Discover Monheim am Rhein

Roman traces and the town’s history

Haus Bürgel, a former Roman fort within the Urdenbacher Kämpe nature reserve, is located in the district of Baumberg. The kitchen garden there documents how eating and dietary habits have changed over the site’s 2,000-year history. Haus Bürgel also offers Roman baking workshops for groups of children and adults. Workshop dates and availability may vary depending on the programme.

The Schelmenturm tower also tells the story of the town. The 26-metre-high tower is the last surviving structural evidence of the third fortification, which was intended to protect Freiheit Monheim and probably dates from around 1423. The exhibition in the Schelmenturm is part of the decentralised Monheim am Rhein City Museum; the exhibitions on offer may change with the programme schedule. In the old town, well-preserved 18th-century half-timbered houses shape the streetscape, complemented by a wide range of places to eat.

Another distinctive landmark is the Monheim Geyser: an artificial geyser on a roundabout, designed by Swiss artist Thomas Stricker. During an eruption phase, water jets can reach heights of up to twelve metres; eruption patterns may vary.

Nature trails and activities

The Urdenbacher Kämpe is nearby, a Rhine floodplain without dikes that is regularly flooded. Its landscape includes orchards, wetlands, waterscapes and remnants of a floodplain forest. Eight marked routes range from two to ten kilometres and feature information and audio stations as well as benches. The different route lengths make it easier to plan a walk that suits you. Trails may be muddy after flooding; check trail conditions before your visit.

Monheim am Rhein also has a nature trail and a skate park. Check the current status of the facilities before travelling. Walks and bike rides can be combined with a meal in the old town or views of the Rhine. The Tourist Information Centre offers go-kart and bicycle hire; availability may change.

There are various ways to explore the town: the digital town rally covers 14 stops over 4.5 kilometres and uses participants’ smartphones. As the route and number of stops may change following updates, it is worth checking the latest description. MonGuides offer classic town tours, culinary tours, children’s tours, guided bike tours and tours of Monheim’s artworks; the range of tours may change. Nearby, AuenErlebnisBegleiter offer guided walks and events for children and adults about the Urdenbacher Kämpe and Haus Bürgel. Here, too, the programme and availability may change; check the latest information before making plans.

The wider destination of Mettmann

At the level of the wider destination of Mettmann, the Haus Bürgel Biological Station manages protected areas in the city of Düsseldorf and the district of Mettmann. It also offers excursions, talks and nature activities. The neanderland STEIG offers another way to experience the region: this long-distance hiking trail, almost 240 kilometres in length, loops around the entire Mettmann district in 17 stages. Check the latest stage information when planning your hike.

Discover more destinations: Langenfeld, Hilden, Velbert, Wülfrath, Mettmann, Heiligenhaus, Ratingen, Baumberg.

Back to the overview of the wider destination: Mettmann.