Top 15 Must-Do Activities in Mülheim, Germany

Straddling the Ruhr River, Mülheim is a historic city surrounded by smaller settlements that emerged during the industrialization of the 19th century. Mülheim was among the first cities in the Ruhr area to transition from heavy industry to a service-oriented economy. The last mine, Rosenblumendelle, was closed in 1966, and today, one would hardly suspect that mining activities ever took place in the city.

Furthermore, Mülheim is recognized as one of the greenest cities in Germany, with over half of its area dedicated to parks and woodlands. A prominent figure in Mülheim’s history is August Thyssen, a 19th-century industrialist who established landmarks such as the water tower, which now serves as an imaginative museum, as well as an entire neighborhood designed to accommodate workers from his mine.

Let’s explore the premier attractions in Mülheim:

1. Aquarius Wassermuseum

A significant landmark visible from afar is a 50-meter water tower constructed by August Thyssen during 1892/93 to supply the sheet metal rolling mills.

Shortly thereafter, the facility was sold to the regional water authority and remained operational until the 1980s.

In preparation for Mülheim an der Ruhr’s state garden exhibition in 1992, the tower was transformed into a museum.

An external elevator was added to the structure, granting access to a panoramic platform at a height of 35 meters to commence your visit.

Within the museum, multimedia exhibits span 14 levels, detailing the cultural, technological, and scientific aspects of water, along with interactive games that engage younger visitors.

You will also learn about the internal mechanisms of a water tower and ride a glass elevator through the 500,000-liter water tank.

2. MüGa-Park

Another significant project for the Landesgartenschau in 1992 was the landscaping of this 66-hectare park on the left bank of the Ruhr.

Previously, the terrain was a scrapyard, industrial ruins, and a former rail yard for the lower Ruhrtalbahn.

Today, as you stroll through the meadows and meticulously groomed formal gardens, it is difficult to imagine that anything but a park existed here.

Moreover, unlike many parks created for state or federal garden shows, MüGa-Park is free to enter, featuring educational gardens, pavilions, sculptures, and ponds, interconnected by cycling and walking trails.

Children can enjoy three distinct playgrounds, including a water playground designed for summer fun.

3. Museum zur Vorgeschichte des Films

A second water tower, the Broicher Wasserturm (1904), has also been repurposed into an innovative visitor attraction.

Inside this tower was installed the world’s largest accessible camera obscura in 1992, utilizing optical technology from the Carl Zeiss company to project a live, focusable 360-degree view of areas renovated for the Landesgartenschau, as well as the banks of the Ruhr.

In 2005, the lower levels of the tower underwent renovations.

Spanning three floors, the museum features a compelling exhibition on the evolution of moving images from 1750 to 1930, showcasing an impressive collection of original artifacts such as kaleidoscopes, phenakistiscopes, magic lanterns, and zograscopes.

4. Schloss Broich

Located moments from MüGa-Park is one of the oldest remaining fortifications north of the Alps.

Schloss Broich dates back to Carolingian times in the 9th century, constructed to defend against Viking raids that occurred along the banks of the Ruhr in 883, resulting in a winter encampment here.

Over the years, the castle evolved into a Renaissance palace, and notable German monarch Louise of Mecklenburg-Strelitz visited in the early 19th century.

The remnants from the 1,100-year-old Carolingian era are distinctly visible in the inner bailey, which also houses a small museum dedicated to Mülheim’s history, featuring a 3D model of the city during the time of Napoleon.

Schloss Broich also hosts medieval-themed festivals and concerts during the summer, alongside a Christmas Market in December.

5. Freilichtbühne Mülheim an der Ruhr

Situated in the heart of the city is one of Germany’s largest outdoor theatres, accommodating up to 2,000 spectators amidst beautiful greenery.

The seating tiers are built into a former 19th-century quarry, hosting a variety of cultural events during the summer on Wednesdays, encompassing performances from hip hop artists to folk musicians.

Even if you don’t attend an event, it is certainly worthwhile to visit the surrounding Dimbeckpark, featuring a rose garden and established trees.

Had it not been for Mülheim’s park director, Fritz Kessler, the former quarry might have become the city dump.

His proposal to create a park was initially thwarted by the Great Depression but ultimately took shape when the location was designated as a “Thingplatz,” a Nazi-era outdoor performance venue, which eventually transformed into the current facility.

6. Altstadt

Mülheim boasts an uncommon feature for a city in North Rhine-Westphalia: an intact old town.

Just above Leineweberstraße lies a quaint maze of alleys adorned with half-timbered houses, resembling a village more than an urban center.

Despite significant transformations over the centuries, the old town likely dates back to the 6th or 7th centuries, with the hill now occupied by the Petrikirche once being home to a fortified royal court during the High Middle Ages.

Guests can enjoy a meal at one of the taverns within the charming half-timbered houses in this district.

Adjacent to this area is the Altstadtfriedhof (Old Town Cemetery), which is 200 years old and serves as the final resting place for several prominent Ruhr industrial families, including the Thyssens of thyssenkrupp.

7. Haus Ruhrnatur

Located on the Schleuseninsel (“Lock Island”) in the heart of the Ruhr, this museum focuses on the river’s ecosystem and renewable energy, complementing the Aquarius Wassermuseum and established in 1992. The building is an attractive former boathouse constructed from sandstone.

Inside, there are 32 stations where visitors can examine the Ruhr’s water under a microscope and view various species that inhabit the river in an aquarium.

