Herne: Moated Castle, Culture and Green Discoveries

A moated castle with water-filled moats and a large pond, a park with sculptures and a listed garden city estate: Herne offers plenty of reasons to include culture and time outdoors in your travel plans. When choosing your holiday apartment, you can consider which of Herne’s different sides interests you most—historic places, exhibitions, walks or activities on the water.

Strünkede Castle and Herne’s Cultural History

Strünkede Castle is a moated castle surrounded by water-filled moats and a large pond. As the largest property of the Emschertal Museum, it houses the permanent exhibition “Land and People” as well as changing special exhibitions. Guided tours on cultural and historical topics are available for groups and last 60 minutes. This makes it possible to combine a visit to the castle with a themed look at history.

The castle chapel stands in Strünkede Castle Park and is the oldest building in the city of Herne. Bernd von Strünkede founded it in 1272 as a place of worship for the residents of the castle. The chapel is available for concerts and church services. Its long history and present-day use give it a distinctive place in Herne’s cultural life, alongside the castle complex.

Another way to explore Westphalia’s past is at the LWL Museum of Archaeology and Culture. It presents 250,000 years of human history in Westphalia. Visitors interested not only in exhibitions but also in archaeological work can take part in an excavation at the GrabungsCAMP. Regular sessions are held on Sundays and public holidays; groups can book a date of their choice.

Sculptures and Garden City Architecture

Flottmann Sculpture Park brings together 21 works across more than 10,000 square metres of parkland. The park and the Flottmann Art Nouveau gate are open to visitors at all times and free of charge. Alongside the exhibitions in the castle, this offers another opportunity to enjoy art outdoors. Those who want to explore Herne in different ways can plan these two cultural experiences for separate days.

The listed Teutoburgia estate is located in Börnig and has been fully restored in its original style. A walk through the estate offers an immediate experience of the architectural and design variety of the garden city concept. This makes it different from a museum visit: the estate itself and its design take centre stage. When choosing a holiday apartment in Herne, it may therefore be helpful to decide in advance whether you would prefer to focus on exhibitions and castle history, or on architecture and walks.

Forest, Cycling Route and Rhine-Herne Canal

Gysenberger Wald covers around 58 hectares. Alongside Revierpark Gysenberg, it offers plenty of opportunities for recreation; some of its very old deciduous forest stands are also of great ecological importance. The Gysenberg local wildlife park is located in the natural setting of the Ostbachtal, where animals are kept in appropriate conditions. The forest, park and wildlife enclosure offer different ways to enjoy nature and leisure time in Herne.

Those planning a longer bike ride can follow the approximately 39-kilometre circular route “Around the Water—Culture Canal, Emscher and Sea.” It starts and ends at the Cranger Kirmes fairground, follows the Rhine-Herne Canal, passes through Strünkede Castle Park and goes by Revierpark Gysenberg. Its length is a concrete point of reference for planning your day.

Along the Rhine-Herne Canal in Herne, you can go for walks, cycle, fish, go boating, swim, sunbathe, barbecue and skip stones. The options range from exercise to relaxing by the water. When choosing accommodation, you can plan your trip around the activities and cultural attractions you want to prioritise, without limiting yourself to just one way of experiencing Herne.

Unser Fritz Artists’ Colliery

Unser Fritz Artists’ Colliery also brings together a historic site and art. Eleven artists use their own studio spaces in the colliery’s old pithead building as workplaces. The artists’ colliery hosts exhibitions, discussions, concerts and readings. These different formats complement the museum and architecture themes with insights into artistic work and cultural events.

Discover More Destinations

Also discover Mönchengladbach, Bochum, Duisburg, Mülheim an der Ruhr, Remscheid, Oberhausen, Dortmund and Bonn.

Go to the main travel overview: North Rhine-Westphalia.