Situated on the south bank of the Ruhr, Hagen is a city that seamlessly combines cultural experiences, industrial heritage, and expansive green parks. Notably, Hagen holds the title of the greenest city in North Rhine-Westphalia, which can be attributed to its hilly terrain and the two water reservoirs located along the Ruhr River.
Summary
An influential figure in Hagen’s cultural development was the industrialist and art benefactor Karl Ernst Osthaus. He commissioned renowned Art Nouveau artist Henry van de Velde to design both a museum and a villa, which continue to be cherished cultural sites a century later. The city is also known as the birthplace of 20th-century painter Emil Schumacher, whose works are displayed in a striking glass museum that opened in 2009. Additionally, Hagen is recognized in Germany for the FernUniversität, the sole state-owned distance learning university in the country.
Let us delve into the most noteworthy attractions in Hagen:
1. Hagen Open-Air Museum
Nestled in the narrow Mäckingerbach Valley at the base of the Sauerland mountains, this museum showcases a collection of 60 traditional workshops and factories reconstructed to preserve the craftsmanship of the past.
Within the historic half-timbered buildings, visitors can observe brewers, blacksmiths, bakers, tanners, rope-makers, and printers practicing their nearly forgotten trades.
The trip hammer workshop provides an auditory and visual insight into the production of agricultural tools as they were made in the 18th century.
The upper section of the museum features a village square with shops selling handmade crafts and a restaurant offering traditional culinary delights.
The museum operates during the summer months; however, it hosts a spectacular Christmas market on the first weekend of December.
2. Osthaus Museum
This institution resides in a building crafted by Henry van de Velde, a prominent figure in the Art Nouveau movement.
The museum was envisioned as a venue for the art collection of Karl Ernst Osthaus, a patron who hailed from Hagen.
Upon Osthaus’s death in the 1920s, the city of Essen outbid Hagen for his collection, leaving the museum void of exhibits until after World War II.
Since that time, the Osthaus Museum has curated a collection of art from both the early 20th century and contemporary pieces, featuring works by artists such as Kirchner, Otto Dix, and Erich Heckel, alongside more recent German talents like Ansgar Nierhoff and Franziskus Wendels.
3. Emil Schumacher Museum
Adjacent to the Osthaus Museum lies a venue dedicated to the Hagen-born abstract expressionist Emil Schumacher.
This museum debuted in a contemporary glass structure in 2009, coinciding with the Ruhr’s designation as European Capital of Culture in 2010. Emil’s son, Ulrich, established a foundation in 2001, which serves as the primary source for the extensive collection of canvases, gouaches, ceramics, and paintings on porcelain.
The museum houses over 500 works that span the entirety of Schumacher’s artistic journey.
Besides its permanent collection, the museum frequently hosts temporary exhibitions featuring both Schumacher and other 20th-century artists, as well as film screenings and regular concerts encompassing jazz and classical music.
4. Schloss Hohenlimburg
Perched above the Lenne Valley is a hilltop castle that dates back to 1240. Schloss Hohenlimburg served as the political hub of the former county of Limburg until the early 19th century and experienced continuous conflict until the conclusion of the Thirty Years’ War in the 1600s.
Both the inner and outer baileys are intact, along with the keep, gatehouses, walls, and various structures from the 1500s to the 1700s.
A particularly macabre exhibit displays the mummified hand of an individual, which has been carbon-dated to 1546 and is believed to have belonged to a murder victim.
This hand may have been utilized as a signal of a truce between two adversarial factions within the castle walls.
5. Bunkermuseum Hagen
As a notable railway city and significant arms manufacturer, Hagen became a prime target during bombing raids, with nearly three-quarters of the city destroyed during the war.
At the war’s conclusion, this Hochbunker (above-ground bunker) was one of the few structures still standing.
It provided shelter for up to 3,000 individuals during air raids, also serving as a storage space for bombed-out shops and as accommodation for homeless residents.
The museum has meticulously restored the bunker’s basement to reflect its 1940s appearance.
The ventilation system was cutting-edge for its time, and the bunker was equipped with medical facilities and its own well, enabling occupants to maintain self-sufficiency for weeks.
Among the artifacts from World War II on exhibit are portions of a V2 rocket and an intact V1.
6. Wasserschloss Werdringen
Located west of Hagen along the left bank of the Ruhr is a moated castle set amidst protected natural surroundings.
This moat serves as a habitat for a diverse range of amphibians, as well as Europe’s largest species of dragonfly.
In the 13th century, the castle fell under the possession of the Archbishops of Cologne before it became a contested site between rival noble families.
A notable conflict during the Soest Feud in the 1400s resulted in the castle’s destruction by artillery, after which it was reconstructed as a Late Gothic palace.
This elegant edifice now functions as a museum dedicated to prehistoric and early historic artifacts.
It houses human remains dating back to the Mesolithic period (11,000 years ago), primitive tools, ceramics, fossils from five distinct eras, and a taxidermied mammoth measuring 3.7 meters in height and 6.5 meters in length.
7. Hohenhof
Designed by Henry van de Velde, Karl Ernst Osthaus’s private residence was constructed in the Gartenstadt Hohenhagen adjacent to the Kunstquartier in 1908. Currently functioning as a museum, this house exemplifies a Gesamtkunstwerk (total artwork), wherein each piece of furniture and fixture was created by van de Velde to align with his artistic vision.
Every detail, from cutlery to crockery, was meticulously designed and crafted specifically for the villa.
