Top 15 Must-See Attractions in Solingen, Germany

Amidst the hilly and wooded landscape of the Bergisches Land lies the town of Solingen, located just upriver on the Wupper from Wuppertal. Renowned since the Middle Ages with the moniker Klingenstadt (City of Blades), Solingen has a rich heritage of forging scissors, cutlery, swords, and daggers for centuries.

This legacy continues to thrive in various forms, such as an industrial-era forge, water-powered grinding mills dating back to the Early Modern Age, and an engaging museum. Schloss Burg, a magnificent castle, served as the seat for the Counts and Dukes of Berg during the Middle Ages, and Gräfrath impresses visitors with its charming old town featuring picturesque half-timbered houses.

Now, let’s delve into the notable attractions in Solingen:

1. Schloss Burg

Schloss Burg stands as one of the most cherished historical landmarks in the Rhineland, perched over the Wupper Valley.

Initially, it was the administrative center of the entire Duchy of Berg until its relocation to Düsseldorf at the conclusion of the 14th century.

Though it faced near destruction during a siege by the Swedish forces in the Thirty Years’ War, and remained in disrepair until the 20th century, Schloss Burg has since been transformed. It now hosts a distinguished museum detailing the history of both the castle and the Bergisches Land.

The armory showcases an impressive collection of weapons including swords, harnesses, and shields from the 1000s to the 1200s, along with a dedicated space for courtly hunts conducted at the castle from the 14th century.

The museum also features a range of applied arts and crafts, such as typical local pewterware, historical furniture from 1600-1900, Flemish tapestries, and liturgical sculptures.

2. Deutsches Klingenmuseum (German Knife Museum)

While in the “City of Blades,” one must explore Solingen’s extensive knife-making history.

This museum features an impressive array of blades, from formidable swords of the Middle Ages to exquisite Rococo cutlery.

Housed within a former convent, it contains the world’s largest collection of historical silverware.

Many of these items were personal dining sets carried by travelers, as inns typically did not provide their own cutlery.

The collection includes everything from primitive bone spoons to modern laser-sharpened steak knives.

In addition, visitors can admire beautifully crafted Art Nouveau table sets and observe how cutlery trends evolved throughout the 20th century, including a particularly notable piece, the Richtschwert, a sword designed for beheading.

3. Hendrich’s Drop Forge

Operated by the LVR-Industriemuseum, which oversees six facilities within the region, Hendrich’s Drop Forge commenced operations in 1886 to produce precision tools from high-quality steel.

A century later, the forge ceased its operations due to failure to meet contemporary health and safety standards.

As items were left in their original places, it reopened in 1999 as a museum, providing a fascinating glimpse into Solingen’s past in blade manufacturing.

Visitors can view the hefty forging dies, imposing drop hammers, various presses, and milling machines, along with all equipment used by the factory’s craftsmen.

Furthermore, the original dressing room, lockers, washroom, office, and the Hendrich Brothers’ mansion adjacent to the factory remain preserved as they once were.

4. Müngstener Brückenpark

Located east of Solingen in the Wupper River Valley, visitors can find Germany’s highest railway bridge, which rises 107 meters above the valley floor.

Initially named in honor of Kaiser Wilhelm, the steel-framed Müngsten Bridge was completed in 1897. A park established in 2006 offers the most picturesque vantage point beneath the bridge, complemented by a modern visitor center detailing its history, all nestled within lush woodlands ideal for family picnics.

This park also features a mini-golf course, but the most unique attraction is the suspended ferry, known as the Schwebefähre.

This unconventional ferry can be accessed for a nominal fee from March to October and operates based on a man-powered mechanism suspended on cables over the Wupper.

The ferryman appreciates any assistance provided by passengers.

5. Altstadt Gräfrath

As with many German cities, Solingen was significantly affected by the devastation of World War II. However, the medieval old town of Gräfrath remains unscathed.

The charming streets surrounding the market square are lined with two to three-story half-timbered houses from the 16th to the 18th centuries.

These structures exhibit the “Bergisches Haus” style, characterized by exquisite slate facades, green shutters, and white-painted lintels, now home to a variety of restaurants, cafes, and ice cream parlors.

This area boasts 120 listed monuments within a few streets, making the entire old town a designated conservation zone.

The most ancient edifice is St. Maria Himmelfahrt, a monastery church situated at the town’s apex, dating back to 1195, and renovated in the Baroque style during the 18th century.

6. Museum Plagiarius

Located in repurposed fashionable freight warehouses in Solingen’s Südpark, this museum presents peculiar but thought-provoking displays you must see to understand their narrative.

The “Plagiarius” award was introduced in 1977 to highlight the most blatant counterfeit products available in the market.

Subsequently, in 2007, the Museum Plagiarius was established to exhibit the most egregious cases while illustrating the harms and repercussions of counterfeiting.

The museum features 350 replicas, displayed alongside their authentic counterparts, including designer homewares, motorcycles, watches, toys, cutlery, and electronics like Game Boys.

Visitors are often challenged to differentiate between authentic and counterfeit items.

