Kaarst: Lakes, Art and History
Accommodation in Kaarst
Kaarst offers a range of reasons to visit: the small and large Kaarst lakes make water a central feature, while art venues, historic buildings and a museum offer insights into the culture of the city and the Lower Rhine region. You can also take travel connections into account when choosing your destination: Kaarst has direct access to the A52 and A57 motorways and can be reached by two S-Bahn lines.
Sportforum Kaarst-Büttgen während der deutschen Bahnrad-Meisterschaften 2022
Photo: Nicola via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
The Kaarst Lakes: Two Different Things to Know Before Your Visit
The Kaarst Lake consists of a large lake and a small lake. The small lake covers 6 hectares and is up to 5 metres deep. A recreational area with a small and a large beach is located by the small Kaarst Lake; lifeguards and the DLRG are present there. If you are looking for a place to spend time by the water, you can consider this area.
An important point for planning is the distinction between the two lakes: swimming is prohibited in the large Kaarst Lake. This rule applies specifically to the large lake. By contrast, the information about the recreational area, beaches, and the presence of lifeguards and the DLRG refers to the small lake. This makes it easier to understand what to expect from a visit to the water without treating the two areas as the same.
Art and History in Kaarst
The town hall atrium is home to the “Bürgerschwalbennest,” an immersive art installation by M. Wiegand. The “Gläserner Grundstein,” a kind of mini-museum, is also located in the basement of the same town hall. The two places offer different ways to engage with art and the city’s history: an immersive installation here, a small museum there. St. Michael’s Chapel is on the first floor of the bell tower of St. Aldegundis. Its floor plan is shaped like an eight-leaf clover; the chapel is not open to visitors.
Architectural history and regional culture are also among the things you can discover. Alt St. Martin is a small, three-aisled Romanesque basilica dating from the 12th century. The Martinus Art Trail runs between the parish churches of Alt St. Martin and St. Martinus. Brauns Mühle is a tower windmill built in 1756 from fire-resistant bricks. Its exhibition rooms present the milling tradition of the Lower Rhine region. Those with a particular interest in rural history can visit the Tuppenhof, a museum dedicated to rural history and culture. Opera and theatre performances, as well as concerts, are also held there.
In the sculpture park, works by 23 artists are installed on art steles. Together with the Bürgerschwalbennest and the Martinus Art Trail, this offers another perspective on art in public spaces. You can choose which places and subjects to prioritise depending on whether your travel group is more interested in discovering art, architectural history, milling, or rural culture.
Explore by Bike and Plan Your Journey
The Fietsallee along the Nordkanal is a cycling route following the traces of the unfinished Nordkanal between the Rhine and the Meuse. Blue signs along the route provide information about the canal, and there are also individually designed rest stops. This combines a bike ride with insights into the history of the canal project. Another way to experience Kaarst is the Kaarst Total town festival, held every year on the first weekend in September.
When planning your journey, you can take into account the direct connections to the A52 and A57. Kaarst is also accessible by S-Bahn: the S8 runs on the Aachen–Dortmund route, and the S28 is operated by Regiobahn between Kaarst and Mettmann. If you are looking for a holiday apartment in Kaarst, these travel options, together with your interests in lakes, cycling routes, or culture, can help you decide whether Kaarst is the right destination for you.
For your further search: Grevenbroich, Rommerskirchen, Meerbusch, Jüchen, Neuss, Dormagen, Korschenbroich.
For the broader travel overview: District of Neuss.
