Nordrhein Westphalia. North Rhine-Westphalia. What to do in North Rhine-Westphalia: cultural heritage

North Rhine-Westphalia borders Belgium and Holland to the west and is one of the most densely populated regions in Europe. Every fifth German lives here, most of them in the Ruhr region and on the banks of the Rhine.

Cologne, located in North Rhine-Westphalia, with its cathedral, is one of the most important historical cities in Germany.

As a cultural center, it is almost (but not quite) equal to the state capital of Düsseldorf.

Bonn, Beethoven's birthplace, is also located here. An old provincial town, after World War II it unexpectedly became the capital of the state.

Aachen was the capital of Emperor Charlemagne, and the main city of Westphalia, Munster, has an equally venerable history.

When people talk about the Ruhr region, they first of all mean the industrial revolution, when the coal and steel of this region made Germany a powerful industrial power. After traditional production at the end of the 20th century. faded away, the Ruhr region found a rebirth in tourism. There are probably more museums and galleries per capita in the Ruhr region than anywhere else in Germany.

The nature here is very beautiful. The low Siebengebirge mountains opposite Bonn can serve as a starting point for exploring the most romantic part of the Rhineland.

The wooded hills and beautiful villages of the Eifel are particularly popular among the Dutch and Belgians. East of the Rhine lie similar landscapes in the Sauerland, Siegerland and Teutoburg Forest. And the castles of Münsterland, surrounded by moats, are simply a sight to behold.

What else to see in North Rhine-Westphalia

Bad Münstereifel

Bad Münstereifel, surrounded by medieval city walls and gates, sits on the banks of the winding Erft River. It flows cheerfully along the main street under many bridges decorated with flowers.

Walking along the cobbled streets with beautiful old houses is a great way to get to know the city.

The main interest here is the parish church, founded in the 9th century. like the cathedral in the Eifel, near the 12th-century Romanesque house, which now houses the local museum, and the red Gothic Town Hall with galleries.

Among the wooded hills in Effelsberg, you will suddenly see the huge white disk of the world's largest radio telescope.

Diffel

This cool highland with mountain air extends east from the Belgian border to the Rhine and Moselle. There are many lush green forests and winding roads that rise to peaks formed by extinct volcanoes.

Previously, it was one of the poorest and most sparsely populated regions of Germany, and even today it is not very densely populated. People come here to get away from the crowds, although the region has plenty of attractions. For example, the beautifully preserved old Monschau or the Ahr River valley, famous for its red wines.

Falconry in Hellenthal among the green hills of the Eifel.

Hermann statue

The giant figure of Hermann stands on a hill in the Teutoburg Forest. For nationalist Germany in the 19th century. Germanus was a hero, a warrior who crushed the Roman legions as they tried to consolidate their dominance in the lands east of the Rhine.

Today some believe that the battle of 9 AD. e. happened elsewhere, but that doesn't matter. Herman still looks menacingly to the west, shaking his seven-meter sword made of Krupp steel. From the base of the monument there is a beautiful view of the forested region of Lippe.

Lemgo

This old city, which survived war times, has retained a surprisingly picturesque center with medieval and Renaissance buildings. Historical buildings are not museums, people live in them. Beauty went hand in hand with cruelty. One of the most beautiful buildings, the Hexenburgermeister House, in the 16th century. belonged to the burgomaster, who persecuted witches with particular zeal.

Maria Lach

The Eifel is characterized by round lakes in the craters of extinct volcanoes. The largest of them, Lake Lachsee, provides a wonderful backdrop (even despite the noisy motorway) for one of the most important Romanesque buildings in the Rhineland, the monastery church of Maria Lach. The austere building with 6 towers appears larger thanks to the pattern of local volcanic rocks in contrasting colors. In the portico called Paradise, see interesting and often funny carvings, and on the high altar at the eastern end of the building there is a precious Gothic canopy.

Monschau

Monschau's half-timbered buildings with tiled roofs along the banks of the Ruhr River seem like a fairy tale. Many of these buildings housed workshops, whose owners used water to wash and dye fabrics. They became the basis of the city’s prosperity in the 18th century.

Napoleon's troops bypassed the city, and a walk along the main pedestrian street, along bridges and small squares will give you pleasure.

High above the city lie the ruins of two castles. You will get acquainted with the life of a large textile merchant and his family in the magnificently furnished Red House. What stands out here is the beautiful spiral staircase and wallpaper that looks like an art gallery.

Augustusburg Castle in North Rhine-Westphalia

Bishop Clemens August of Cologne, a generous patron of the arts and a passionate fan of falconry, in 1725 began building a summer residence and hunting castle on the outskirts of the city of Brühl, midway between Bonn and Cologne. The luxurious palace in a regular Baroque park demonstrated the wealth, power and refined taste of its owner, a member of the Bavarian royal family.

