Summary
The cradle of industry in the Ruhr, Oberhausen is a city that emerged in the 1860s due to a combined metallurgy and coalmining initiative, attracting thousands of families who established communities such as Siedlung Eisenheim, one of Germany’s earliest company towns.
As heavy industry began to decline in the 1970s, Oberhausen transformed its identity. The modern Neue Mitte now serves as the city’s vibrant center, featuring the second largest mall in Germany and attractions like Legoland and Sea Life for family outings.
Additionally, remnants of Oberhausen’s industrial heritage remain—such as a colossal gasometer, now an impressive venue for art installations and exhibitions, along with a preserved rolling mill showcasing its machinery.
Let’s examine the premier attractions in Oberhausen:
1. Gasometer Oberhausen
This iconic structure, completed in 1929 and standing nearly 120 meters tall, is a repurposed gasometer.
Although it was damaged during the war, it was restored and became operational again by 1950, ultimately being decommissioned in 1988. Its status as a city landmark led to its acquisition and transformation into an exhibition space.
Since 1994, the Gasometer has hosted diverse exhibitions focusing on art, science, nature, the solar system, and world heritage, utilizing its unique acoustics.
An internal elevator grants access to the rooftop, offering a panoramic view of the Ruhr Area.
2. Ludwig Galerie Schloss Oberhausen
Alongside the gasometer, this Neoclassical palace and its adjoining Kaisergarten are recognized along the Ruhr’s Route of Industrial Culture.
Constructed in the mid-19th century, the palace has been managed since the 1980s by a charitable organization established by notable collectors Peter and Irene Ludwig.
Up to seven exhibitions are organized annually, featuring the foundation’s extensive art and photography collections as well as touring displays.
Noteworthy past exhibitions have highlighted works by Roy Lichtenstein, Andy Warhol, Henri Cartier-Bresson, and others since 1998.
3. Kaisergarten
Oberhausen, still in its infancy as a city when designed, features a 28-hectare park adjacent to Schloss Oberhausen, inaugurated in the late 19th century.
The Kaisergarten was established on the centennial of Kaiser Wilhelm I, which is reflected in its name.
Approximately a quarter of the park is woodland, while a third comprises older forest areas predating the park.
The park is an ideal location for morning jogs, leisurely walks, and picnics, with amenities such as pony rides, a mini-golf center, and animal enclosures that appeal to families.
Home to over 450 animals, the Kaisergarten features predominantly farmyard species, alongside lynxes, ibexes, and wolves.
4. CentrO
As the second largest shopping center in Germany, CentrO is a focal point of the Neue Mitte, having opened in 1996. It features over 250 retail stores, showcasing both prominent German and international mid-market brands.
Shoppers will find popular brands such as Zara, H&M, and Bershka alongside more upscale designers like Tommy Hilfiger and Guess.
Most major attractions listed here, including the Gasometer, LEGOLAND, and SEA Life, are conveniently located within proximity to the shopping area.
CentrO also houses a multiplex cinema and boasts one of Europe’s largest food courts with 1,100 seats.
The exterior features a 400-meter pedestrian promenade lined with restaurants, bars, and clubs, while the outdoor area hosts Oberhausen’s Christmas market in December.
5. Zinkfabrik Altenberg
The LVR-Industriemuseum, overseeing several historical industrial locations in Oberhausen and the surrounding Ruhr area, is headquartered at this former sheet-metal factory.
With a 130-year operational history culminating in the 1980s, Zinkfabrik Altenberg served as a rolling mill for the construction sector.
Its galleries depict the transition of an agricultural region into the world’s largest industrial hub, highlighting both the influential industrial barons and the everyday lives of those employed in iron and steelworks.
Visitors can explore the preserved machinery, including a 53-ton steam hammer and lathe, allowing firsthand insights into steel production processes.
6. Siedlung Eisenheim
A designated monument and key stop along the Ruhr Industrial Heritage Trail, Siedlung Eisenheim was one of the first worker settlements in the Ruhr and among Germany’s earliest company towns.
This neighborhood dates back to 1846 and was completed in phases over the subsequent 50 years.
By the turn of the century, it was home to 1,200 residents occupying 51 brick houses arranged in lengthy terraces.
The community was developed by Gutehoffnungshütte, the mining and metallurgy company based in Oberhausen.
Today, 38 of the original structures from a century ago still stand, a testament to the community’s efforts in the 1970s to prevent their demolition.