The museum also educates visitors about green energy technologies, including the science behind wind turbines, water turbines, and solar panels.

On sunny days, the café, accompanied by its riverside beer garden, invites guests to linger a little longer.

8. Kloster Saarn

In the district of the same name, Kloster Saarn is a former Cistercian abbey established in the early 13th century.

The complex was used for 600 years until secularization by the French government in the early 1800s, featuring architecture from various historical periods.

Following its transformation into a Prussian rifle factory in the 19th century, the monastery was later acquired by the city in the 1930s and repurposed as accommodation for elderly citizens.

Throughout the 1980s, the site was restored as a monument, and in 2008, the monastery’s museum opened to display fascinating discoveries made during excavation efforts.

A potager garden has also been cultivated to help recreate monastic life during the Middle Ages.

9. Schloss Styrum

The Aquarius Wassermuseum occupies a site that was once a Holy Roman lordship.

This location was the stronghold of the Counts of Limburg Styrum, who held substantial territories in Westphalia and the Lower Rhine during their peak in the Middle Ages.

The castle was adapted to its current Baroque style following a fire in 1738 and was purchased as a residence by August Thyssen in 1890. Today, the building serves multiple functions, including a care center for the elderly, artist studios, and an upscale restaurant.

Should you find time after visiting the water tower, consider exploring Styrum’s beautiful grounds adjacent to the Ruhr.

10. Bismarckturm

Of the 240 towers erected in memory of Chancellor Otto von Bismarck and the German unification, 173 still stand today.

Mülheim’s tower was inaugurated on April 1, 1909, coinciding with Bismarck’s birthday.

This structure is strategically positioned on the 90-meter-high Kahlenberg hill, offering scenic views of the Ruhr.

Following the war, it served as a broadcasting tower for the British army.

In 1970, it faced the prospect of demolition, but local residents successfully opposed the plan.

It has only been possible to ascend the tower since 1998, and visitors can do so for a nominal fee daily during the summer from 15:00 to 17:00, excluding Mondays and Saturdays.

11. Ruhrstrand

Although it is not yet safe to swim in the Ruhr, the river and its banks provide ample opportunities for various outdoor activities.

Ruhrstrand has long served as a haven for relaxation, strolls, and cycling since the 1930s, situated on a lengthy green peninsula along the left bank of the river.

With proper planning, visitors can reserve the park’s barbecue facilities during summer, while also enjoying cycling paths, green spaces for relaxation, a children’s playground, and amenities for ball sports.

Across the river from the park lies Mülheim’s canoe and kayak club, where visitors can rent equipment and paddle this gently flowing river on warm days.

12. Bergarbeitersiedlung Mausegatt

Over a century ago, mining was a primary source of employment in Mülheim, yet today, virtually no remnants of this industry remain.

The only remaining landmark of the mining era is the Mausegatt neighborhood, designed to accommodate workers from “Zeche Wiesche.” Similar to several attractions in Mülheim, Bergarbeitersiedlung Mausegatt features on the Ruhr’s Industrial Heritage Trail and was developed in the 1900s by August Thyssen and fellow coal magnate Hugo Stinnes.

Mausegatt primarily housed laborers from Prussia’s eastern regions and Poland, located just a 10-minute walk from the mine.

The neighborhood’s conservation group has diligently preserved Mausegatt’s charming brick homes, maintaining their appearance as they were a century ago, while successfully advocating against redevelopment in the 1970s.

13. Stadt-Viadukt und Ruhrbrücke Mülheim

Described as one of the leading engineers of Germany’s industrial age, Emil Hermann Hartwich designed this rail viaduct and bridge in Mülheim.

The structure was constructed in 1864/65 and forms the northern boundary of MüGa-Park. The bridge and viaduct were previously utilized by rail traffic as a spur of the Osterath–Dortmund Süd line until its closure in 2002. Since that time, this remarkable example of 19th-century engineering has remained inactive.

It is noteworthy to mention that the viaduct is currently undergoing repaving to create a cycling path and promenade, a project reminiscent of New York’s High Line.

14. Schleuseninsel (Lock Island)

The island surrounding Haus Ruhrnatur is a vast park, providing a serene setting to spend an hour or so.

At its core is the Wasserbahnhof, which serves as the headquarters for the Weiße Flotte cruise company, housed in an Art Deco structure from the 1920s reminiscent of a ship’s bow.

The island also features a restaurant named Franky’s, along with an inviting beer garden that attracts visitors during summer months.

This location played a pivotal role in Mülheim’s development during the 19th century, as it was here that the city’s locks were constructed.

Coal mining in this area dates back to 1460, but it was the establishment of the lock in 1780 that enabled its shipment in substantial quantities.

15. Ruhr Boat Trips

At the Wasserbahnhof, visitors can embark on a cruise with the Weiße Flotte, which operates three times daily up to the historical river port at Essen-Kettwig.

This scenic stretch of the Ruhr meanders through rural landscapes and past remnants of industrial heritage.

Kettwig offers a delightful environment to explore, featuring a steep maze of gabled and half-timbered houses.

Afterward, you may catch the 151 bus from the marketplace, returning you to Mülheim in just a few minutes.

The boat season commences in mid-April and extends through early October.

At the season’s conclusion, there are two additional weeks of cruises during which passengers are treated to a complimentary glass of beer or wine aboard the vessel.