Discover Herne: Culture, sculptures and green trails

Herne brings together cultural attractions, open spaces and waterside trails. Strünkede Castle, the Teutoburgia housing estate and the Unser Fritz artists’ mine offer different perspectives on architectural and cultural history; the Rhine-Herne Canal and green spaces provide a different focus. Shape your trip around whether you want to focus on exhibitions, architecture, walks or a longer bike ride.

Strünkede Castle and Herne’s cultural heritage

Strünkede Castle is a moated castle surrounded by water-filled moats and a large pond. It is the largest venue of the Emschertal Museum and features the permanent exhibition “Land and People” as well as changing special exhibitions. Group tours on cultural history topics, lasting 60 minutes, are offered at Strünkede Castle and its exhibitions. If you are planning a tour, check the booking conditions in advance.

The castle chapel is located in Strünkede Castle Park and is the oldest building in the Herne municipal area. Bernd von Strünkede founded it in 1272 as a place of worship for the castle’s residents. The chapel is available for concerts and church services; check for specific dates and availability before your visit.

The Teutoburgia housing estate, a listed heritage site, is located in Herne’s Börnig district and has been fully restored in its original style. A walk through the estate offers an immediate experience of the architectural and design variety of the garden city concept. It thus complements the museums and castle sites with an insight into a cohesive, walkable example of residential architecture.

The LWL Museum of Archaeology and Culture presents 250,000 years of human history in Westphalia. The Unser Fritz artists’ mine offers a different approach to culture: it serves as a workplace for eleven artists, each with their own studio in the mine’s former changing house.

The excavation CAMP can be visited as part of a hands-on excavation. Regular sessions take place on Sundays and public holidays; groups can book a date of their choice. Check the dates and booking conditions in advance.

Sculptures, green spaces and waterside trails

Flottmann Sculpture Park features 21 works across a park covering more than 10,000 square metres. The collection may change as works are added or moved. The park and the Art Nouveau gate at Flottmann can be visited at any time free of charge. If you are planning to attend a special event, check the access information.

Gysenberger Wald covers about 58 hectares and offers plenty of recreational opportunities alongside Gysenberg Revierpark. Its stands of deciduous trees, some of them very old, are also of great ecological importance. Gysenberg petting zoo is located in the natural area of the Ostbach Valley; the animals there are kept in conditions appropriate to their needs. The animal collection and operations may change.

At the Rhine-Herne Canal in Herne, you can go for walks, cycle, fish, boat, swim, sunbathe, barbecue and skim stones. If you plan to take part in water sports, check the applicable conditions beforehand.

One longer option for connecting several places in Herne by bike is the 39-kilometre “Around the Water – Culture Canal, Emscher and Sea” circular route. It starts and ends at the Cranger Kirmes fairground and follows the Rhine-Herne Canal, passes through Strünkede Castle Park and goes by Gysenberg Revierpark. Check route conditions and available GPX files before setting off.

First decide which activities you want to shape your trip, then use them to guide your hotel search.

Discover more destinations: Oberhausen, Bottrop, Remscheid, Solingen, Wuppertal, Dortmund, Mülheim an der Ruhr, Duisburg

Return to the main travel overview: North Rhine-Westphalia.