Top 15 Attractions in Bergisch Gladbach, Germany

The city of Bergisch Gladbach was established in 1975 when the namesake town and Bensberg merged during a territorial reform in North Rhine-Westphalia. Today, it is characterized by its rural ambiance and tranquil lifestyle, located just across the Rhine from Cologne.

Historically, one of the primary industries in Bergisch Gladbach was papermaking. The city still houses an operational paper mill, Zanders, which boasts a legacy of more than two centuries in the papermaking industry.

The principal art museum in Bergisch Gladbach occupies a 19th-century villa that was constructed for Maria Zanders, the spouse of a paper industrialist, who had a profound appreciation for Romantic art. The sources for papermaking are readily apparent; venturing in any direction from Bergisch Gladbach leads to expansive deciduous forests ideal for walking and cycling.

Here, we shall examine the noteworthy attractions in Bergisch Gladbach:

1. Papiermuseum Alte Dombach

Situated in the Sand district of Bergisch Gladbach, this historic paper mill is recognized as Germany’s largest museum dedicated to the art of papermaking, and serves as a site for the LVR Industrial Museum, which has locations throughout the Rhineland.

The exhibitions are housed in multiple structures at the Alte Dombach mill, which commenced paper production in 1614. The facility continued operations throughout industrialization, allowing visitors to compare the traditional water-powered techniques employed prior to the 19th century with mass production machinery such as the 40-meter-long PM4 from 1889. The museum features a laboratory equipped with a working machine that transforms raw materials into sheets of paper.

Venturing away from the main mill building, visitors can explore the drying house for special exhibitions and examine enormous shredders and vats historically used for boiling rags.

In the former workers’ dormitory, a café has now been established.

2. Kunstmuseum Villa Zanders

This villa, built in the mid-1870s for Maria Zanders, the widow of paper magnate Richard Zanders, exemplifies industrial-era architecture.

Initially, the residence was positioned directly to the north of the Schnabelsmühle paper mills.

In 1932, the Neo-Renaissance villa was bequeathed to the city as a cultural venue, and in 1986, after restoration, it became the municipal gallery.

The villa’s charm is accentuated by its period interiors, reflecting the bourgeois culture of a burgeoning industrial city.

The permanent collection is predominantly comprised of works from the Düsseldorf School of Painting, known for its Romantic style in the 19th century.

Notable pieces include works by Johann Wilhelm Schirmer and Carl Ludwig Fahrbach, alongside a remarkable exhibition detailing the history of papermaking within the city and its utilization as an artistic medium.

3. Mediterana

Located in the Saaler Mühle district, this spa resort features a Mediterranean/Moorish theme, providing opportunities for relaxation and fun for visitors of all ages.

During the summer months, children are particularly drawn to the outdoor bathing facilities, which include a wave pool.

The outdoor area also features a spacious sunbathing area located on the eastern bank of Lake Bensberger See.

However, the true allure of Mediterana lies in its numerous steam rooms, saunas, and thermal pools inspired by exotic themes.

Visitors can obtain a pass for a duration of two hours, four hours, or an entire day. With a food court available, it is easy to spend a full day indulging in relaxation, massage, and beauty treatments.

4. Schloss Bensberg

This monument is accessible only to guests of the luxurious hotel and restaurant that features three Michelin stars.

Nevertheless, Schloss Bensberg still demands attention due to its distinctive cupolas and expansive white walls, visible from considerable distances.

The property was originally a hunting lodge for the Counts Palatine of the Rhine during the early 18th century.

Perched atop a hill, Schloss Bensberg opens its gates to the public for a limited number of annual events, including a classic car show in July and a charming Christmas market.

From the front gates, one can view a landscape that aligns perfectly with Cologne Cathedral in the distance, approximately 20 kilometers to the west.

5. Bergisches Museum für Bergbau, Handwerk und Gewerbe

Housed within an ensemble of 18th and 19th-century structures surrounding the half-timbered Turmchenhaus, this museum explores the history of mining, crafts, and trade in Bergisch Gladbach.

Approximately ten traditional houses and workshops display the skills and tools necessary for trades such as saddlery, chain-making, tanning, baking, and wheel-making, and visitors can observe a hammer mill in operation.

The main building, which was formerly a prison, delves into the origins and development of ore mining in the Bergisches Land region, the craft of constructing local half-timbered houses, and the history of Bensberg’s castle and hunting lodge.

6. St. Laurentius

The current parish church dedicated to St. Laurentius has existed at this location since at least 1282. Although the structure appears medieval, this Neo-Romanesque church has been constructed in several phases between 1845 and the early 1900s.

The interior is adorned with art from the church’s predecessor, which includes intricately carved figures of saints dating back to the 1700s and a remarkable Pietà sculpted in a Cologne workshop in 1470.

7. Evangelische Gnadenkirche

One of the city’s most picturesque monuments, this yellow-painted reformed evangelical church was rebuilt in the 1770s.

The church is a blend of Baroque architecture, evident in its tower and onion dome, combined with later Neoclassical elements such as the Doric portico at the main entrance.

This structure also incorporates decorative elements from an earlier church, including two stained glass windows from the early 15th century depicting the birth and crucifixion of Christ.

The adjoining old graveyard merits a brief visit, featuring tombstones that date from the 1500s to the 1800s.

