At Haniel spoil heap, a Way of the Cross with 15 stations leads to the summit; the cross was erected in 1992. Together with the Tetrahedron, the sculpture park at the Quadrat Museum Centre and Movie Park, Bottrop shows just how varied a stay can be: among spoil heap art, leisure activities and green trails.
Plan your search around the activities you would like to enjoy.
Spoil heap art and striking structures
At Haniel spoil heap, the Way of the Cross connects the route to the summit with 15 stations. The site is also home to an installation by AgustĂn Ibarrola: one hundred painted railway sleepers are arranged on the mountain like totems. An amphitheatre on the spoil heap sits at an elevation of 126 metres and has space for 800 visitors; it serves as a venue for cultural events. At Haniel, therefore, a religious route, an art installation and an event venue stand side by side.
At the Tetrahedron, the focus is on its structure and the climb. The structure is around 50 metres high and stands on a former mining spoil heap. You can reach the roughly 80-metre-high spoil heap with the Tetrahedron on top on foot, via a winding path or a staircase with almost 400 steps. At night, the top is illuminated; it is a landmark of Bottrop visible from far away. The two spoil heaps offer different highlights: Haniel has several cultural stops, while the Tetrahedron and the climb shape a visit there.
Sculpture park and city garden
The Quadrat Museum Centre features permanent exhibitions. The museum complex also includes the sculpture park around the Josef Albers Museum. Among other works, visitors can discover pieces by Max Bill, Donald Judd, Norbert Kricke, Hans Steinbrenner and Bernar Venet. These artists give the park its own focus, while the permanent exhibitions at the museum centre offer another way to engage with art.
The Stadtgarten is right next to the Quadrat Museum Centre. This local recreation area is within walking distance of the city centre. A museum visit and a green space are therefore right alongside each other, and the city centre is also reachable on foot. The Stadtgarten can complement a visit to Bottrop's cultural attractions with time outdoors, without requiring a trip to another destination.
Theme park and other activities
Movie Park Germany in the north of Bottrop covers more than 45 hectares. Its various themed areas offer attractions for visitors of different ages. For younger children, Nickland has 14 attractions. The live stunt show “Operation Red Carpet” features authentic US sets, stunts and a film-related storyline; it takes place in Studio 6 of the Movie Park Studios. Show details may change, so check the current programme before your visit.
The Alpincenter Bottrop adds a 640-metre-long indoor ski slope, described as the longest in the world. There is also a high ropes course and a summer toboggan run. These activities differ from the themed areas at Movie Park: depending on what you would like to do, you can focus on rides and a show, a ski slope, or the Alpincenter's two additional activities.
Green trails
In the Kirchheller Heide, you can hike, cycle and ride horses. Circular hiking trails are also available at Heidhofsee, one of Bottrop's local recreation areas. There are play and sunbathing lawns on the southern shore, and the lake can be accessed via “Zum Heidhof”. You can choose between different activities in the heath, circular trails and places to spend time by the lake. The choice depends on whether you would like to explore the area on foot, by bike or on horseback, or prefer the play and sunbathing lawns by the water.
Discover more destinations: Kirchhellen, Mülheim an der Ruhr, Bonn, Dortmund, Herne, Duisburg, Mönchengladbach, Gelsenkirchen.
Return to the main travel overview: North Rhine-Westphalia.
