The Viersen district, with its towns and municipalities and Schwalm-Nette Nature Park, is an important part of the Lower Rhine tourism destination. The district offers different focuses for planning a trip: the lakes with their nature themes and routes, and the Lower Rhine Open-Air Museum in Grefrath. If you are looking for hotels in Viersen, it helps to first decide which of these interests you want to shape your stay.
Lakes and Birdlife
The information centre of the Biological Station in Nettetal-Hombergen is located directly by the Krickenbeck Lakes and is a starting point for excursions through the varied lake landscape. From the 30-metre-long viewing platform, visitors have a good view over Hinsbecker Bruch and its breeding birds or winter visitors. The birdwatching opportunities mentioned offer different seasonal highlights, without requiring a visit at any particular time of year.
In the Krickenbeck Lakes protected area, the “Habitat Towers,” recognised as part of the UN Decade, offer an interactive way to experience biodiversity and local birdlife. Touchscreens, tactile models, listening stations and videos are among the ways to explore these topics. The Biological Station also designates various circular routes through the nature park’s different natural environments. A map of the routes is available free of charge at the information centre.
Cycling Route and Circular Route in the District
The 122.8-kilometre Viersen District Railway Cycle Route runs on or alongside disused railway lines, through open fields and quiet forests. It also leads to the Krickenbeck Lakes. Another route highlight is the Viersen circular route: a good starting point is the boat landing on the Niers in Viersen-SĂĽchteln. The route initially follows the Niers for several kilometres through the Saalbruch nature reserve.
Detours from the circular route lead to the Clörather Mühle viewpoint and the historic centre of Dülken at cycling junction 40. The historic History Mile and the Narrenmühle are among the sights mentioned there; the mill is an old post mill with a clowns’ museum. The circular route also passes St. Maria Hilfe der Christen parish church in Dornbusch. Check current route conditions before setting out.
Cultural History in Grefrath
In Grefrath, the listed Dorenburg manor house, surrounded by a moat, is a central part of the Lower Rhine Open-Air Museum of the Viersen district. It houses a permanent exhibition on aristocratic life, as well as changing special exhibitions on cultural history. Across around 4.5 hectares, the museum showcases the rural and artisanal culture of the Lower Rhine. Historic farmsteads and workshops convey the history of rural and craft life.
The museum offers a wide range of educational programmes for people of all ages. Check specific dates and availability before planning a visit. The museum also includes the Pannekookehuus restaurant, which serves Lower Rhine specialities, and the Tante-Emma-Laden shop, which sells regional products.
Choose a Focus for Your Stay
For a nature-focused stay, birdwatching, the viewing platform, interactive Habitat Towers and various routes offer different ways to explore the area. Those who want to focus on cultural history will find Dorenburg, historic farmsteads and workshops at the open-air museum. Routes and the museum programme each come with their own practical considerations: check route conditions and the availability of any programme you are interested in beforehand.
Discover more destinations: Kempen, Willich, Viersen, Nettetal, Grefrath, Brüggen, Niederkrüchten, Schwalmtal, Tönisvorst
Go to the main travel overview: North Rhine-Westphalia.
