The panorama around the Zollverein Coal Mine Industrial Complex in Essen
Tourismus NRW e.V., The panorama around the Zollverein Coal Mine Industrial Complex in Essen
Die Eisenbahnbrücke überspannt das tiefe Tal der Wupper
Tourismus NRW e.V., Müngstener Brückensteig

History on foot

Hiking with industrial culture

Mighty winding towers, historic tunnels and water pipes from Roman times: sometimes the witnesses of bygone times are visible from afar, sometimes the traces can only be discovered underground if you look closely. Either way, industrial culture and the art of engineering can be explored on foot. These hiking trails lead through beautiful landscapes of the present into the heart of the past.

Our favourite tours

Hiking with industrial culture

Viadukt Hiking Trail
Viaduct with trees near Altenbecken
Tourismus NRW e.V., Johannes Höhn, Viaduct with trees near Altenbecken
Altenbeken
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  • Viadukt Hiking Trail

    Viaduct with trees near Altenbecken
    Altenbeken
    Discover railroad history at every turn on the 30-kilometre viaduct hiking trail near Altenbeken. The largest sand-lime brick bridge in Europe also offers beautiful views of the Teutoburg Forest region.
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  • ZollvereinSteig

    Zollverein colliery twin winding tower in Essen
    Essen
    Open today
    Those who hike the ZollvereinSteig experience exciting contrasts. Here, lush green parks meet unique industrial culture and lovingly tended allotments meet imposing slag heap art.
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  • Drei-Täler-Tour

    Müngsten Bridge
    Solingen
    Open today
    Hiking where hammers and grindstones once set the tone: The Drei-Täler-Tour leads for around 30 kilometers along various watercourses and past relics such as cottages and forges that tell of the hard-working past.
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  • Römerkanal-Wanderweg

    Aqueduct of the former Roman canal near Mechernich-Vussem
    Nettersheim
    History step by step: The Roman Canal Hiking Trail follows a Roman water pipeline and leads in 7 stages from Nettersheim to Cologne in the footsteps of Roman engineering.
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  • Wittgensteiner Schieferpfad

    Child in tunnel on Wittgenstein slate path
    Bad Berleburg Raumland
    An eventful tour through fabulous forests, past imposing rocky landscapes and along winding paths. The hiking trail promises a real adventure!
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  • Copper Route

    Stolberg Castle with flowering cherry trees
    Stolberg (Rheinland)
    On the trail of copper: experience the fascinating combination of industrial culture and nature on the Stolberg copper route. Discover historic copper yards, Stolberg Castle and idyllic landscapes along a 16-kilometre route in the Eifel.
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  • Bergbauweg

    Hiker stands in front of a headframe with an information board in front of it
    Rösrath
    Open today
    Where the Romans dug for ore - 2,000 years of mining in Rösrath. Along the trail, ten stations provide information about the development of ore mining, the technology used and the legends surrounding Lüderich mountain.
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Not found the right one yet?

Then look here for other ways

  • To Page Hiking
    Discover the most beautiful paths

    Hiking

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  • To Page Hiking trails with farm cafés
    Lovely places to take a break

    Hiking trails with farm cafés

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  • To Page The high of hiking
    Experience nature at any time of year

    The high of hiking

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