The castle has been used for government functions for many years. More than a hundred heads of state climbed the solemn, spectacular staircase designed by the architect's friend, Bavarian Johann Fischer von Erlach.

At the end of the park stands the more modest Falkenlust Castle with beautiful Rococo decoration. It is said that in this secluded place Casanova seduced the wife of the burgomaster of Cologne.

City of Soest

This walled city 60 km east of Dortmund looks like what the Ruhr cities might have been like if the Industrial Revolution of the 19th century. bypassed them. Residents of the Ruhr come here on weekends to take a break from the hardships of city life and stroll through medieval streets with half-timbered houses and buildings made from local greenish sandstone.

Towers and spiers of churches rise above the rooftops, most notably the massive Cathedral of St. Patroclus. The Church of Our Lady of Lugovaya is similar to a cathedral in size and beauty. You can see amazing stained glass windows here.

Not only is Germany's most popular attraction located here, but there are also many other monuments.

  • Modern Düsseldorf

    • Sights of North Rhine-Westphalia

    Aachen Cathedral

    Sights of North Rhine-Westphalia

    Corvey

    Sights of North Rhine-Westphalia

    Residence near Cologne

    Sights of North Rhine-Westphalia

    Gothic monument

    Sights of North Rhine-Westphalia

    The most beautiful mine in the world

    Sights of North Rhine-Westphalia

    Sights of North Rhine-Westphalia

    Sights of North Rhine-Westphalia

    Sights of North Rhine-Westphalia

    Carnival


  • Sights of North Rhine-Westphalia

    Modern Düsseldorf

    We will begin our acquaintance with the sights of North Rhine-Westphalia in Dusseldorf, the capital of this land. Among the modern buildings of the city, a special place is occupied by the so-called “Drunken Houses”, built in the “Media Harbor” according to the design of the American architect Frank Gehry in 1996-1998. An impressive view of the former port quarter opens from the observation deck of the local TV tower.

    • Sights of North Rhine-Westphalia

    Aachen Cathedral

    North Rhine-Westphalia is home to several World Cultural Heritage sites. Among them is Aachen Cathedral, founded under Emperor Charlemagne in 796. It became the first German landmark to receive special UNESCO monument status. The decision was made in 1978.

    Sights of North Rhine-Westphalia

    Corvey

    Corvey Abbey is a Benedictine monastery located on the banks of the Weser River near the Westphalian city of Höxter. This imperial monastery was founded by the will of Charlemagne. It was to become an outpost for the Christianization of the Saxon lands he conquered. The monastery operated until 1792. It was included in the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2014.

    Sights of North Rhine-Westphalia

    Residence near Cologne

    The town of Brühl near Cologne houses the palaces Augustusburg and Falkenlust, also listed as World Heritage Sites. Built at the dawn of the Rococo era and influenced by French fashion, they are among the earliest examples of this style in Germany. First, in 1725, the main summer residence was founded, and a few years later this small palace for falconry was built next door.

    Sights of North Rhine-Westphalia

    Gothic monument

    Cologne Cathedral is not the first in our selection, but the first in terms of the number of visitors not only in North Rhine-Westphalia, but throughout Germany. Six million people visit it every year. The cathedral is called the longest construction project in German history. The construction of the temple, taking into account all the interruptions, took 632 years. Its main relic is a golden sarcophagus, which contains the relics of the three wise men.

    Sights of North Rhine-Westphalia

    The most beautiful mine in the world

    The Zollverein mining complex in Essen is considered a benchmark in mining architecture. It was founded in the middle of the 19th century, and it acquired its current appearance in 1927-1932. Now the mine is an industrial monument and one of the centers of cultural life in the region. In 2001, this landmark of the Ruhr region received the status of a World Heritage Site.

    Sights of North Rhine-Westphalia

    City of cyclists and students

    The Westphalian city of Münster is considered a kind of cycling capital of Germany. There are 500 thousand bicycles for every 300 thousand inhabitants. It is also one of the largest university cities in the country. About 55 thousand students study here. The main historical street of the city, Prinzipalmarkt ("Main Market"), has been known since the 12th century.

    Sights of North Rhine-Westphalia

    North Rhine-Westphalia has many places of interest to nature lovers. One such region is the Eifel on the border with Luxembourg and Belgium. The Eifel features volcanic mountains and crater lakes. There are also many other attractions - half-timbered houses, old churches, medieval castles and vineyards on the Ahr River.

    Sights of North Rhine-Westphalia

    Bonn, like Cologne and Dusseldorf, is also located on the Rhine. After World War II, it was the capital of West Germany for four decades, and this period in the history of Germany is usually called the “Bonn Republic”. You can take a look into its recent past by taking a walk along the “Path of Democracy” route. In the photo - the first Chancellor of Germany Konrad Adenauer receives carnival participants.

