Discover 35 hidden attractions, cool sights, and unusual things to do in Witten (Germany). Don't miss out on these must-see attractions: Burgruine Hardenstein, Märkisches Museum, and Gruben- und Feldbahnmuseum. Also, be sure to include LWL-Industriemuseum Zeche Nachtigall in your itinerary.
Below, you can find the list of the most amazing places you should visit in Witten (North Rhine-Westphalia).
Table of Contents
Burgruine Hardenstein
Also known as: Burg Hardenstein
Historical place in Witten, Germany. Hardenstein Castle is a ruined castle in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. The remains lie east of Herbede on the Ruhr River, surrounded by mountains, and are not easily accessible. Nearby ruins show that the castle was once part of an important mining centre, probably dating to the Middle Ages; the earliest records, from the 16th century, support this. The castle features in the legend of the Nibelungs.
The castle's association with mining led to a legend that King Goldemar, a dwarf or kobold, dwelled there. One version of the story, recorded by Thomas Keightley in 1850, says that King Goldemar lived with Neveling von Hardenberg at the castle. For three years, he brought the inhabitants good luck until a curious man tried to see his footprints by casting tares and ashes about. Goldemar cut the man up, roasted his body, boiled his head and legs, and ate him. He was gone the next day, vowing through a note that the house would be as unlucky as it had been lucky while he lived there.[1]
Address: Hardensteiner Weg, Witten
Märkisches Museum
Märkisches Museum Witten is a museum in Witten, Germany. It presents mainly modern German painting.
Address: Husemannstraße 12, 58452 Witten
Gruben- und Feldbahnmuseum
Museum, Specialty museum
Address: Nachtigallstraße 27-33, 58452 Witten
LWL-Industriemuseum Zeche Nachtigall
The LWL-Industriemuseum Zeche Nachtigall is a technical museum in Witten-Bommern. The museum, a branch of the LWL-Industriemuseum, is located on the old factory grounds of the Nachtigall colliery at Nachtigallstraße 35-37. It is now an anchor point of the Route of Industrial Culture and an information center of the Geopark Ruhrgebiet.
Address: Nachtigallstraße 35, 58452 Witten
Henriette-Davidis-Museum
The Henriette Davidis Museum opened in Wetter-Wengern in 1994 and presents the life and work of Henriette Davidis. The most famous German cookbook author was born in Wengern in 1801.
Address: Elbscheweg 1, 58300 Wetter (Ruhr)
Gustav Landauer Library Witten
Also known as: Gustav-Landauer-Bibliothek Witten
Library in Witten, Germany. The Gustav Landauer Library Witten is a special library in Witten, Germany.[2]
Address: Augustastraße 58, Witten
Hebezeug-Museum
The Hoist Museum in Witten displays old machines for lifting and moving loads. It belongs to the J. D. Neuhaus company.
In 1977, Johann Diederich Neuhaus from the sixth generation of the family business started the construction of the museum. Both historical hoists owned by the company itself and corresponding pieces from competing companies and other industries are exhibited, supplemented by models and information panels.
The winch forge cottage from 1745 has been restored and furnished in the style and function of the time around 1900. In the "J. D. Neuhaus winch factory", which was reconstructed in 1985, there is an old transmission drive that powers twelve machines (including a milling machine, planer, lathe, band saw).
In the outdoor area there is a functioning replica of the Old Crane of the Hanseatic City of Lüneburg from 1336, which was used for loading and unloading ships.
The museum in the district of Heven is only open intermittently - usually on Sundays. Group tours (for school classes, for example) are possible if there is interest. It is the only museum of its kind in Germany.
Address: 1,3 Windenstraße, Witten
Good Mood House
Address: 32 Ledderken, Witten
Saalbau Witten
The Saalbau Witten is a multifunctional event hall for events up to 1000 people. With over 250 events a year, such as concerts, plays and conferences, the Saalbau reaches about 100,000 visitors. It is centrally located on the edge of downtown Witten.
Address: 25 Berger Straße, Witten
St. Mary's Church
St. Mary's Church, locally often called St. Mary's Church, is a listed Roman Catholic church building in Witten in the Ennepe-Ruhr district in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany.
