Summary of Key Attractions in Hamm
The easternmost location on the Ruhr’s Industrial Heritage Trail, Hamm is a tranquil town, formerly centered around coal mining, which has now transitioned to manufacturing and logistics. Unlike many cities in the Ruhr area established in the 19th century, Hamm traces its origins back to the 13th century and was a member of the influential Hanseatic League of trading cities in the 15th century.
Coal mining dominated the region in the 1800s, and in the past three decades, many old industrial sites have been redeveloped.
The Maximilianpark serves as an example of such a transformation, now a notable visitor attraction featuring the world’s largest building designed in the shape of an animal. This accolade belongs to the Glaselefant, a converted coal washery that was artistically reimagined by Horst Rellecke to resemble an elephant.
Here are the premier attractions in Hamm:
1. Maximilianpark
Located on the Ruhr’s Industrial Heritage Trail, Maximilianpark occupies the site of the former Zeche Maximilian coal mine, which operated for only a decade before its closure in 1914. Subsequently, the area remained vacant until it was revitalized for North Rhine-Westphalia’s Landesgartenschau (Regional Garden Show) in 1984. Now, it operates as a natural theme park: After paying a nominal fee, visitors can explore extensive gardens, the largest butterfly house in North Rhine-Westphalia, and various playgrounds for children.
The park features a variety of shows for adults and children, both in outdoor spaces and the park’s theatre.
The focal point of this attraction is a large glass elephant centerpiece, which will be discussed further in the following section.
2. Glaselefant
In 1984, the renowned artist and architect Horst Rellecke transformed the former washery of the Maximilian mine by constructing a 35-meter-high elephant head, composed of hundreds of glass panels. These panels were created using carbonic deposits sourced from the former mine.
Collectively, they form the largest animal-shaped building globally. An elevator within the elephant’s trunk ascends to a palm garden that features unique kinetic installations designed by Rellecke.
The entire structure underwent a renovation in 2009, equipped with LED lights that can change colors, enhancing its visual appeal.
3. Sri-Kamadchi-Ampal-Tempel
In an unexpected turn for a former mining city in the Ruhr, one can find Europe’s second largest Hindu temple. The temple serves the Tamil Hindu community in Hamm, established after many sought refuge in the region following the outbreak of war in Sri Lanka earlier in the decade, with the temple opening its doors in 2002 at Siegenbeckstraße 4.
Skilled masons were flown in from India specifically for the construction, creating seven shrines adorned with mythological figures and intricate ornaments. The central shrine features a goddess facing east, symbolizing the direction of the rising sun.
The monumental tower above the entrance, known as the Gopuram, rises to 17 meters, further enhancing the temple’s grandeur.
4. Kurpark
At the conclusion of the 19th century, brine groundwater was discovered east of Hamm, revealing its therapeutic properties. Consequently, Hamm was recognized as a spa town until 1955, officially adopting the appellation “Bad Hamm.” The Kurpark (Spa Park) beautifully embodies this era, spanning over 66 hectares beside the Lippe River.
This area was designed as an arboretum and botanical garden, and despite the transition of flowerbeds into meadows, the robust trees serve as a reminder of the spa’s foundation over a century ago. The Art Nouveau Kurhaus, dating back to 1898, is now a designated monument utilized as an event space.
During summer on Sunday afternoons, the music pavilion situated within the park hosts diverse concerts.
5. Pauluskirche
The principal historical landmark in Hamm is this church, established in the 13th century and declared a German historic monument in 1985. The 80-meter pyramid-shaped church tower stands as one of the most aesthetically pleasing in Westphalia, visible from nearly any part of the city.
The church has withstood numerous challenges since the Middle Ages, including various fires and bombings during World War II.
The interior is notably simple yet imposing, highlighted by powerful circular pillars down the nave’s central aisle. Visitors can discover three epitaphs dated to the 17th and 18th centuries, including the 1653 stone for Johann Diedrich von Lemgow found during restorations in the 1950s.
6. Gustav Lübcke Museum
Hamm’s city museum honors a turn-of-the-century businessman and art collector who, in 1917, donated his paintings, Egyptian artifacts, and medieval art to the city. The museum relocated to contemporary premises in 1993 and has undergone significant enhancements in recent years.
The museum features noteworthy displays of Expressionist paintings and graphic art by renowned artists such as Emil Nolde, August Macke, Erich Heckel, and Christian Rohlfs. In the applied art galleries, visitors can admire innovative 20th-century designs from figures like Ettore Sottsass of the Memphis group and French designer Jean-Charles de Castelbajac.
The Egyptology collections include jewelry, amulets, bronze and wood sculptures, and, most intriguingly, two mummies.
7. Tierpark Hamm
Children will delight in a visit to Hamm’s zoo, which, while smaller than Germany’s major zoos, houses approximately 550 animals from 80 species and operates year-round.
A highlight of the park is its collection of primates, including Lar gibbons, mandrills, crab-eating macaques, lemurs, and Javan monkeys. Additionally, Tierpark Hamm features the only Sri Lankan leopards found in a German zoo, alongside Siberian tigers, fossas from Madagascar, zebras, and blackbucks.