7. Kunstmuseum Solingen

For those seeking a cultural experience, Kunstmuseum Solingen features masterpieces from the 19th and 20th centuries, including works by Anselm Feuerbach, the symbolist Franz von Stuck, and Impressionist Lovis Corinth.

The museum is located in the beautifully designed town hall of Gräfrath, a notable structure fashioned in Art Nouveau style in the early 20th century, partially adorned in slate, much like the surrounding area.

In 2015, the Centre for Persecuted Art (Zentrum für verfolgte Künste) was inaugurated, standing as the only exhibition worldwide dedicated to the works of artists persecuted by the Nazis and later by the SED in East Germany.

The center showcases pieces by renowned artists such as Emil Nolde and Paul Klee, while also promoting lesser-known artists like Valentin Nagel, Milly Steger, and Florenz Robert, whose careers were adversely impacted by the label of “degenerate art.”

8. Balkhauser Kotten

Solingen retains two of the grinding mills that once characterized its landscape, with Balkhauser Kotten being the most notable. It operates as a museum and features a functioning water wheel that continues to power its whetstones and buffing wheels.

This mill offers a unique insight into the historical techniques of Solingen’s blade artisans, and if fortunate, visitors may observe a craftsman in action during their visit.

The structure dates back to the early 17th century, remaining in continuous operation to sharpen scissors, swords, daggers, table knives, and sheath knives until the 1950s.

9. Bergisches Straßenbahnmuseum

Located within Wuppertal’s city limits yet merely ten minutes from central Solingen, this heritage tramway offers a short and scenic journey, encompassing seven stops in picturesque rural surroundings.

The trams operate on Saturdays year-round and also on Sundays during the summer, departing every 30 minutes and offering a short 14-minute ride from the Kohlfurther Brücke depot to Möschenborn.

The route follows the historic Wuppertal-Solingen line, decommissioned in 1969, and the 33 trams housed in the depot were sourced from various German cities after their tram services ceased, dating from the 1910s to the 1950s.

10. Sengbachtalsperre

Situated in a secluded valley of the Wupper near Schloss Burg lies a dam completed in 1904, surrounded by stunningly wooded landscapes. Visitors are treated to photogenic views from the top of this dam, designed to evoke the essence of a medieval castle with its parapets and towers.

The Sengbachtalsperre represents engineering excellence, built upon the Intze Principle established by hydraulic engineer Otto Intze. It features an almost triangular cross-section and a curved layout.

Over 110 years later, the reservoir this dam created continues to supply drinking water to Solingen’s inhabitants.

11. Tierpark Fauna

Northeast of Gräfrath, visitors will find a charming and well-maintained zoo appealing to children. Tierpark Fauna accommodates approximately 400 animals over three hectares, featuring a blend of domestic and smaller exotic species such as llamas, porcupines, meerkats, nasuas, kangaroos, wallabies, lynxes, roe deer, fallow deer, and moufflons.

The park also includes a terrarium, providing an opportunity to observe various snakes, lizards, turtles, and other fascinating creatures up close.

The zoo features a petting area where children can feed a small herd of friendly dwarf goats.

12. Solinger Vogel- und Tierpark

If you are visiting with children, another small zoo is available in Solingen. The Solingen Bird and Animal Park originated in the 1920s as an aviary but has since expanded to include numerous animal enclosures.

Similar to Tierpark Fauna, this facility houses smaller species like wallabies, lynxes, raccoons, wild cats, raccoon dogs, maras, and arctic foxes. Among the avian species are pied crows, white-necked ravens, and palm-nut vultures, all native to Sub-Saharan Africa.

13. Klingenpfad

Seize the opportunity to explore the picturesque countryside of the Bergisches Land.

By visiting the tourist office near the Museum Plagiarius in Solingen, you can obtain a map for the 75-kilometer walking trail that encircles the city.

While tackling the full distance in a single day may be impractical, the route is segmented into nine manageable sections.

One segment descends, then ascends, the steep banks of the Wupper River, lined with fresh beech woodlands.

Other points of interest along the Klingenpfad include historic mills, half-timbered farmhouses, and a castle.

14. Ohligser Heide

West of Solingen, the Klingenpfad traverses the Ohligser Heide, a 147-hectare nature reserve accessible via the Rhein-Ruhr S-Bahn.

The landscape consists of meadows, moors, ponds, marshes, and oak and birch forests, interspersed with small streams.

If you seek a picturesque location for a refreshing stroll rather than an extensive hike, this area is ideal.

At the heart of the Ohligser Heide lies the Engelsberger Hof, a former noble estate that has functioned as a recreational area for the past century, featuring playgrounds and a restaurant within the historic property.

15. Bergische Kaffeetafel

Many local hotels and traditional cafes in Solingen offer a delightful experience known as the Bergische Kaffeetafel.

This features an assortment of sweet and savory regional specialties, including ham, sausage, cakes, raisin bread, brown bread, and pumpernickel, all accompanied by a pot of coffee.

One of the most delectable items is the Bergische Waffeln, heart-shaped waffles dusted with icing sugar and topped with sour cherry compote and generous whipped cream.

This tradition dates back to at least the 18th century and was revitalized following the Second World War.