Inden offers several distinct highlights for a stay: the Indemann, with its views over the open-cast mine; the municipality’s Cultural History Trails; and a cycling tour through mostly flat to gently hilly terrain. Which of these appeals to you most can shape your travel plans.
Indemann: Viewpoint and Walk-Through Artwork
The 36-metre-high Indemann is an observation tower, landmark and walk-through artwork. There are 216 steps to the top platform, and the total area of the accessible platforms is 910 square metres. From the Goltsteinkuppe hill, the view stretches far across the Inden open-cast mine and the surrounding landscape. The structure itself and the views are both defining impressions of this place.
After dark, thousands of LED lights illuminate the Indemann in changing colours. During the day, the focus is on its walk-through design and the views; in the evening, on the light display. The two sides of the Indemann offer different ways to experience a visit, without requiring a fixed programme.
Cultural History Trails: History Along the Route
The Cultural History Trails in the municipality of Inden can be experienced as geocaching walks. Answering the questions takes you from one point to the next. In every village in the municipality, historic buildings or notable sites have information boards explaining Inden’s history. The trails combine getting outdoors with local history, rather than presenting it at just one location.
The QR codes also provide the trail texts in English, French and Dutch. There is also a simplified version written for children. These different text options make the history accessible to people with different language skills and reading needs. Anyone interested in the municipality’s past will find a different perspective here than at the observation tower: the focus is on individual places and the information provided about them.
Leisure Centre Around the Indemann
The leisure centre around the Indemann includes a soccer golf course, a mini golf course and a restaurant. The facilities therefore offer opportunities to play and eat, as well as the viewpoint and artwork.
Cycling Through Inden
The 34-kilometre indeland cycling tour “Around Inde & Blausteinsee” runs mostly along car-free paths, cycle paths alongside roads and, in some sections, quiet side roads. The terrain is mostly flat to gently hilly.
You can extend the cycling tour with a detour from Inden-Lamersdorf to the Indemann. This lets you combine the ride with a visit to the observation tower. Check the current signs and route conditions before setting out. Whether you include this detour depends on which stops you want to add to your cycling route.
Lucherberger See: From Leisure Lake to Planned Project
For many years, the Lucherberger See was a recreational spot for fishing and sailing clubs. In 2024, it was drained to prevent its water from flowing into the neighbouring Inden open-cast mine. As part of the plans for the “Indesee”, the “Lucherberger Lagoon” is intended to be created there. It is important to distinguish between the lake’s former use and the planned project: the lagoon is part of a plan, not a completed or accessible attraction.
Choose according to the topics that interest you, and combine them according to your own plans.
Discover more destinations: Düren, Kreuzau, Titz, Niederzier, Nideggen, Nörvenich, Heimbach, Jülich.
Back to the main travel overview: DĂĽren.
