Top 15 Attractions and Activities in Velbert, Germany

Perched on the high hills of the Bergisches Land, Velbert is a town historically resonant with the sounds of metal forges. While neighboring cities such as Solingen are known for blade manufacturing, Velbert has established itself as a benchmark for lock-making.

Today, many of Velbert’s residents continue to work in lock and metal fitting manufacturing, and the city hosts the national museum dedicated to this craft. Exploring Velbert offers a rewarding experience with its scenic uplands, charming town centers in Langenberg and Neviges, both adorned with half-timbered houses.

Let us examine the top attractions in Velbert:

1. Deutsches Schloss- und Beschlägemuseum (German Museum for Locks and Metal Fittings)

The only museum worldwide dedicated to locks and security technology, the Schloss- und Beschlägemuseum is located in the contemporary Forum Niederberg center.

The exhibition relocated here in 1982, having originally begun as a city museum in 1928. Visitors can engage with 4,000 years of security technology, examining the earliest sophisticated locking systems developed during Roman times.

Being in Velbert allows one to witness how industrialization transformed the lock-making industry, with opportunities to inspect examples of innovative lock mechanisms and keys from this era, utilized for homes, safes, furniture, and cash registers.

The museum also showcases cutting-edge technology, such as biometric access control and electronic transponder locks, indicating the future trajectory of security systems.

2. Nevigeser Wallfahrtsdom

Situated in the Velbert-Neviges district, this pilgrimage site has been revered for over 340 years, commencing with a Marian apparition in 1676, followed by the establishment of a Franciscan monastery.

However, the Nevigeser Wallfahrtsdom is particularly notable for its 20th-century architectural significance. Designed by celebrated architect Gottfried Böhm, the new concrete church was completed in 1966 in a Brutalist style.

One does not need to be an architecture enthusiast to appreciate the imposing scale and the jagged, abstract lines of this structure, resembling an Expressionist artwork.

Utilizing concrete, Böhm created a vast open hall, capable of accommodating 6,000 worshippers. Intriguingly, the design incorporates religious symbolism, with the rose—a symbol of Mary—serving as a recurring motif.

3. Langenberg

For a more relaxed exploration, the old town center of Langenberg is visually appealing.

This historical area thrived during the Early Modern Age, powered by two streams—the Hardenberger Bach and the Deilbach—that facilitated the operations of copper hammers and various mills for producing paper, oil, and flour.

Langenberg retains a charming cluster of half-timbered houses dating from the 16th to the 18th centuries, some adorned with slate in the traditional Bergisches style.

An attractive church embodies a blend of Gothic and Bergisch Baroque architectural elements, while the newer outskirts showcase a ring of 19th-century villas that belonged to Langenberg’s industrialists. The weekly market brings a delightful experience on Wednesday and Saturday mornings.

4. Langenberg Transmission Tower

For an immersive experience in nature, Hordtberg, a 244-metre hill within Langenberg, presents an ideal option.

This location stands as the highest point for several kilometers and has historically been chosen for transmitter installations.

Currently, two towers stand atop the hill: a 170-meter medium wave mast at the lower elevation and a towering 300-meter mast for TV, FM, and medium wave signals at the summit.

These transmitters serve audiences across North Rhine-Westphalia, extending as far as the Netherlands and Belgium.

For enthusiasts of massive structures, a close inspection is highly recommended. Furthermore, Hordtberg is enveloped in 120 hectares of lush forest, making it an attractive destination for walkers since the 1800s.

5. Bismarckturm

Visitors are also drawn to the Hordtberg for its magnificent view from this memorial tower erected in honor of Otto von Bismarck.

Following Bismarck’s passing at the close of the 19th century, 184 similar towers were constructed across Germany.

The Hordtberg tower, nearing 30 meters in height, was inaugurated in 1906. A restaurant located at the tower’s base is an additional attraction, though it was undergoing renovations at the time of this writing in 2017. The Bismarckturm has become a popular destination for walkers, with a mini-golf course and barbecue area surrounding its base.

6. Schloss Hardenberg

This moated castle is among the oldest landmarks in the municipality, with its first historical mention occurring in 1354. The property has been highly sought after by noble families for centuries and has changed hands many times throughout its history.

A notable feature of the castle is its 17th-century casemates—galleries containing shooting positions integrated into the ramparts to counter artillery attacks.

Additionally, four stout artillery towers with conical slate roofs fortify each corner of the structure. Renovations for the castle and its casemate were ongoing in 2017; however, visitors were still able to enjoy the bistro, which offers outdoor seating in the courtyard. The grounds are picturesque, boasting a mini-golf course ideal for family visits.

7. Herminghauspark

Velbert’s premier park offers amenities typical of a paid attraction.

Notably, the park features an animal area with gentle domestic animals such as chickens, donkeys, Shetland ponies, sheep, and goats, many of which children can interact with and feed.

The playground area spans over 6,000 square meters, meticulously designed for imaginative play and well-maintained. Moreover, a 1.2-kilometer “Kükelhaus trail” honors pedagogue Hugo Kükelhaus and presents eleven ingenious stations emphasizing sensorial development through engaging games.

Children can create whirlpools with hand cranks or explore echoes, light refraction, and optical illusions.

