Summary
One of Germany’s oldest cities following Trier, Neuss originated from the Roman encampment Novaesium on the left bank of the Rhine in 16 BC. Artifacts from the city’s initial years are displayed at the Clemens Sels Museum, which also boasts an impressive collection of artwork from the 19th and 20th centuries.
During the medieval period, Neuss was fortified by a defensive wall, still evident at Obertor, which successfully withstood the formidable Burgundian Duke Charles the Bold in the 15th century. By the late 1800s, the city evolved into an industrial port on the Rhine and continues to serve as a vital container harbor today.
Let’s explore the top attractions in Neuss:
1. Museum Insel Hombroich
An essential visit in Neuss is this art museum located slightly south of the city center.
The chosen site for the Museum Insel Hombroich was a decommissioned NATO rocket base.
Here, art collector Karl-Heinrich Müller worked alongside sculptor and architect Erwin Heerich to create a park that harmoniously integrates art, architecture, and nature into a remarkable experience.
Over approximately two decades, Heerich designed ten innovative pavilions that house a captivating collection of art.
This collection includes work by renowned artists such as Rembrandt, Giacometti, Yves Klein, Alexander Calder, Lovis Corinth, Matisse, Klimt, and Chillida, all set among ponds, meadows, and woodlands featuring outdoor installations.
2. Langen Foundation
Located on the grounds of the Museum Insel Hombroich, this museum showcases the extraordinary art collection amassed by 20th-century collector Marianne Langen.
Previously exhibited at properties shared by Marianne and her husband Viktor in Meerbusch, Germany, and Ascona, Switzerland, the works displayed here include pieces by notable artists such as Francis Bacon, Andy Warhol, Max Beckmann, Sigmar Polke, Paul Cézanne, and Yves Klein, among others.
These artworks are showcased alongside the Langens’ collection of Oriental art within a stylish gallery designed by Tadao Ando, which opened in 2004.
3. Basilica of St Quirinus
Constructed in the early 13th century, the city’s minster exemplifies the transition between Romanesque and Gothic architectural styles and is among the last churches in the Rhineland to feature a trefoil choir.
The westwork and façade display a striking array of pilasters, arched friezes, and blind arches, characteristic of the Lombard style, whereas the pointed arches in the tower reflect the newer Gothic design.
Though the war caused some loss of interior fittings and decorations, much was preserved.
The stalls in the north and south choirs date back to the 1450s, alongside a Roman sarcophagus, a plague cross from 1360, and depictions of Mary (15th century) and St Quirinus (16th century).
4. Clemens Sels Museum
Located on the northern outskirts of Rosengarten park, the Clemens Sels Museum has its origins in the 19th century, stemming from the collection of a local candle maker.
Following the destruction of the previous facility, the current building, designed by post-war Modernist Harald Deilmann, was completed in 1975.
The museum’s art spans from the Middle Ages to the 20th century, with a particular focus on Dutch Baroque painting and various other movements such as the German Nazarenes, English Pre-Raphaelites, naive art, and Symbolism from France, Belgium, and the Netherlands.
Notable works include “Maria Theresa Zambaco” by Dante Gabriel Rossetti, as well as pieces embodying the Rhenish Expressionism by August Macke and Heinrich Campendonk.
Additionally, the museum features Roman artifacts, including a 3rd-century ointment vessel and glass jewelry excavated from the site of Novaesium, the Roman camp.
5. Obertor
Adjacent to the Clemens Sels Museum, the historic Obertor is under the same management.
This imposing structure represents Neuss’ last remaining city gate, built in the 13th century.
Aficionados of history will find it interesting to note that this very gate played a crucial role during the siege of 1474/75 by the Burgundians led by Duke Charles the Bold.
Inside the Obertor, artifacts from the siege, including weapons and supplies, are on display.
At that time, Neuss was a relatively small town that managed to withstand the siege until a larger Imperial army compelled Charles the Bold to retreat.
6. Haus Rottels
This notable townhouse on Oberstraße has a rich and fascinating history.
Originally constructed as a monastery building, it was later acquired and renovated by the Rottels family.
The house formed part of a larger complex that included the family’s soap factory situated behind it.
The interiors have remained largely intact, providing a glimpse into bourgeois life during the 19th century, featuring an exhibition of items spanning from the late 18th century to the Second World War.
A scale model of Neuss’ Hauptbahnhof from 1876 is available for viewing, alongside a preserved shop from the early 20th century replete with authentic containers and period posters.
For those interested in Neuss’ shooting corps, Haus Rottels also houses the Rheinisches Schützenmuseum (Rhineland Shooting Museum).
7. St Marien
As Neuss’ population grew in the late 19th century, St Quirinus became insufficient to accommodate the congregation, leading to the construction of churches such as St Marien in emerging neighborhoods.
This Gothic Revival church was finished in 1902 but was severely damaged during the Second World War; subsequently, renowned artists contributed to its decoration in the years that followed.