    Sights of North Rhine-Westphalia

    Carnival

    A special reason to love North Rhine-Westphalia is the local traditional carnival. It is celebrated most vigorously in the cities along the Rhine, and the largest carnival procession on the so-called “Mad Monday” takes place in Cologne. About 12 thousand people take part in it, and up to 1.5 million spectators gather to watch them.


Context

Cologne Cathedral - a temple that belongs to itself

The most visited historical monument in Germany belongs neither to the state, nor to the church, nor to the people. Cologne Cathedral is owned by the cathedral itself! Its main relic is a golden sarcophagus, which contains the relics of the three wise men.

One of Germany's most populous states, consisting of two historically independent territories, the urbanized region of North Rhine and Westphalia, it exhibits great diversity. The land was founded after World War II by the British occupation authorities in an attempt to connect not only regions, but also people, different ethnic groups.

The most frequently visited cities in Germany by tourists are located in this land. Here you can find numerous headquarters of large and medium-sized corporations in Germany, European outposts of Asian and American transnational companies, and world-famous production facilities. The most important trade fairs take place in Düsseldorf and Cologne.

View of Dusseldorf, Germany (Photo © pxhere.com / CC0 Public Domain License)

What to see in North Rhine-Westphalia: state map and important attractions


Tourists are primarily interested in large cities with a rich history and vibrant modern life, filled with events, such as the famous Cologne carnival. There are many museums, cultural centers, concert halls, and theaters concentrated in North Rhine-Westphalia.


3. Old Market (Alter Markt) and St. Rinald's Church (Reinoldikirche) in Dortmund.

4. Düsseldorf's Altstadt was completely destroyed during WWII, but was rebuilt according to historical plans on the foundation walls, making it identical to the original Old Town. Altstadt is the most popular spot day and night, and on weekends it turns into the "world's longest bar" with numerous cafes and breweries.

5. Half-timbered houses in Münster.


What to do in North Rhine-Westphalia: cultural heritage

  1. Visit castles of Münsterland, a historical and geographical region called the land of 1000 castles. Admire the flamingo colony in the Zwilbrocker-Venne nature reserve (in Vreden).
  2. Learn about the history of the mining industry in German Mining Museum in Bochum(this is one of the most important museums of this type in the world).
  3. Historical revue in Bonn– a walk through the original places of the city, accompanied by interesting stories and legends, and a tour dedicated to places associated with Ludwig van Beethoven.
  4. Devote time to a cultural event. North Rhine-Westphalia is home to Germany's largest and most famous musical theaters. The Capitol Theater in Düsseldorf, the Star Express Theater in Bochum, the Metronome in Oberhausen, the Wuppertal Opera and others, which are beacons of high culture in the region.

Where to eat and drink in North Rhine-Westphalia:

  1. There is no specific North Rhine-Westafalian cuisine, but the towns are home to many ethnic restaurants of all shapes and sizes, from döner kebab stalls to fine dining establishments. It should be noted that Düsseldorf has a significant Japanese population (Japanese companies have their European headquarters here) and thanks to this, the city has many Japanese restaurants, and of the highest class.
  2. The favorite drink in North Rhine-Westafalia is beer. Every city is proud of its breweries and unique brands, just mention Kölsch in Cologne.

The art museum, located in the German city of Born, was built in 1992 according to the design of the architect Axel Schuletz.

At the Bonn Art Museum, with a collection of 7,500 exhibits, you can see works by Rhineland painters of the 20th century and get acquainted with the work of the Expressionists of the second half of the last century.

A special place in the museum is occupied by paintings by August Macke, an artist who painted extensively on the city of Bonn and its inhabitants.

The museum hosts art history meetings on contemporary art and temporarily hosts international exhibitions.

Aachen Cathedral

In 786 AD, the first Holy Roman Emperor Charlemagne ordered the foundation of a cathedral in the city of Aachen, which was to become the main imperial temple. This magnificent architectural monument is considered one of the oldest temples of the Middle Ages; German monarchs were crowned here for more than six hundred years.

The central and oldest part of the cathedral is the octagonal Palatine Chapel, built by the architect Otson of Metz in the Byzantine style. Charles I collected many Christian relics in the temple, which are kept in the chapel treasury to this day. Relics are put on display once every seven years. Charlemagne, who died in 814, is buried in the chapel, as evidenced by a memorial stone in the floor of the cathedral.

In the middle of the fourteenth century, Gothic choirs were added to the chapel, and the Hungarian Limit was built. In the fifteenth century, several chapels and a Glass House in the Gothic style were added to the cathedral.

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Natural History Museum

The Natural History Museum in Münster is a great place for an educational family holiday. It features many interactive exhibits that allow you to get acquainted with archaeology, geology, ecology and paleontology in a playful way. The part of the exhibition dedicated to Eastern Siberia is very popular among tourists from Russia. The museum hosts various exhibitions where visitors can get acquainted with the culture and way of life of different countries.