8. Christuskirche Velbert

The primary church in Velbert, known as Christuskirche, reflected a collaboration between Art Nouveau architect Carl Krieger and artist Franz Brantzky. The building, which took two years to construct, was inaugurated in 1910.

Examining the exterior reveals Krieger’s inspiration from traditional Bergisch architecture, evident in the exaggerated Baroque-style dome and triangular gable of the nave.

Similar to Böhm’s design for the Nevigeser Wallfahrtsdom, the church features reinforced concrete, facilitating the construction of a spacious self-supporting hall without obstructive columns.

Notable details include the finely carved pews and galleries, vibrant mosaic patterns on the dome and vaults, as well as the harmonious arrangement of the pulpit and organ within the chancel.

9. Neviges Altstadt

After visiting the Wallfahrtsdom, it is worthwhile to stroll to the oldest and highest part of Neviges.

The compact historical core is remarkably picturesque, characterized by a ring of half-timbered and slate-clad residences radiating from the Stadtkirche.

This church, consecrated in 1317, features an intact Gothic choir, with a Baroque nave added later in 1740, showcasing decorative elements from that era, including a Rococo pulpit and organ case.

Capture beautiful images of the quaint old houses surrounding the churchyard and leading down the steps into the remainder of the town.

10. Bürgerhaus Langenberg

The Bürgerhaus Langenberg serves as a significant emblem of the town, established through the philanthropy of weaving magnates Adalbert and Sophie Colsman in the 1910s.

They envisioned the grand Art Nouveau building as a communal space for residents to utilize freely for cultural events, concerts, meetings, and various clubs and associations.

Over a century later, the Bürgerhaus remains a vital part of the community, featuring a gym, kitchen, beer cellar, and spaces for both large and small gatherings.

The community center has recently undergone extensive renovations, enhancing its appeal.

If there is a public event, concert, theatre performance, or art exhibition in Langenberg, it is likely to take place at this elegant venue.

11. Forum Niederberg

Located centrally in Velbert, Forum Niederberg serves as a mixed-use complex and a cultural nucleus of the city.

Designed by architects Behrendt and von Chamier, the building, almost four decades old, still conveys a sense of modernity.

Aside from housing the lock museum, it also accommodates the Velbert library and features a 704-seat theatre, which was being transformed into a cinema at the time of writing following its closure in 2015.

12. Wald Abenteuer Velbert-Langenberg

Situated at the base of the Bismarckturm, Hordtberg also features a high ropes center.

Wald Abenteuer (Forest Adventure) offers obstacle courses elevated above the forest floor, presenting over 100 different challenges, including zip-lines, swinging rope bridges, rope nets, and Tarzan-style swings.

Children as young as four can don a hard hat and harness to participate, while those aged nine and up may experience the adults’ adventure trail. Twelve-year-olds can tackle the Xtreme trail, featuring the most challenging obstacles.

Unique attractions include a suspended climbing maze and a “Todesschleuder,” or death sling, which involves a free-fall from an 11-meter platform.

13. Zeittunnel Wülfrath

This museum, situated in a former mining tunnel in Wülfrath, provides a remarkable journey through 400 million years of Earth’s geological history.

The 160-meter-long passage was excavated for the Bochumer Bruch limestone quarry, which operated until 1958. Currently, the tunnel serves as a museum featuring informative panels interspersed with fossil-rich limestone, affirming that this region was once submerged underwater.

Each section of the tunnel represents a different geological era, starting with the Devonian and progressing through the Carboniferous, Permian, Jurassic, Cretaceous, and Quaternary periods.

Visitors can observe the creatures and flora from each era, concluding the experience with an impressive view from a platform 70 meters high, overlooking the quarry’s artificial cliffs.

14. Wuppertal

Located just a short distance from Velbert, the city of Wuppertal has long been a significant center of manufacturing in Germany.

The Wupper River Valley evolved into an industrial hub during the 1700s and 1800s, leading to the establishment of prominent attractions.

At the forefront is the Wuppertal Suspension Railway, an unprecedented form of mass transit worldwide.

A visit to Wuppertal is incomplete without experiencing a ride on the world’s oldest elevated electric railway, which combines a futuristic feel with elements of a bygone era, exemplified by its robust steel framework and Art Nouveau stations.

Furthermore, the manufacturing boom generated wealth for the bourgeoisie, who settled in refined neighborhoods such as the Luisenviertel, known for its elegant townhouses, and Brill, home to 250 historically significant 19th-century villas.

15. Golf

The forests, streams, meadows, and steep slopes of Velbert create a haven for walkers, offering numerous trails for exploration.

For those seeking a more leisurely way to enjoy the scenic landscapes, a round of golf is available at several nearby golf courses.

Within a 15-minute radius, there are six golf courses open to visitors.

The closest is Velbert Gut-Kuhlendahl, a distinguished 18-hole course offering rounds at €50.00 on weekdays and €75.00 on weekends.

Additionally, Essen Heidhausen, just north, is situated in a beautiful protected area. Here, players encounter the unique topography of the Bergisches Land, including a ravine on the 11th hole.

Golf Club Bergisch Land presents similar challenges with its brooks, ponds, and greens positioned on steep slopes.