Haan brings together a variety of discoveries: the Panoramaradweg niederbergbahn ends here, hiking trails lead through stream valleys, and the Historic Village of Gruiten preserves half-timbered houses and traces of limestone mining. There are also protected landscapes, museums and events. Which side of Haan shapes your trip depends on whether you prefer cycling, exploring historic places on foot or planning your visit around an event.
Cycling on the Panoramaradweg
The signposted Panoramaradweg niederbergbahn runs from Essen-Kettwig via Heiligenhaus, Velbert and Wülfrath to Haan. The route is 40 kilometres long, accessible and has only a few inclines. It is suitable for cyclists, pedestrians and wheelchair users. In some sections, it follows a former railway line. This makes it a route in its own right for reaching Haan on a longer journey or making the town the endpoint of a cycling tour.
Before setting off, it is worth checking the latest route information, as temporary closures can occur. The route details provide a good basis for planning; your chosen route and the time you plan to spend in Haan itself will also help you decide.
Hiking trails through valleys and industrial history
Two stages of the neanderland STEIG also pass through the Haan municipal area. The first follows the Düssel to its source. Stage 17 crosses the Itter Valley and passes old cottages and mills, remnants of the Itter’s former industrial use. Historically, there were four cottages and three mills along the Itter in the Haan area.
In addition, three Haan discovery loops pass through typical stream valleys. Along these routes, meadows with old farmsteads are part of the landscape, alongside traces of limestone mining and the grain-grinding and knife-grinding industries. The trails offer different highlights: Stage 1 follows the Düssel, Stage 17 connects the Itter Valley with its industrial history, while the discovery loops showcase other Haan valleys and landscape features.
Gruiten: half-timbered houses, audio guide and tours
The Historic Village of Gruiten is the largest protected historic area in Haan. Well-preserved half-timbered houses define this place, which is considered a typical Bergisches Land village. Gruiten was shaped by limestone mining until the 1960s. You can explore the village’s history in your own way: a digital audio guide is available on your smartphone and comprises 22 chapters with a total duration of 46 minutes. The Bürger- und Verkehrsverein Gruiten e.V. has also developed an informative walking tour for exploring the village.
Tours of the Historic Village of Gruiten can be booked on request through the Bürger- und Verkehrsverein. Confirm availability before your trip. If you are looking for a tour of Haan rather than a guided tour of the village, you can book city tours through VHS Hilden/Haan; registration is exclusively through the VHS.
Museums and protected landscapes
The Heimatmuseum Haus Stöcken is Haan’s only local history museum. It displays many old objects, including items typical of Haan and its surroundings. Königs Klassik-Radios – Das Autoradiomuseum has a different focus: opened in Haan in 2002, it exhibits rare car radios.
Grube 7 and the Itter Valley are among the places to enjoy the landscape and nature. Grube 7 is a former quarry and is now a nature reserve and recreation area with viewpoints and beautiful vistas. The Itter Valley within the Haan municipal area has been designated a nature reserve since 1997. Both places offer a different perspective from the trails that pass historic cottages and mills.
Events and local products
If you would like to plan your visit around a festival, the Haaner Kirmes is a notable event: it takes place over one week in September in the heart of the city and brings together several generations. It attracts hundreds of thousands of visitors every year. Around 200 rides and stalls are spread across the city centre; the size and number may vary from year to year. Check the specific event dates before your trip.
The Haaner GartenLust has also been a regular part of the leisure programme for several years. Check the dates separately when planning a visit. Another local destination is Gut Ellscheid, a family-run farm in Haan that sells its own products in its farm shop.
Haan offers a range of options for planning your trip, and no single excursion has to take the place of all the others: cycling routes, hiking stages, village history, nature and events.
Discover more destinations: Erkrath, Heiligenhaus, Monheim am Rhein, Wülfrath, Velbert, Hilden, Mettmann, Ratingen.
Back to the main travel overview: Mettmann.
