Discover Hagen: Archaeology, a Planetarium Model and More

Hagen combines unusual insights into early human history with a walkable planetarium model and places of remembrance from several eras. Lake Hengstey is also among the city's described excursion destinations. If you are looking for a holiday apartment in Hagen, these different themes can help you weigh up your interests for your stay: Should it focus primarily on archaeology, a route through the city, or the history of bathing?

Archaeology and geological history at Werdringen Castle

The Hagen Archaeological Museum at Werdringen Castle displays the oldest remains of modern humans from the post-glacial period found in Europe to date. They are more than 11,000 years old and were discovered in the Blätterhöhle cave in Hagen. The find reaches far back into the history of the area and makes archaeology a distinctive Hagen theme. For families, it can provide a concrete starting point for exploring the vast span of time between the post-glacial period and the present day.

Werdringen Castle is also the starting point of the Kaisberg Geotrail. It leads to the earliest mineable coal seams in the Ruhr region. This brings two different ways of exploring the past together: the museum focuses on the remains of early humans, while the geotrail explores geological history and coal seams. If you are interested in the origins and history of the region, you can weigh up these themes when choosing destinations, rather than focusing your stay on just one historical era.

A planet model running through the city

Hagen is home to the world's first walkable planetarium model. Large bronze plates extend across several stops throughout the city. The model combines a scientific depiction with a route spanning different locations. This offers a very different way to explore Hagen alongside its historical themes: learning about the planets and how they are represented in public spaces. If you especially enjoy including science and discovery in your trip, this model is a distinct reason to consider Hagen.

The stops are not all in one place but extend throughout the city. This is a useful distinction when planning your trip compared with attractions tied to a specific location.

Bunker tours and 20th-century history

Hagen Adult Education Centre, together with the City Archive and City Museum, regularly offers tours of the Hagen bunker and other surviving air-raid shelters. These structures span the period from the Second World War to the Cold War. The tours offer insights into the shelters and the different historical contexts in which they were built. For visitors interested in the city's history, this adds a more recent chapter to the archaeological and geological themes that reach much further back in time.

The tours are a distinct reason to visit for anyone who wants to learn about historic places beyond exhibitions. Together with the planetarium model and the attractions at Werdringen Castle, they make it possible to plan a stay around different interests without all the experiences being of the same kind.

Lake Hengstey and the Ruhr Valley Cycle Route

SeeBad on Lake Hengstey is right beside the Ruhr Valley Cycle Route. Since 1929, it has been a popular destination for Hagen residents and visitors from the region. Here, a named cycle route meets a long-favoured lakeside destination. If you would like to include the Ruhr Valley Cycle Route in your trip plans, this connection offers a useful point of reference. The history of SeeBad also makes it interesting for anyone who wants to explore the local tradition of excursions alongside Hagen's other attractions.

Hagen's attractions offer a range of perspectives: archaeological finds and coal seams reach far back into the past, bunker tours explore the 20th century, and the planetarium model turns the focus to space. SeeBad on Lake Hengstey adds a destination with a long history to the mix. Choose a holiday apartment in Hagen to suit the aspects of the city you would most like to explore during your trip.

For the overview of destinations: Hagen.