District of Viersen
At the heart of the Nature Park
The District of Viersen is the beating heart of Schwalm-Nette Nature Park and the Krickenbeck Lakes. These distinctive water worlds are an excellent destination in the region, particularly for hikers and cyclists. Here, you follow in the footsteps of Napoleon on the North Canal Route.
Stately homes, castles and palaces shape the landscape as well as historic mills and mediaeval town centres with their twisty alleyways.
Niers, the Rhine’s little sister, is a popular destination for water sports enthusiasts. The Lower Rhenish Open-air Museum is a popular attraction for families with children, and in winter, you can whizz across the ice on ice skates at the Ice Sports & Event Park in Grefrath. The rich cultural landscape offers open-air theatres, sculpture parks and open-air festivals.
And Tönisvorst, the ‘Apple City’, forms the centre of Lower Rhenish fruit growing in the District of Viersen. There’s even an apple queen here.
District of Cleves
Amongst nature and a cultural landscape steeped in history
Green, invigorating nature and a cultural landscape rich in things to be discovered and steeped in history – that is the contrast awaiting visitors to the District of Cleves. And that’s the reason why the popular Lower Rhenish region is not only a real insider’s tip as a destination for cyclists. Over 1,500 kilometres of cycle paths await visitors. But the offerings don’t end there for the region spanning over 1,200 square kilometres and with over 310,000 inhabitants.
Rhine promenades and historic market squares are attractions as well as stately homes and natural monuments. Pilgrims visit the pilgrimage town of Kevelaer, art fans delight at the variety offered by museums (Moyland Castle) and at pictures by pavement artists in Geldern and nature fans enjoy bicycle tours or hikes through the Reichswald in Cleves. And food connoisseurs get their money’s worth at the countless farm cafés during Kale Week in the District of Cleves or in the asparagus village of Walbeck.
The airport in Weeze turns the District of Cleves into the gateway to the Lower Rhine for guests from all around the world.
District of Wesel
The District of Wesel beckons!
Along the banks of the Rhine in the District of Wesel, from the Lower Rhenish range of hills to Hohe Mark Nature Park, idyllic natural areas, villages and towns with mediaeval flair, and attractive museums can be found. The Halden (slag heaps) are a reminder of the region’s mining tradition and have evolved into attractions for physically active people as well as those seeking peace and quiet.
The Rhine shapes the landscape with its biodiverse old branches and plains lined with pollarded trees and poplars. The river formed the border of the Roman Empire 2,000 years ago and keeps Roman history alive today as a UNESCO World Heritage Site of the Lower Germanic Limes.
Meadow orchards are a characteristic element of the Lower Rhenish cultural landscape. Old homegrown varieties of fruit form the basis for many regional specialities offered at farm shops in the District of Wesel. Farm cafés and inns with regional menus offer a short break from your routine in a cosy atmosphere.
Krefeld
A city as soft as silk
Krefeld was once a centre of the European silk industry and became one of Prussia’s richest cities by dint of textile production. The German Textile Museum (in the historic old quarter of Linn) and the House of Silk Culture in town serve as a reminder of that. Lots of parks, which emerged from the country estates of silk barons, are well worth seeing and continue to characterise the townscape today, as well as the idyllic municipal park. For shopping lovers, the city centre framed by four ramparts (with the shopping streets of Hochstraße, Rheinstraße and Königstraße) offers a great shopping experience.
Krefeld Zoo and the impressive Kaiser Wilhelm Museum are also worthwhile destinations. The Esters House and Lange House museums built in the Bauhaus style by Mies van der Rohe are well worth seeing too. On no account should you miss out on a ride on the historic Schluff steam train. The leisurely tour goes to Hülser Berg, which has an observation tower and game reserve.
Mönchengladbach
Mönchengladbach. United diversity
As the largest city on the left side of the Lower Rhine, Mönchengladbach is home to more than 272,000 people with different languages, cultures and religions. With 44 city quarters, which are individual in their own way, diversity is reflected in a mix of big-city flair and Lower Rhenish natural landscape. With two large city centres – Mönchengladbach with its uphill shopping mile on Hindenburgstraße and historic old town on Abteiberg and Rheydt with its popular weekly market on a large market square, the city is uniquely bipolar, combining shopping, gastronomy and socio-cultural togetherness.
Many visitors to Mönchengladbach visit its museums year-round, such as Abteiberg Museum, which was opened in 1982 by Joseph Beuys with its special architecture and changing exhibitions, Rheydt Castle Museum, and the ‘Fohlenwelt’ Borussia Museum in Borussia Park. Structural highlights like one of the most beautiful art nouveau water towers in Germany and the Baroque-style Wickrath Castle on Niers Plains are other must-sees. For nature lovers, the Bunter Garten (Colourful Garden) at Kaiser Friedrich Hall in the middle of the city satisfies a need for both sightseeing and relaxation, or you can explore Lower Rhenish culture on the many cycle paths in and around Mönchengladbach.
In addition to all its history, Mönchengladbach is in the process of structural transformation in order to deal with future challenges. As the former ‘Rhenish Manchester’ of the textile industry, the present-day Textile City relies above all on innovative research and development concepts with the Lower Rhine College and Textile Academy based at the location.
Rhine District of Neuss
History, culture and customs at the heart of the Rhineland
Anyone who explores the Rhine District of Neuss encounters a multitude of historical buildings. Around 2,000 years ago, the Romans settled at the mouth of the River Erft on the Lower Rhine. The toll fortress of Zons and the historic town centre of Liedberg bring the Middle Ages to life, and the splendour of more than 40 manor houses, abbeys, palaces and mills attests to bygone days.
Utmost importance is attached to customs throughout the district; shooting festivals are especially popular. Neuss Alpine Park, which is open all year round, and Dyck Castle, with its impressive English landscaped park, are extraordinary attractions.
Cultural crowd-pullers are the Globe Theatre with its popular Shakespeare Festival and Hombroich Museum Island. Oekoven Narrow-gauge Railway Museum and Neuss Children’s Farm offer family-friendly days out and the viewing platforms at Garzweiler Surface Mine provide commanding views of the industrial landscape.
District of Heinsberg
The westernmost point of Germany
The District of Heinsberg is the westernmost district of Germany. Visitors can even get a stamp in their ‘Zipfelpass’ (lit. point passport) in the Borough of Selfkant.
Walks through the old town and exquisite gastro experiences (Wassenberg’s Gourmand Market) are also worthwhile, as well as a visit to the numerous watermills that have been preserved. The mill town of Wegberg even offers its own Mill Route for cyclists and hikers. A ride on the steam-powered museum train and rafting and canoe tours on the River Rur are also popular leisure activities.
The District of Heinsberg’s economy was shaped by coal mining for a long time. In Hückelhoven, ‘Shaft 3’ at the Exhibition Mine and a mountain slag heap with a 400-step stairway to heaven, from which you can enjoy a great view, are reminders of this.
