Saarland

Beckingen-Düppenweiler:

Kupferbergwerk

“Mystallica” tries to build a bridge from traditional mining to recreational activities for tourists and entertainment with the help of light and sound effects. www.dueppenweiler.de/Kupferbergwerk/Kupferbergwerk.htm

Bexbach:

Saarländisches Bergbaumuseum

Here you can see mining technology and history amidst a great park with beautiful flowers. www.saarl-bergbaumuseum-bexbach.de

The Saarland is one of the 16 states of Germany and also the smallest of the Flächenländer (area states).

Having been between French and German powers for a long time has given the Saarland its unique history. After WW1 the region was administered by France and after WW2 in 1957 it joined the Federal Republic of Germany (Western Germany).

Saar©flickr/Wolfgang Staudt

The Saarland borders France and Luxembourg and not surprisingly the region is famous for its excellent food. There are even cycling tours available on which you can explore the magnificent landscape by bike and enjoy an extraordinary meal in the evening. But you can also experience the region on the many hiking trails.

At Easter you should visit the Easter Market in St. Wendel. A large Easter crown decorated with many eggs will be placed on the market place and you can buy handicraft goods and for the kids a little zoo is set up.

The capital of the Saarland is Saarbrücken. It used to be the centre of a great coal basin and is a perfect travel destination for a daytrip. In Saarbrücken you can see 18th century buildings erected during the Baroque period. Other historic landmarks ar a stone bridge across the Saar River built in 1546, the Gothic church of St. Arnual and the castle built in the 18th century. In the numerous museums you can learn about the history of the city and region and see beautiful paintings.

The city of Saarlouis was founded by the French king Louis XIV in 1680. It is the secret capital of the Saarland. From 1680 to 1683 the “Kommandantur” (military headquarters) was built as a French government building. The Gobelin Hall houses historical Gobelins produced in the royal French manufactory in Aubusson.

Of course day trips to France and Luxembourg are a good way too to experience the whole region and maybe discover the differences.

North Rhine-Westphalia

Bochum:

Deutsches Bergbau-Museum
With more than 400,000 visitors, the German mining museum is the most important in the world. Here you can learn almost everything about mining. www.bergbaumuseum.de

Eisenbahnmuseum

In Bochum-Dahlhausen the railway museum is located. You can see numerous locomotives and railway carriages. www.eisenbahnmuseum-bochum.de

Engelskirchen:

Baumwollspinnerei mit E-Werk

The factory of Friedrich Engels, the father of the famous socialist, also was one of the first power houses in Germany.  Here you can see how electricity changed our lives. www.eisenbahnmuseum-bochum.de

Essen:

Zeche Zollverein

The most beautiful coal mine in the world, the Zollverein World Heritage site, today is a famous industrial monument. It attracts about 800,000 visitors every year. Exhibitions of all sorts offer a huge variety of attractions for adults as well as children. www.zollverein.de

Paderborn:

Heinz Nixdorf MuseumsForum

HNF is the world’s biggest computer museum. High-tech exhibits can be tested by the visitors. You can go on a journey not only through German information technology. www.hnf.de

Ratingen:

Textilfabrik Cromford

This was the first textile factory in Europe built in 1783/84 by Johann Gottfried Brügelmann. He got the construction plans for “waterframes”, special spinning frames, in Cromford, England. www.industriemuseum.lvr.de

Solingen:

Gesenkschmiede Hendrichs

Solingen is famous for quality knives and scissors. In the Museum you can still see how they were produced. www.industriemuseum.lvr.de

Wuppertal:

Schwebebahn

Since 1901 the suspension railway is an important urban transport system. You shouldn’t miss it. Unfortunately it is out of service until April 2010! www.schwebebahn.de