Address: Marienpl. 3, 58452 Witten
Werk°Stadt
Museum, Art gallery
Address: Mannesmannstraße 6, Witten
House Witten
Haus Witten, also Burg Berge zu Witten, is a former knight's seat in the south of downtown Witten, built by Rötger von Witten and his brother Franco around 1470, and today houses the music school, indoor and outdoor event spaces, and a café/restaurant. It is located about 90 m above sea level.
Address: 86 Ruhrstraße, Witten
Witten Town Hall
City hall
Address: 16 Marktstraße, Witten
Restfläche KZ-Außenlager
Historical place, Ruins
Witten-Annen
Also known as: Annen
Since 1929, Annen has been a part of the City of Witten. As one of the eight boroughs of Witten, it is now called Witten-Annen. Before the incorporation with Witten in 1929, Annen was part of the administrative district Landkreis Hoerde. Today, Annen has about 19,000 inhabitants and is the biggest of all boroughs of Witten. Witten-Annen has an institute for Waldorf pedagogics, as well as a Waldorf school. This school annually hosts the international eurythmy festival, Forum Eurythmie. It is served by Witten-Annen Nord station on Rhine-Ruhr S-Bahn line S 5 and three bus lines. At the weekend it is also served by night bus line NE 18.[3]
Address: Westfeldstraße 81, 58453 Witten
St. Franziskus
Church
Address: 30 Herbeder Straße, Witten
City park
Also known as: Stadtpark
Relax in park, Park
Kommunalfriedhof Witten-Annen
The Witten-Annen Municipal Cemetery or Annen Cemetery is a municipal cemetery in Witten in the district of Annen. It has a size of approximately 4.8 ha.
Ruhrstraße
Bridge
Nachtigallbrücke
Bridge
Jewish Cemetery
Also known as: Jüdischer Friedhof
Historical place, Cemetery
Husemann-Sporthalle
Address: 98 Ardeystraße, Witten
Helenenturm
The Helen's Tower is a 30-meter-high observation tower in Witten, built in 1858 as a private monument to the judicial councilor Eduard Strohn in honor of his wife Helene Strohn née Lohmann. She died after a lawsuit over ferry fees between the family and the Prussian state. The construction of the tower was financed with the compensation awarded in this lawsuit. Since 1909, the tower has been the property of the city.
The tower is located in Witten-Mitte in the district Oberdorf-Helenenberg. From the tower, on the Helenenberg, one of the last foothills of the Ardey Mountains, you have a view over large parts of the city and, in good weather conditions, as far as Bochum and Dortmund. This view inspired the court photographer Friedrich Goebel in 1886 to create a 360-degree panoramic photograph of the city.
As there is a need for renovation, the tower is currently only opened on special occasions (e.g. on the Open Monument Day).
Lutherpark
Relax in park, Park
Gartenstadt Crengeldanz
The garden city of Crengeldanz is a former factory housing estate of the Westphalian tramway in Witten, built in 1913/1914, which consists of 38 fully slated half-timbered houses in the Bergisch style. Large gardens and a small square characterize the village-like character of the settlement, which is now a listed building. In terms of formal aesthetics, the concept of the settlement follows the ideals of the garden city movement developed at the beginning of the 20th century.
Ehemaliges Zwangsarbeitslager Nachtigallstraße
Ruins
Schacht Margarethe
Hermann Colliery is a former coal mine in Witten-Muttental. The mine was created due to the reallocation of a field section of the Österbank colliery.
Address: Berghauser Str. 75B, 58452 Witten
Steinbruch Muttental
Nature, Cliff
Dorfkirche Heven
Church, Gothic architecture
Address: Steinhügel 38, 58455 Witten
Herz Jesu
Church
Address: Kapellenstraße 7, 58452 Witten
Evangelische Kirche Bommern
Church, Gothic architecture
Address: Rigeikenstraße 11, 58452 Witten
Ehemaliger jüdischer Friedhof
Cemetery
Stollen Turteltaube
Ehemalige Kohlenniederlage der Zeche Nachtigall
Museum
Address: 35 Nachtigall straße, Witten
Hindenburgkopf
Memorial