Haan: Cycling Routes, Half-Timbered Houses and Nature

In Haan, cycling and hiking trails meet Bergisch village history and protected nature. The Panorama Cycle Path Niederbergbahn leads into the city; sections of the neanderland STEIG trail cross the Haan area. In the Historic Village of Gruiten, half-timbered houses and the history of limestone mining tell the story of the region’s transformation. This means you can explore Haan by bike, on foot or as part of a cultural program, depending on your interests.

Cycling along the former railway line

The signposted Panorama Cycle Path Niederbergbahn runs from Essen-Kettwig via Heiligenhaus, Velbert and Wülfrath to Haan. The entire route is 40 kilometers long, has only a few inclines and partly follows a former railway line. It is barrier-free and suitable for cyclists, pedestrians and wheelchair users. If you would like to combine your trip with a longer cycling tour, this route extends as far as Haan. The route length and character are useful considerations when planning your vacation days by bike.

Hiking trails among stream valleys and industrial history

Trails also reveal different sides of Haan to visitors on foot: Sections 1 and 17 of the neanderland STEIG trail pass through the city. The first section follows the Düssel to its source. Section 17 crosses the Itter Valley and passes old cottages and mills—remnants of the Itter’s former industrial use. Historically, there were a total of four cottages and three mills along the Itter within Haan’s city limits. Three discovery loops lead through typical Haan stream valleys; meadows with old farmsteads and traces of limestone mining, as well as the grain-milling and knife-grinding industries, give them a distinctive historical connection. The Haan-Gruiten South Discovery Loop starts and ends at Gruiten station, Thunbuschstraße 20, 42781 Haan.

Half-timbered houses and village history in Gruiten

The Historic Village of Gruiten is Haan’s largest protected heritage area. Well-preserved half-timbered houses define the village, which is considered typically Bergisch. Until the 1960s, Gruiten was shaped by limestone mining—a history that helped define the character of the place. You can explore the village with a digital audio guide available on your smartphone: It comprises 22 chapters and takes 46 minutes in total. The Gruiten Citizens’ and Traffic Association has also developed an informative walking tour. Guided tours of the village can be booked on request through the association. Registration for guided tours of Haan is handled exclusively through VHS Hilden/Haan.

Natural areas and museums

The part of the Itter Valley within Haan’s city limits has been designated a nature reserve since 1997. The Grube 7 quarry has also been a nature reserve since 1997. The former dolomite quarry is now also a local recreation area, with viewpoints and beautiful vistas. It provides a habitat for several hundred protected plant and animal species, including orchids, fire-bellied toads and midwife toads. If you are interested in everyday life and technology as well as landscapes, you can visit the Haus Stöcken local history museum and Königs Klassik-Radios – The Car Radio Museum. Haus Stöcken is the city’s only local history museum and displays old objects, including items typical of Haan and its surroundings. The car radio museum, which opened in Haan in 2002, displays rare car radios.

A September festival and regional products

The Haaner Kirmes is a family festival that brings together several generations and takes place for a week in September in the heart of the city. Around 200 rides and stalls spread across the entire city center during the festival; year after year, it attracts hundreds of thousands of visitors. If you would like to experience Haan at this time, you can make the festival the main focus of your trip. The “Haaner GartenLust” event has also been a regular part of Haan’s leisure program for several years. For a taste of local agriculture, Gut Ellscheid sells products made on its family-run farm in Haan at its own farm shop.

When choosing a holiday apartment in Haan, it is worth first deciding what you would like to focus on: a trip with longer cycling routes, hiking sections and stream valleys offers a different experience from a stay focused on village history, museums or the fair. The trails, nature areas and cultural attractions described here give you specific points of reference for choosing a Haan trip that suits your vacation interests.

Discover other places

For more travel destinations, you can also explore Hilden, Monheim am Rhein, Erkrath, Heiligenhaus, Langenfeld, Wülfrath, Ratingen and Velbert.

For the broader travel overview: Mettmann.