Osthaus resided in this house until his death in 1921 and envisioned it as a hub for an art colony in Hagen.
8. Kaiser-Friedrich-Turm
At the highest elevation in Hagen, specifically in the Haspe district, stands the first of three commemorative towers in the city.
This structure was erected in honor of German Emperor Frederick III, who passed away in 1888, merely 99 days after ascending to the throne.
As Crown Prince, Frederick III distinguished himself during the Austro-Prussian and Franco-Prussian Wars in the 1860s and 1870s, actions that contributed to German Unification.
The sandstone tower was inaugurated in 1911, replacing an earlier wooden structure that was destroyed by lightning.
Standing 17 meters tall, it is situated 372 meters above sea level, and a six-kilometer trail connects this tower to the Eugen Richter Tower and Bismarck Tower, listed here as well.
9. Lange Riege
In the Eilpe district lies a row of half-timbered houses dating back to the 17th century, marking the oldest workers’ settlement in Westphalia.
The Lange Riege was established for swordsmiths who relocated from the city of Solingen to Hagen following the disruptions caused by the Thirty Years’ War.
They established a partnership with Frederick William, Elector of Brandenburg, to forge blades in Hagen, leading to the construction of these workshops in the 1660s, funded by him.
By the 18th century, these forges gained widespread recognition for their exceptional craftsmanship, significantly contributing to the city’s development prior to industrialization, although demand diminished in the 1800s.
10. Theater Hagen
Constructed in the Art Nouveau style in 1911, Hagen’s theatre continues to be a popular venue, attracting around 180,000 visitors annually with its varied programming.
The offerings include comedy, musical theatre, and drama, and the venue also hosts the Hagen Orchestra, presenting symphony concerts, chamber music performances, opera, and ballet.
Therefore, within the span of a few evenings, attendees might experience a rendition of Tosca followed by a musical interpretation of the Blues Brothers.
During the Christmas season, family-friendly performances of well-known fairy tales are also part of the program.
Lastly, visitors should take a moment to observe the four statues of muses created by the Expressionist sculptor Milly Steger, located above the entrance.
11. Eugen-Richter-Turm
Overlooking Hagen’s Wehringhausen district stands a memorial tower dedicated to the prominent liberal politician Eugen Richter.
The Eugen-Richter-Turm, reaching a height of 23 meters, is situated at an elevation of 285 meters.
This Medieval-style tower was erected in 1911, and visitors can ascend 86 steps up the spiral staircase to access an observation platform that offers a panoramic view of Hagen.
Richter represented the Hagen-Schwelm constituency in the Reichstag from 1874 to 1906 and served in the Prussian House of Representatives from 1869 to 1906, where he was recognized as a leading critic of Chancellor Otto von Bismarck.
12. Stadtgarten Hagen
To the south of Hagen lies the Goldberg hill, which rises to 266 meters and is home to gold and silver mines that date back to the 12th century.
In 1884, the city acquired land just west of the hill to establish a recreational area for residents from diverse social backgrounds.
Over the following years, the park underwent landscaping, and its lawns, groves, and lake remain largely unchanged from their appearance over a century ago.
On the western side, look for the Bismarckturm, constructed from Ruhr sandstone between 1900 and 1901 to commemorate Otto von Bismarck shortly after his demise in 1898. This tower is one of 173 Bismarck Towers still standing across Germany.
This memorial directly faces the Eugen-Richter-Turm situated on the opposite side of the valley.
13. Burg Altena
Located approximately 20 minutes away by car in the Sauerland region, Burg Altena is renowned as one of Germany’s most picturesque mountain castles.
Founded in the early 1100s by the Counts of Berg, the castle evolved throughout the 14th century into a more palatial estate than purely a fortification.
Throughout its history, the castle has served various purposes, including housing a garrison, hospital, and prison. Notably, in 1914, one of its inner bailey structures became the first youth hostel in the world, which remains operational today.
The site includes three museums, including one dedicated to metalwork (Märkische Schmiedemuseum) and another focused on hiking (Deutsches Wandermuseum). The primary highlight is the Museum der Grafschaft Mark, which intricately details the history of the surrounding County of Mark, tracing its narrative from prehistoric times to the Middle Ages.
14. Zwieback Museum Hagen
Hagen is home to Brandt, a prominent food brand in Germany known for producing Zwieback.
This crunchy baked good, similar to English rusk or Italian biscotti, is versatile and often enjoyed as a breakfast item with butter and jam.
On Enneper Straße in the Haspe district, Brandt has established a Zwieback museum within a half-timbered building dating back to 1750. Here, visitors can discover extensive information about Zwieback, its invention, and its modern manufacturing processes.
The facility also features a factory shop and a bistro operated by Brandt.
15. Hengsteysee and Harkortsee
Two of the six reservoirs on the Ruhr serve as a northern border between Hagen and adjacent municipalities such as Dortmund.
Hengsteysee and Harkortsee were dammed in 1929 and 1931, respectively, and continue to fulfill essential functions such as water purification. Moreover, both lakes have become cherished recreational areas during the summer months.
Along the banks of Hengsteysee, a scenic 6.5-kilometer trail invites walkers to explore its hilly, wooded landscape, while the southern shore integrates into the Ruhr Valley Cycle Route.
During the summer, the Freiherr vom Stein passenger boat offers round trips on the lake, with opportunities to rent pedal boats and rowboats along the north shore.
Downstream, Harkortsee is equally popular, featuring its own boat, the Friedrich Harkort, alongside boat rental facilities and a mini-golf course.