8. Altes Schloss Bensberg

At Bensberg’s old castle, medieval stonework converges with modern concrete.

Altes Schloss dates back to the 1100s and was originally owned by Thuringian Landgrave Ludwig I. Following the introduction of firearms in the late 14th century, this stronghold transitioned into a noble residence; however, after a new hunting lodge was established up the hill in the 1700s, this building underwent transformations, becoming a monastery and later a Catholic hospital.

In the 1950s, when the old castle was designated as Bensberg’s town hall, the architect Gottfried Böhm designed a radical extension incorporating modern concrete elements alongside the medieval architecture.

The outcome is unusual yet captivating, particularly the spiral staircase tower.

Since the merger of Bensberg and Bergisch Gladbach in 1975, the structure has served as the technical department of the city administration.

9. Wildpark Dünnwald

Extending westward from the Bergisch Land is the Dünnwald Forest, which stretches down to the Rhine adjoining Cologne.

For a family-oriented day trip, the animal park offers a refuge where European species inhabit large enclosures.

Among the inhabitants are European bison, which now exist primarily in the wild along the Poland-Belarus border, as well as mouflons, fallow deer, and wild boar, all roaming freely, accompanied by flocks of Egyptian geese.

Visitors can purchase feed for the animals from machines located throughout the park, which also features an arboretum boasting a variety of exotic tree species, including sequoias, Korean pines, and Japanese umbrella pines planted over the past fifty years.

10. KVB-Museum

Although this transportation museum lies within the city limits of Cologne, it is conveniently located closer to Bergisch Gladbach, situated slightly west of the city center.

The museum occupies the historical Thielenbruch depot, which has been in existence for over a century.

This iron-framed hall serves as an ideal venue to explore 130 years of tram travel in Cologne.

The collection features 20 vintage trams, all accessible for visitors to walk through, showcasing evolving technology and design.

Accompanying the trams are numerous panels detailing the tram network’s history during the 19th and 20th centuries, alongside photographs, timetables, posters, maps, models, and information regarding the technology behind signaling and track construction.

11. Schulmuseum Bergisch Gladbach – Sammlung Cüppers

In the Katterbach district, a rural elementary school from the 19th century has been preserved as a museum.

The museum comprises six rooms, allowing visitors to journey back in time to discover what schooling was like in the early 1900s through a collection of educational materials amassed by Carl Cüppers, a former school councillor in Bergisch Gladbach.

Particularly remarkable are the thousands of murals and posters that once adorned the hallways and classrooms of local schools.

These captivating printed illustrations depict historical events, scientific diagrams, fairy tale scenes, wild animals, renowned monuments, and natural landscapes.

12. Rathaus

Located in the Stadtmitte district on Konrad-Adenauer-Platz, Bergisch Gladbach’s Neo-Renaissance Town Hall is a recognized historical building.

The three-winged structure is crafted from local limestone and is easily identifiable due to its decorative gables, white lantern, and high hip roof.

Stepping inside reveals 26 oil paintings featuring biblical themes, created by Maria Zanders, the former owner of Villa Zanders.

These artworks reflect the style of the Romantic artist Johann Wilhelm Schirmer, from whom she collected numerous pieces at what is now the art museum.

13. Königsforst

At times, the need for greenery and fresh air becomes essential.

Fortunately, both are abundantly available to the south of Bergisch Gladbach in the 2,500-hectare Königsforst.

This natural environment encompasses heathland, oak and beech forests, brooks, streams, and ponds.

In the 19th century, this landscape was dotted with Bensberg’s ore mines.

The Königsforst is part of the Heideterrasse, an 80-kilometer band of meadows and woodlands on the Rhine’s right bank, marking the transition from the middle to lower valley.

On weekends, this area attracts visitors seeking opportunities for horseback riding, cycling, jogging, and hiking along trails, including a portion of the ancient pan-European pilgrimage route, the Way of St. James.

14. Hochseilgarten K1

For families with children or adolescents bursting with energy, this high ropes course nestled in the woods to the east of Bergisch Gladbach serves as an excellent outing.

Hochseilgarten K1 primarily caters to corporate events and schools; however, visitors can also join on any designated day.

This engaging and proven concept, common throughout Europe, features platforms suspended high among the trees with various climbing obstacles connected by ropes.

Some challenges, such as the two-rope bridge and giant ladder, prove more difficult than others.

Fortunately, all participants are equipped with safety helmets and harnesses.

15. Cologne

Once you access Bundesautobahn 4, the journey to Cologne from Bergisch Gladbach takes approximately 15 minutes.

As a vibrant and contemporary city, Cologne exudes a joyful spirit epitomized by the lively festivities that occur annually during carnival season.

Most merrymaking is fueled by Cologne’s renowned Kölsch pilsner.

Culturally, one cannot overlook the majestic World Heritage cathedral, which dominates the skyline with its impressive 157-meter towers and houses the illustrious Medieval Shrine of the Three Kings.

The city’s ancient history is showcased at the Roman-German Museum, while modern art enthusiasts should visit the Ludwig Museum and the Wallraf-Richartz Museum, home to Old Masters.

Families may also enjoy a visit to the Cologne Zoo or take a cable car ride across the river to the right bank at Rheinpark.