Moers: Discover the castle, parks and industrial heritage

In Moers, medieval history, leafy park paths and reminders of the mining industry come together. The castle, old town and spoil tips reveal different sides of the town; there are also opportunities for play and learning, as well as routes for active days.

Castle history and the old town

Moers Castle is one of the oldest surviving High Medieval ringwork castles in the Rhineland. The former moated castle of the Counts of Moers is home to the Grafschafter Museum. The museum’s collection includes historic dollhouses, and temporary special exhibitions add to what’s on offer. This brings together an enduring historical theme and changing exhibition highlights.

The old town of Moers is steeped in history, too: historic, in some cases elaborately restored houses define the character of its narrow lanes. The castle, museum and old town offer different starting points for a culturally focused stay, from historic architecture to the town’s houses and lanes.

Parks and family experiences

The castle park combines a rose garden with winding walking paths along the Moersbach. The leisure park adjoins the castle park and has a large playground; it is also home to one of the largest skate parks in North Rhine-Westphalia. Children can go exploring at the Grafschafter Musenhof, the museum’s medieval town for play and learning. The area around the castle and park offers a variety of experiences, including green paths, play facilities and a learning space with a medieval character.

Another green space is Jungborn Park in Moers-Repelen, which has a large barefoot trail. A Licht-Luft-Hütte (light-and-air hut), now a small museum, commemorates the Protestant pastor Emanuel Felke, who worked in Repelen and championed naturopathy. A herb garden adjoins the Felke Museum. The park, the history of naturopathy and the garden offer a different focus from the attractions around the castle and old town.

Spoil tips, mining and trails

Geleucht is a walk-through, 30-metre-high work of art atop the 100-metre-high Rheinpreußen spoil tip in Baerler Busch, Moers-Meerbeck. Its viewing platform offers a 360-degree panorama. The Rheinpreussen colliery site is also an industrial heritage monument commemorating the Ruhr region’s mining era. Visitors can walk around the site and see surviving examples of mining architecture. The site also hosts cultural events, exhibitions and guided tours that convey the importance of mining to the region. The programme varies; check site access before visiting.

Both of Moers’ spoil tips are part of the Route of Industrial Heritage and have numerous cycling and hiking trails leading to their plateaus and views across the Ruhr region. The Lower Rhine Route and the Tree Circle Route also pass through Moers. When planning, you can choose between trails connected with spoil tips and industrial heritage, and two cycling routes that cross the town. Local routes and signage may change, so it’s a good idea to check the latest route information.

Choose the right focus

When looking for accommodation in Moers, your travel interests can help you decide: the castle, museum and old town offer a cultural focus, while the parks, Musenhof, leisure park and Jungborn Park put other experiences centre stage. The spoil tips and cycling routes are a good fit if you’re planning to spend more time outdoors. If you’d like to combine several themes, start by deciding which ones you want to shape your days.

More things to see in the wider Wesel destination

In the wider Wesel destination, the LVR Archaeological Park Xanten adds Roman history to the mix. Germany’s largest archaeological open-air museum is located on the site of the Roman city of Colonia Ulpia Traiana. The LVR Roman Museum displays original finds from the city and its two legionary camps. They tell the story of the Roman city’s origins, heyday and downfall; the museum also regularly hosts demonstrations, festivals and activities to watch and take part in. Dates and activities vary.

Also in the wider Wesel destination, Xanten’s Bislicher Insel is one of the last near-natural floodplain landscapes on the Lower Rhine and is protected across a large area. In winter, it provides a home for several thousand Arctic geese, including barnacle and white-fronted geese. Three observation huts along the path offer views over the water and, with a little luck, the many bird species. The Wesel destination thus offers protected landscapes and seasonal wildlife watching alongside its historical attractions.

Discover more destinations: Sonsbeck, Kamp-Lintfort, Hamminkeln, Schermbeck, Voerde, Dinslaken, Voshövel, Alpen.

Back to the wider travel overview: Wesel.