7. Sea Life Aquarium
Oberhausen’s branch of the Sea Life aquarium chain houses over 5,000 marine species within two million liters of water.
The main highlight is the shark tank, which holds the distinction of being the largest in Germany and features an underwater tunnel providing views of black tip reef sharks and rays from below.
A newly opened turtle exhibit combines a terrarium with educational content on their habitats, evolution, various species, diet, and behavior.
Be sure to pay attention to the feeding schedule, which occurs twice daily at the shark tank, at 13:00 and 16:00.
8. Slinky Springs to Fame
Spanning the Rhine-Herne Canal between Kaisergarten and Emscherinsel, “Slinky Springs to Fame” is a bridge conceptualized by artist Tobias Rehberger.
This structure can be described as a walkable work of art, inaugurated in 2011, and its name is apt given the metallic spiral that envelops the pathway.
Colorful patterns adorn the access ramps, which change every few meters.
Visiting at night is particularly captivating when the underside of the walkway is illuminated.
9. LEGOLAND Discovery Centre
Located across from the canal-side promenade at CentrO is Oberhausen’s LEGOLAND Discovery Centre.
This indoor theme park is designed for children up to age 10, featuring two rides and ten zones dedicated to construction and play with Lego.
Miniland showcases major landmarks of the Rhine and Ruhr, including Borussia Dortmund’s Signal Iduna Park, all crafted from Lego bricks. The 4D Cinema screens Lego-themed 3D films enriched with multisensory effects.
10. AQUApark
Few can boast of experiencing a water park with an industrial theme, but AQUApark pays tribute to Oberhausen’s mining heritage with its metal and glass roofing, which is partially retractable during warm summer days.
The diving board for the main pool resembles a mine’s headframe, while the play area for children incorporates obstacles fashioned as a horse laden with mining equipment.
The foyer features an exhibit of black and white photographs documenting the region’s history of mining and heavy industry.
Children will particularly enjoy the 120-meter tube slide, noted as the longest of its kind in Europe.
11. Bunkermuseum
Conveniently situated near the Gasometer and CentrO, the Bunkermuseum features exhibitions within a Second World War-era underground bunker (Hochbunker).
Modern upper levels were added in 2001, while the lower sections remain preserved as they were post-war.
Temporary exhibitions explore themes of contemporary history and art, while the permanent collection documents the Second World War in the Ruhr Area, from the Blitzkrieg of 1940 to the Allied bombings from 1943 to 1945.
12. Gehölzgarten Ripshorst
Located directly east of the Neue Mitte, this former noble estate has been transformed into a public park along the southern bank of the Rhine-Herne Canal.
Amid open meadows and woodlands lies Haus Ripshorst, a knightly residence dating back to the 1300s, the only Medieval structure remaining in the Essen area.
Currently, Haus Ripshorst serves as an information center for Escher Landschaftspark, a unique blend of natural areas and former industrial sites within the river valley.
Once reserved for Oberhausen’s metallurgical industry, the land around the estate now invites visitors for canal-side strolls and vibrant outdoor events during the summer.
13. Zauberlehrling
Within Gehölzgarten Ripshorst park, one can find a unique sculpture installed in 2013, named Zauberlehrling (Sorcerer’s Apprentice), inspired by Goethe’s poem. The sculpture resembles a personified electricity pylon that appears to dance.
This solitary piece, reaching 35 meters in height, was created by the Berlin art collective Inges Idee, notable for their fantastical public art installations across Germany, Europe, and Japan.
14. Metronom Theater
One of the final projects in the Neue Mitte is an eye-catching theater that features a roof designed to resemble a dragon’s head.
The Metronom Theater was constructed in a remarkably short span of ten months, completing in September 1999, and accommodates 1,807 spectators.
This venue hosts a single production for approximately a year; notable past performances include residencies by the Blue Man Group and popular musicals such as Mamma Mia!, Dirty Dancing, The Phantom of the Opera, Beauty and the Beast, and Tarzan.
15. International Short Film Festival
The Lichtburg Cinema in Oberhausen hosts one of the world’s oldest and most esteemed short film festivals.
Established in 1954, this event occurs annually in mid-May.
Cultural enthusiasts will appreciate the long list of acclaimed directors who have submitted early works to the festival, including Werner Herzog, Roman Polanski, Martin Scorsese, and more recent talents like Miranda July.
Wim Wenders has cited this festival as an inspiration for his filmmaking pursuits.
The festival features categories for children aged ten and older, as well as for teenagers (14+) over six days of screenings.
