Discover Düren: Culture, Views and Cycling Tours
Accommodation in Düren
In Düren and the surrounding towns, impressive traces of history meet museums, scenic viewpoints and opportunities for cycling tours. You can focus your stay on culture, seek a special perspective on the landscape of the Inden open-cast mine, or explore by bike. When choosing your holiday apartment, it is worth first deciding what matters most to you: local history and museums, fortress architecture or longer routes all inspire different ideas for your trip.
The Indemann and the Inden open-cast mining landscape
The 36-metre-high Indemann stands on the Goltsteinkuppe. At just under 150 metres, this hill is the highest point in the municipality of Inden. The observation platforms offer views across the landscape of the Inden open-cast mine; you can also walk along the sculpture’s outstretched arm. The views and the walkable sculpture shape the experience in their own ways: the Indemann is not just a landmark in the landscape, but also offers several perspectives on it. If you enjoy combining striking architecture with landscapes, Inden makes an interesting focus for planning your excursions.
Fortresses, castles and industrial history
The Jülich Citadel combines an almost completely preserved and restored fortress with a ducal palace in the style of the Italian High Renaissance. It is considered the oldest complex of its kind north of the Alps. Ramparts, bastions and casemates give the structure its distinctive form. You can explore the citadel on your own or as part of a guided tour, allowing you to visit independently or with a guide.
Burgau Castle also tells a story of change over time: it was destroyed in 1944, remained a ruin until 1975, and was restored in 1998. Today, it is once again regarded as a gem of the city of Düren. Heimbach is home to another piece of architectural history: the Art Nouveau power station began operating in 1905, is fully preserved and is still used to generate electricity today. It is considered a unique Art Nouveau building in Europe. These places reveal different aspects of regional history—from the fortress to the power station, which is still used to generate electricity.
Museums and trails in Heimbach and Düren
The Paper Museum in Düren focuses on the many facets of paper, as well as the city’s industrial and cultural history and traditional and modern papermaking. The museum also offers blind and visually impaired visitors an independent introductory route through the exhibition. Information resources and numerous hands-on exhibits complement this route. The Leopold Hoesch Museum in Düren offers a different focus: its collection includes an outstanding selection of paintings from the classical modern period and also focuses on post-war modernism and contemporary art.
The National Park Gate is located in Heimbach’s old railway station. It includes an accessible tourist information centre and the “Forest Secrets” exhibition. Those who prefer to encounter art in the open air can also follow the two-kilometre accessible circular trail “Art in the Bush”. It passes various sculptures, three-dimensional artworks and installations. The specific trail length and the artworks along the route give this walk its own character, while the National Park Gate brings an exhibition and tourist information centre together under one roof.
In Nideggen, the castle explores the history of the Middle Ages in the Rhineland and the Eifel. The Castle Museum offers an extensive events programme as well as workshops and guided tours for school classes, families and adults. In Jülich, Brückenkopf Park adds to the range of attractions with play and sports facilities, a zoo and numerous cultural events for the whole family. These destinations appeal to different interests: museums, history, activities and family attractions can all help you decide which places to include in your trip.
Cycling tours and choosing a place to stay
The RurUfer Cycle Route runs via Monschau to Einruhr, follows the Rursee lake through the Rureifel, passes Düren and Jülich, and continues through the Heinsberg region to Roermond. Railway stations along the cycle route make it possible to plan your own route and stages; some individual stages can therefore also be enjoyed as day trips. Another option is the Düren Lakes Circuit, which is approximately 20 kilometres long. It follows the Rur to Düren’s swimming lakes, where you can enjoy a refreshing break. The routes differ in scope: the Lakes Circuit is a tour of around 20 kilometres, while the RurUfer Cycle Route passes through several towns and regions.
If museums, Burgau Castle or the Lakes Circuit are your main interests, Düren is a good place to focus your search. If you are interested in fortress architecture, Brückenkopf Park or the Indemann, the respective towns can serve as starting points for further exploration. The town pages help you pursue the right focus within the region.
Towns in the region
Also discover Jülich, Inden, Hürtgenwald, Heimbach, Nideggen, Düren, Linnich, Langerwehe, Merzenich, Kreuzau, Aldenhoven, Niederzier, Nörvenich, Vettweiß and Titz.
For the broader travel overview: North Rhine-Westphalia.
