Ratingen combines early industrial history and Gothic architecture with a varied landscape. Museums, historic sites and parks each offer something different; at the same time, around 70 percent of the city’s area consists of forests, meadows, fields, lakes and rivers. You can therefore plan your stay around two interests: spending more time on culture and urban history, or on walks and bike rides.

Industrial History, Art and the Old Town

The Museum Ratingen brings together the city’s modern art collection and a cultural history exhibition on Ratingen’s history and development. Temporary exhibitions complement the permanent displays. Art lovers can combine a museum visit with a look at the city’s history.

The Cromford cotton spinning mill is a special landmark of industrial history. The preserved complex is one of Germany’s oldest industrial sites and is considered the first fully mechanized cotton spinning mill on the European continent. At the LVR Industrial Museum Textile Factory Cromford, visitors can see 18th-century spinning technology in action and gain insights into working life at the time. The focus here is therefore not only on the history of a factory, but also on the technology and labor that shaped early industrial operations.

Ratingen’s historic architecture also includes St. Peter and Paul Church on the market square and the old town’s city wall with its impressive towers. St. Peter and Paul is one of the oldest surviving Gothic hall churches in the Rhineland. On the edge of central Ratingen is the moated castle Haus zum Haus, considered the city’s most significant castle in terms of local history. The listed Poensgen Park is one of the Rhineland’s great cultural treasures and complements the historic sites with a park setting.

The park of Schloss Landsberg offers another point of interest: it has been largely restored to its original form. The park and surrounding woodland are open to visitors. In Ratingen, you can therefore combine architectural and urban history with time outdoors, without having to visit places of the same kind.

Hiking Trails, Lakes and Bike Rides

For outdoor recreation, Ratingen has more than 200 kilometers of circular hiking trails. Within Ratingen, the “Ratingen pur” and “Industriepfad & Kunstweg” discovery trails add to the network. If you prefer cycling, there is an extensive, well-developed cycle path network connecting natural areas and attractions with the city’s various districts.

The Blue Lake is on the outskirts of Ratingen, in an idyllic, wooded conservation area. The recreation grounds offer a fairy-tale zoo, mini golf and boat rides—various ways to enjoy your time by the lake. The city’s tourist information office offers city maps, a historic city walk, and suggestions for hiking and cycling tours. This allows you to choose a route based on your interests, rather than being limited to a single suggested trail.

Another option for enjoying the countryside is Volkardey Recreation Park, with the Green Lake and the protected Silver Lake. The park is a popular destination for water enthusiasts, walkers and cyclists. By comparison, the Blue Lake combines its wooded setting with the recreation grounds’ activities; Volkardey, with its two lakes and appeal to walkers, cyclists and water enthusiasts, offers a different focus for an outing.

Market Visit and Planning

For an evening of food and drinks, consider the seasonal Ratingen Feierabendmarkt: it takes place on the third Friday of each month from May to October on the market square. There are numerous food trucks and drinks. As event dates may change, we recommend checking the latest details before your visit.

You can explore Ratingen through individual cultural sites as well as by spending longer stretches of time outdoors. The museum and Cromford offer different perspectives on the city’s history and industrial heritage; the circular hiking trails, cycle path network and lakes provide further options for planning your day. You can get city maps and tour suggestions from the tourist information office. This lets you decide in advance whether to focus on art, historic buildings, a walk or time by the water.

For the overview of the wider destination: Mettmann.