Children can also interact with animals at the petting zoo, where they can feed a small herd of friendly goats.
8. Schloss Oberwerries
Northeast of the city in the Hamm-Heessen district lies Hamm’s most significant piece of pre-Industrial heritage, Schloss Oberwerries. This moated Baroque castle has expanded into a substantial complex situated along the right bank of the Lippe.
The oldest component of this structure is the gatehouse, which, in its current form, dates back to 1667, although it may be significantly older, featuring a Gothic ogival window from the original chapel.
The picturesque moat, grounds, and courtyard contribute to its charm, along with a café offering indoor and outdoor dining. The castle also includes a hotel, conference rooms, and educational facilities utilized by local schools.
Cyclists frequently stop by while traversing the 449-kilometer Römer-Lippe-Route, which weaves through North Rhine-Westphalia from Xanten to Detmold.
9. Waldbühne Heessen
Adjacent to Schloss Oberwerries, Waldbühne Heessen is recognized as one of Germany’s most cherished outdoor theatres. Established in 1924, it was originally located in the castle courtyard but relocated to a separate venue in 1928 due to capacity constraints.
Following a restoration in 1996, the theatre remains popular, able to accommodate 3,000 spectators while showcasing amateur productions of exceptional quality. Each season, spanning from May to September, three productions are presented, appealing to a broad audience; for instance, in 2017, performances included “Cabaret,” “Dr Dolittle,” and the children’s show “Rabatz im Zauberwald” (Ruckus in the Magic Forest).
10. Marktplatz
Hamm’s pedestrian zone, stretching one kilometer, revolves around the historic marketplace, established as early as 1226. The inclusion of a spacious trading area in the city plan significantly bolstered trade in Hamm, leading to its membership in the Hanseatic League in 1469. Unfortunately, many of the square’s gabled merchant houses were lost during World War II.
Nonetheless, on warm days, the square remains a delightful spot to conclude a shopping excursion, where one can enjoy refreshments at one of the many café and restaurant terraces.
11. Zeche Heinrich-Robert
For those interested in the Ruhr’s industrial legacy, Hamm’s last operating coal mine, Zeche Heinrich-Robert, remains a prominent landmark southwest of the city. The facility ceased operations in 1997 and was sold to a Chinese mining company a decade later, which dismantled its conveying machines and pumping systems for transport to China.
The mine is referenced on the Ruhr’s Industrial Heritage Trail. The best vantage point for observing the 30-meter-high washery building is from the slag heaps located northeast of the site. Twenty years post-closure, these heaps have been transformed into verdant areas serving recreational purposes.
12. Sights around Hamm
If time permits while visiting Hamm, several intriguing sites in the town center warrant exploration. One notable site is the gabled Haus Stuniken located at Antonistraße 10. Much of Hamm’s historic architecture was lost due to fire in the 1700s and again during World War II, but this striking five-story Renaissance house remains as a testament to the past.
Another handsome structure is the Haus Vorschulze, constructed in 1744 for the town’s mayor; it currently serves as an event venue. Additionally, Hamm’s Hauptbahnhof (Central Train Station), dating to 1912, is considered one of the most beautiful in Germany, reminiscent of a stately palace rather than a train station.
13. Ostring
Situated just south of Hamm’s pedestrian zone, Ostring is a cultured promenade established at the beginning of the 20th century and restored in 2011. This pathway replaced Hamm’s southern defensive walls, featuring a lengthy lawn bordered by straight, tree-lined paths.
The western end boasts a raised terrace, complete with an Art Nouveau-style music pavilion nestled between two wooden pergolas. Further along at the eastern end lies the Bärenbrunnen, adorned with a trio of bears and a cupid perched around a Doric column.
14. Christmas Market
From late November until approximately December 22, a charming Christmas market appears around the Paulus Kirche at Marktplatz. During this festive period, the aromas of roasted almonds and mulled wine permeate the air, inviting visitors to browse approximately 50 stalls offering handcrafted goods and seasonal delicacies.
The market’s food vendors serve until 22:00 during weekdays and extend their hours until 23:00 on Fridays and Saturdays. Children will particularly enjoy the ice skating rink, which covers nearly 400 square meters and hosts child-only sessions early in the day.
15. Industrial Heritage Trail
For enthusiasts of industrial heritage, Hamm is located at the far eastern terminus of the Ruhr Industrial Heritage Trail. A brief drive west provides access to significant 19th and 20th-century landmarks that are now protected monuments.
Nearby in Unna lies the Lindenbrauerei, a brewery founded in 1859, which resumed production of its distinctive beer in 2002 after a hiatus in the 20th century. Beyond that, numerous industrial museums, exquisite Art Nouveau colliery buildings, grand headframes, repurposed water towers, 19th-century worker settlements, inland waterways, and various elevated points on slag heaps that have been transformed into natural spaces are available to explore.
