the next garden square.
Hit the beach...
Essen: At the Seaside Beach Baldeney you can lie on a hammock under the palm trees, drink some cocktails, kick around a soccer ball, join in on a game of volleyball, and go for a swim around the lake.
Listen for some juicy beats...
Dortmund: The juicy beats festival in the Westfalenpark, Dortmund, is an open-air music festival with several stages where you can listen to all kinds of different music styles. You can gather some friends and have a picnic on the lawn. After the festival there are a lot of parties.
Learn how to make steel...
Hattingen: You can learn about the Ruhr area's history by taking a tourof the Henrichshuette , a former steel factory. After the tour, head over to the restaurant "Henrichs" for some great food.