In the nave, one can admire the stained glass windows by Emil Wachter, depicting the history of creation on the north side and the apocalypse on the south.
The sculptor and stonemason Hein Hinkenberg also played a significant role in the church’s decoration, creating statues, a baptismal font, tabernacle, and altar between 1928 and 1960.
8. Rosengarten
By the 1990s, this historic park adjacent to the Stadthalle and Clemens Sels Museum had deteriorated due to a combination of wartime damage and neglect.
However, within a few years, the Rosengarten was restored and revitalized: new flowerbeds were planted, complemented by improved lighting and seating.
Currently, the park is considered a “green oasis” within the city, and during mid-summer, it serves as the venue for one of the most anticipated cultural events of the year.
The Klassiknacht in late June features an evening of classical music performances.
In 2017, notable performers such as Georgian clarinetist Levan Tskhadadze and French violinist Louise Chisson graced the stage.
9. Botanischer Garten der Stadt Neuss
Neuss’ compact yet well-maintained botanical garden occupies one hectare between Körnerstraße and Bergheimer Straße, dating back over a century to 1914. Among the distinctive gardens on the premises are a potager and medicinal herb garden, complemented by stunning exotic tree species such as a bald cypress and a handkerchief tree from China.
The garden also features an aviary constructed in 1999, which houses a vibrant array of inhabitants, including zebra finches, king quails, lovebirds, cockatiels, and Pallas’ rosefinches.
10. Blutturm
Situated off Mühlenstraße, just a short distance from the Rosengarten, the Blutturm offers another intriguing reminder of Neuss’ city fortifications.
This semi-circular structure, known as the Blood Tower, dates back to the 1200s and was integrated into the city’s walls.
The ominous name is derived from the Blutturm’s historical function as a prison and torture chamber.
One of the most notorious inmates was Mathias Weber, also referred to as Der Fetzer, the leader of a bandit gang who endured torture here in 1803 before his execution by guillotine in Cologne.
11. Zum Schwatte PäD
A visit to Zum Schwatte PäD (The Black Horse) is essential as it represents the oldest burgher house in the Lower Rhine.
This Renaissance structure featuring a crow-stepped gable dates back to 1604 and was constructed by lieutenant and city councilor Rembold Breuer.
The ground floor has served as a restaurant for as long as anyone can remember.
Currently operated by the beer brand Diebels, the municipality is contemplating the purchase of Zum Schwatte PäD for conversion into a museum.
For the time being, one can capture a photo of the façade, adorned with characteristic mullioned windows and masonry stone marking the building’s year of construction.
12. Rheinpark-Center
For shopping enthusiasts, the Rheinpark-Center is accessible via the S-Bahn, situated by the Rhine just a couple of kilometers from the center of Neuss.
Developed in two phases at the beginning of the 2010s, the Rheinpark-Center features over 140 shops and restaurants, making it an excellent destination for an extensive shopping experience, especially when weather conditions are unfavorable.
Some notable stores include H&M, Mango, and Footlocker, along with fast-food chains from KFC to Nordsee, a local fish and chips establishment.
13. Turm Neuss
In front of the main post office at Theodor-Heuss-Platz, there exists an art installation conceived in 1985 by the Austrian architecture and art collective, Haus-Rucker-Co.
Standing ten meters tall and constructed from a steel frame with wooden panels, the tower was designed to blur the boundaries between architecture and sculpture, stimulating a dialogue regarding perception and public space.
Viewers looking through the openings will observe a tall, tapered brass cylinder extending from the floor to the ceiling.
14. Neuss Schützenfest
During the last week of August, a festival rich in tradition and grandeur attracts around 1.5 million attendees.
The Neuss Schützenfest is a marksmen’s festival wherein various corps from the city’s commendable shooting regiment, consisting of 7,860 members, parade through the city and engage in competitions.
Comprising ten different corps, each with its own historical significance, nine were established in the 19th century, while the Platoon of the Scheibenschützen Society can trace its origins back to 1415. Each of these brotherhoods possesses unique uniforms and symbols, showcased in all their splendor throughout a series of parades during the week.
The highlight is the royal parade commencing in Markt, Neuss, featuring 1,200 musicians.
15. Düsseldorf
Neuss is conveniently located near the capital of North Rhine-Westphalia, allowing commuters to reach Düsseldorf in approximately ten minutes by train.
Düsseldorf is a vibrant city that offers a plethora of activities to occupy visitors for several days.
The Altstadt is the most recognized area, featuring around 260 bars within just one square kilometer.
Visitors are encouraged to sample a glass of altbier, the local dark beer, paired with substantial traditional fare such as D üsseldorfer Senfrostbraten, a mustard-crusted rump steak.
Moreover, Düsseldorf’s riverside promenade is renowned as the finest along the Rhine, meandering down to the newly developed harbor district, showcasing architectural contributions from designers like Frank Gehry.
For those interested in upscale shopping, the Königsallee is a picturesque boulevard lining a tree-fringed canal and host to numerous luxury fashion brands, from Chanel to Gucci.
