At the Alte Dombach Paper Mill, you can experience historic paper-making machines, make a sheet of paper yourself and watch a laboratory paper machine in operation. Paper also appears as art in the Rheinisch-Bergischer Kreis: Villa Zanders is dedicated to a collection of international paper art. Practical insights into production and works on paper sit side by side here—two different ways of engaging with a material.
Between the Cologne metropolitan area and the Bergisches Land
The Rheinisch-Bergischer Kreis lies at the intersection of the Cologne metropolitan area and the scenic Bergisches Land. Rail-based public transport is available in Leichlingen, Bergisch Gladbach, Rösrath and Overath, with connections from there towards Cologne. If you are planning your journey around these services, check the current timetables.
The seasonal WanderBus service on route 267 runs in Wermelskirchen and Odenthal, serving the DhĂĽnn plateau. The Bergischer Fahrradbus, which has a bicycle trailer, travels along the Balkantrasse. Since 2019, it has also provided a connection to Bergisch Gladbach via Odenthal; its seasonal operating period runs from Easter to the end of October. The two services therefore operate in different seasons. Before travelling, check whether the service you plan to use runs on your travel date.
Paper, school and crafts
The Alte Dombach Paper Mill in Bergisch Gladbach combines historic machinery with practical demonstrations: you can make a sheet of paper yourself and watch a laboratory paper machine in operation. A paper festival is held at the museum each year in May or June. For specific planning, it is advisable to check the dates.
In Bergisch Gladbach, the Villa Zanders Art Museum offers around 1,000 square metres of exhibition space across three floors. Its collection includes around 500 paper artworks by approximately 150 international artists. While the paper mill focuses on the material and its production, here the emphasis is on paper as an artistic medium.
The Bergisch Gladbach School Museum presents the world of historic schooling through old materials, classrooms and teaching practices. During the demonstration in the historic classroom, stories and anecdotes about lessons in the Kaiser era are combined with exercises for visitors: these include writing with a stylus in Kurrent script on a slate and doing arithmetic with an abacus.
In Bensberg, a district of Bergisch Gladbach, the Bergisches Museum for Mining, Crafts and Trade focuses on historic craft techniques and the history of regional ore mining. Events, workshops and guided tours are held there throughout the year. On Sundays from April to November, craftspeople give demonstrations—a chance to see techniques that are also explored in the museum.
Trails with different scopes
The Mining Trail, themed trail number 15, is a moderately difficult regional circular route. It is 12.06 kilometres long and begins and ends at Hoffnungsthal station in Rösrath. The Bergischer Panoramasteig sets a much larger scale: this 244-kilometre circular trail runs through the Bergisches Land Nature Park in twelve stages. Stages 3 and 4 pass through Biesfeld in Kürten and Dhünn in Wermelskirchen, respectively. The distances show the difference between a single circular walk and a multi-stage trail.
The Bergischer Weg runs through the Rheinisch-Bergischer Kreis, is certified as a Quality Trail Wanderable Germany, and is signposted throughout in both directions. The aqualon loop is also fully signposted. Its recommended direction leads from Wermelskirchen via HĂĽckeswagen and Odenthal-Altenberg to Burscheid and back to Wermelskirchen. The routes, stages and trail lengths offer different ways to explore the district; when planning, check the route description that best suits your plans.
Nature, architecture and changing themes
The Wahner Heide is one of the major nature reserves in the Rheinisch-Bergischer Kreis. Another striking landmark is Altenberg Cathedral in Odenthal-Altenberg: the Bergisches Land Nature Park lists it as a place of interest, and it attracts visitors from all over the world each year. Nature and architecture each offer a distinct focus within this destination.
The Expedition Heimat events series also shines a light on places in the district, revealing unexpected discoveries close to home. Each year, Expedition Heimat 2.0 focuses on a specific theme in one municipality. Since the themes change, it is worth checking the latest dates before visiting.
Discover more destinations: Bergisch Gladbach, Wermelskirchen, Overath, Burscheid, Rösrath, Kürten, Odenthal, Leichlingen.
Back to the main travel overview: North Rhine-Westphalia.
