Troisdorf: Burg Wissem, Museums and Wahner Heide

In Troisdorf, cultural history and nature experiences go hand in hand: Burg Wissem is at the heart of the cultural scene, while Wahner Heide, Siegaue, Rotter See and the Sieg offer a range of outdoor activities. This makes a difference when planning your trip: your stay can focus more on museums and events or on walks, cycling tours and water activities.

Culture at Burg Wissem

Burg Wissem is Troisdorf’s landmark. The manor house has been home to the internationally renowned Picture Book Museum since the early 1980s. The Troisdorf Museum of City and Industrial History (MUSIT) uses a traditional and interactive exhibition to show how rapid industrial development has changed life in Troisdorf since 1800. Today, the castle’s coach house hosts exhibitions, concerts, readings, cabaret and other cultural events. Picture books, urban development and a varied cultural program all come together at this location.

Experience and observe nature

Around Burg Wissem is the Field of Sensory Experiences, initiated by Kreativ-Werkstatt Troisdorf in 2002. At fourteen stations, you can touch, smell, see and feel nature. Red deer and sika deer live in naturalistic viewing enclosures at the wildlife park by the castle. You can observe the animals up close from the walking path and the elevated viewing platform.

Wahner Heide is a nature reserve of European importance covering around 50 square kilometers between Troisdorf, Cologne and Rösrath; approximately half of its area lies within the city limits of Troisdorf. The first efforts to protect it date back to the 19th century. Its varied landscapes are a popular local recreation area and a refuge for around 700 endangered animal and plant species. At the Wahner Heide Portal by Burg Wissem, you can plan and set off on hikes or bike rides through Wahner Heide and Königsforst. This lets you combine an outing with a visit to the area around the castle, without treating the different landscapes as if they were the same.

Trails, water and activities

Many walking paths run through Siegaue, which is designated as a nature reserve. You can cycle along the Sieg embankment and bike paths to the Sieg’s confluence with the Rhine at Mondorf. The two options have different focuses: walking paths lead through Siegaue, while the bike ride has a specific destination at the meeting point of the Sieg and Rhine.

Rotter See offers swimming, a water playground and a halfpipe for skating. Swimming is permitted only in the designated bathing cove. As bathing conditions can change, it is best to check the current rules on site before your visit. Golf enthusiasts will find a 9-hole academy course at West Golf in Kriegsdorf, where beginners without a course license can also play. Compare these options based on what you are looking for: water activities, skating or a round of golf.

Another way to cross the Sieg is the St. Adelheit cable ferry. It takes passengers from the Troisdorf side of the Sieg to the Bonn bank in less than two minutes, for 50 cents per person. As service conditions can change, it is advisable to check the latest information before planning a crossing.

Fishing history on the Sieg

The Fisheries Museum focuses on the cultural history of fishing on the lower Sieg. It is located on an old arm of the Sieg, on the border between Troisdorf-Bergheim and Niederkassel-Mondorf. This subject complements the landscape and activity offerings with a look at the history of fishing along this stretch of the river.

Discover more destinations: Rheinbach, Niederkassel, Bad Honnef am Rhein, Windeck, Neunkirchen-Seelscheid, Adendorf, Much, Königswinter.

For the main travel overview: Rhein-Sieg district.