Ratingen between City History and Nature

City History, Art and Industrial Heritage

In the historic Old Town, the city wall and its impressive towers invite you to explore. St. Peter and Paul Church stands in the market square and is one of the oldest surviving Gothic hall churches in the Rhineland. On the edge of Ratingen’s town centre is the moated castle Haus zum Haus, regarded as the most important castle in Ratingen’s city history. These places offer different ways to explore the city’s past—from the Old Town’s fortifications and religious architecture to the moated castle.

The Ratingen Museum also brings together several themes: it houses the municipal collection of modern art and a cultural history exhibition on Ratingen’s history and development. Temporary exhibitions complement the permanent displays. This makes it possible to combine an interest in art with an interest in the city’s history, while recognising that the two areas tell different stories.

A notable site in the history of industry is the Cromford cotton mill. The surviving complex is among Germany’s oldest industrial sites and is regarded as the first fully mechanised cotton mill on the European continent. At the LVR Industrial Museum Textile Factory Cromford, visitors can experience 18th-century spinning technology firsthand and learn about working life at the time. Cromford is therefore a distinct focus for a trip, with both industrial development and the way the mill operated at its heart.

Green and cultural sites also include the listed Poensgen Park, one of the Rhineland’s greatest cultural treasures, and the park at Schloss Landsberg. The latter has been largely restored to its original form, and the surrounding woodland is also open to visitors.

Landscape, Walks and Bike Rides

Around 70 percent of Ratingen’s municipal area consists of forests, meadows, fields, lakes, and rivers. This landscape offers opportunities for walks and bike rides. Ratingen has more than 200 kilometres of various circular hiking trails. Within Ratingen, the “Ratingen pur” and “Industriepfad & Kunstweg” discovery loops add to the trail network. Their names point to different themes: the city and its surroundings on the one hand, industry and art on the other.

There is also an extensive, well-developed network of cycle paths. It connects natural areas and attractions with the various districts. If you want to focus your stay more on cycling, you can get city maps and bike ride suggestions from the Ratingen Tourist Information; it also provides information about hikes and a historic town tour.

The Blue Lake lies on the edge of the city in an idyllic, wooded conservation area. The leisure grounds at the Blue Lake offer a fairytale zoo, mini golf, and boat rides. The Volkardey Recreation Park offers a different combination of water and nature, with the Green Lake and the protected Silver Lake. The park is a popular destination for water enthusiasts, walkers, and cyclists. When planning, you can therefore choose between natural landscapes and specific leisure activities.

Seasonal Market Visit

From May to October, the Ratingen Feierabendmarkt takes place in the market square on the third Friday of each month. Numerous food trucks offer food and drinks there. If you would like to include a market visit in your trip, check the date for your stay in advance: the event takes place during a specific season and on a set weekday each month.

You can explore Ratingen according to your interests through its city history, the museum exhibitions, Cromford’s industrial heritage, or the landscape and its trails. City maps, the historic tour, and suggestions for cycling and hiking offer additional guidance when planning your stay.

Discover more destinations: Velbert, Monheim am Rhein, Hilden, Haan, Erkrath, Wülfrath, Mettmann, Heiligenhaus

Go to the main travel overview: Mettmann.