Hilden combines a mixed forest covering around 430 hectares with historical traces and cultural attractions. This makes the city appealing to travelers who want to include nature and city history in their plans. Hilden is located in neanderland, between DĂĽsseldorf, Wuppertal and Cologne.
Nature and Trails in Hilden’s Urban Forest
Hilden’s urban forest is a mixed forest. About 20 percent of its area consists of nature reserves; the remaining forest is designated as a landscape conservation area. Its distinctive landscapes include the dry heath on Sandberg and the heath bog near Schönholz. Rare plant and animal species are found there; which species you may see can vary depending on the season.
The urban forest has 30 kilometers of trails used for walking, walking dogs, cycling and jogging. The different uses give you flexibility in choosing an activity. The landscape and nature conservation areas also offer a different focus from a purely urban stroll: here, the forest, heath and bog landscape take center stage.
City History and Culture
Hilden’s city center can be explored on a tour of about 2.8 kilometers, suitable for pedestrians and cyclists. Along the way, you’ll encounter visible traces of the Middle Ages, the Reformation, the industrial era and the 20th century. The Reformation Church dates back to the 13th century and is one of the city’s few listed buildings. Together, the tour and the church offer different ways to discover Hilden’s history: one through historical traces across the city, the other through a single building.
The Wilhelm Fabry Museum presents changing exhibitions on art and medicine. The museum also includes the Vogelsang Distillery, an industrial heritage site with a steam engine installed in 1887. The museum therefore brings changing subjects together with a permanent feature of technological history. The exhibition currently on view may change.
More Ways to Plan Your Visit
Hilden also offers two different pools for exercise and leisure. In addition to sports and leisure facilities, Hildorado has a sauna area. Waldbad is located on the edge of the urban forest and has sports, non-swimmer and diving pools. Since facilities may change, it’s a good idea to check the latest information before your visit.
Stages 11 and 12 of the neanderland STEIG offer another hiking option: they pass by Hilden and provide views of Menzelsee and Elbsee. If you’re planning to hike these stages, check the current route and trail conditions. For a walk focused on history, on the other hand, the city center tour and its visible historical traces take priority; the two options differ mainly in their landscapes and themes.
Culture in the Wider Destination of Mettmann
The wider destination of Mettmann also offers its own cultural attractions. At the Mettmann City History House, visitors can learn about more than a thousand years of local history across three floors, from the early historic long-distance trade route “strata coloniensis” and the construction of the royal estate during the reign of Charlemagne to the present day. Kunsthaus Mettmann organizes around twelve fine arts exhibitions and events each year. The range spans painting, sculpture and photography to object and video art; individual exhibitions change.
Discover more destinations: Heiligenhaus, Langenfeld, WĂĽlfrath, Erkrath, Ratingen, Haan, Mettmann, Velbert
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