Also here you will see the first dinosaur specimens found on the European mainland, and the oldest sword of Nuremberg. The museum staff conducts continuous research activities - over the past year they have completed about 15 projects, which were presented at the city symposium. Not far from the museum there is a small shop where you can buy unique handmade souvenirs. The museum doors are open to visitors from Monday to Friday - from 09:00 to 16:00. On Saturday and Sunday, fascinating lectures are held here for students and schoolchildren.

The University of Bonn is one of the largest universities in Germany. If you ask local residents how to get to it, they simply will not understand you, because it is a whole complex of buildings, including faculties and research centers, forming a “city within a city.” The University of Bonn does not have its own campus; in total, its infrastructure consists of 370 buildings scattered throughout the city. The most impressive of them, of course, is the main building of the university, located in the very center of Bonn. It was built in 1697–1705 according to the design of the famous architect Enrico Zucalli. Initially, it was the residence of the Elector of Cologne, Joseph Clemens.

In October 1818, Frederick William III, the great Prussian king, founded the University of Bonn, which quickly began to gain popularity. Today it includes religious studies, humanities, technical and economic faculties. In front of the main building of the University of Bonn is the Hofgarten - a huge park, a favorite meeting place for students to study and relax. From time to time, various political demonstrations are held there.

Ems River

If you are in a hurry to look at the image of an unimaginably distant past, then the northwestern German river Ems will lead travelers to the slopes of the Teutoburg Forest mountains. The river and the forest will tell about the uprising against Rome of the Germanic tribes led by Arminius.

The length of the Ems River is 371 kilometers, the water flow is 80 cubic meters per second. On the low ridge of this forest there is a remarkable block of local sandstone, the "Three Rivers Stone". It got its name in honor of the watershed of three rivers: the Emsa, the Weser, and the Rhine. Nearby is a monument to the heroic commander Arminius, as well as the Exterstein stone complex, shrouded in historical secrets, with its grottoes, stone blocks of unknown origin, and an old oak forest.

The Ems River is navigable; its waterway connects the Rhine industrial area and the North Sea. On the Ems, near the mouth, there is the seaport of Emden.

Monument to Beethoven

The Beethoven monument, located in the German city of Bonn opposite the Beethoven Halle concert hall, is simply called “Beethoven’s Head”.

The monument was created by abstract sculptor from Düsseldorf Klaus Kammerichs and donated to the city in 1986 during the Beethoven Festival.

The monument consists of concrete cylinders of different lengths and diameters, which appear from different angles and thereby symbolize all the inconsistency of the composer’s work and the complexity of his life.

Historic Town Hall of Münster

The historic town hall of Münster is the city government building, one of the most significant architectural monuments of Münster. It was here that the Peace of Westphalia was concluded in 1648, which put an end to the Thirty Years' War and gave the Netherlands independence. Over the centuries, the town hall has been reconstructed many times due to significant damage as a result of battles and wars. Today, within the walls of the town hall there is a small museum of works of art, weapons and banners.

The historic town hall is in Gothic style and consists of four floors: basement, arcade floor, main floor and attic. The western facade is built of sandstone and reaches a height of 31 meters. The arcades of the facade are presented in the form of four pointed arches, which rest on five columns, and the crowning capitals are decorated with allegorical images of air, earth, water and fire. The windows of the main facade are decorated with stained glass, and the pediment is divided into seven parts by eight thin blades, the pinnacles of which are decorated with figures of angels, female figures and figures of guards.

Wine was stored in the cellars of the town hall starting from 1545, and only in 1924 they were rebuilt as a restaurant, and after restoration they acquired a technical purpose. On the arcade floor there is a hall, the Peace and civil halls, and on the main floor there is the Main Council Hall.

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Essen Cathedral

Essen Cathedral is a Catholic cathedral located in the Stadtkern district of Burgplatz, in the city of Essen.

The walls of the modern temple were built in the 14th century, however, according to archaeological excavations carried out here, it turned out that the cathedral was built on the site of an older Christian church.

The appearance of a modern temple involves a mixture of several architectural styles. The massive versverka towers (west façade) are preserved from the old church, dating from 1058, in the Romanesque style. Due to a severe fire that occurred in 1275, the cathedral was completely destroyed; the only surviving part was the layout. Soon a new hall temple in the Gothic style was built on this site. Master Martin became the project manager. In the 18th century, after the Baroque style came into fashion, most elements changed style, keeping up with the times. In the 19th century, the Baroque style was replaced by the Neo-Gothic style.

The most popular attractions in North Rhine-Westphalia with descriptions and photographs for every taste. Choose the best places to visit famous places in North Rhine-Westphalia on our website.

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