Discover Rheinberg: Nature, Trails and Urban History

Rheinberg offers a variety of reasons to visit: a designated nature reserve, hiking and cycling trails, and buildings with a long history.

Nature and trails around Rheinberg

The Alter Rhein, Jenneckes Gatt, Niepgraben nature reserve is located in Rheinberg. The Alter Rhein section is a breeding, resting and wintering area for several bird species, including the kingfisher, goosander, wigeon, pochard, reed warbler and nightingale. The area’s different functions give nature enthusiasts a variety of perspectives on the birds’ habitat.

There are also several options for exploring the area on foot. The NiederrheinWeg includes Rheinberg in a 125-kilometre circular route connecting eight town halls. The route is walked in nine stages of approximately 14 to 16 kilometres. These details provide a framework for planning, but are approximate: detours can change the length of the stages.

The start and end points of the NiederrheinWeg stages are connected to public transport. Services can change, so check current connections and route details before your trip. In addition, well-signposted cycling and hiking trails connect Rheinberg with the districts of Borth, Budberg and Orsoy. The NiederrheinWeg and these trails offer different points of reference: one is a circular route divided into stages over several days, while the others connect Rheinberg with its districts.

Buildings and stories from Rheinberg

Rheinberg’s historic buildings reflect different eras. The market square area includes a Gothic town hall, while the history of St. Peter’s parish church dates back to the 12th century. The Alte Kellnerei dates from 1573 and is the only surviving testament to the former electoral castle. The Zoll/Pulverturm dates to 1293. Together, these buildings offer points of reference for distinguishing between the town’s architecture, church history and castle history.

Guided tours introduce visitors to Rheinberg’s history as a former customs and fortified town. Dates and booking conditions may change, so check the current offer in advance if you are planning a tour. The Maria-Kann-Weg also has its own commemorative significance: a memorial plaque provides information about the life and work of the woman it is named after.

Another highlight: TerraZoo

TerraZoo Rheinberg displays around 400 reptiles, amphibians, arthropods and fish. The offer also includes guided tours and a wide-ranging educational programme aimed especially at children and young people. This gives TerraZoo a different focus from the buildings and trails: the emphasis here is on animal groups and education. The offer may change. If you would like to plan your visit around a guided tour or the educational programme, check the latest information in advance.

When choosing your accommodation, consider which of these themes you want to shape your trip: an interest in bird species and protected habitats, longer hiking stages, buildings from different centuries, or TerraZoo. This can help you organise your itinerary without trying to fit every experience into a single day.

More to explore in the wider Wesel destination

The wider Wesel destination offers additional nature and cultural attractions. In Xanten, the LVR Archaeological Park is located on the site of the Roman city of Colonia Ulpia Traiana and is Germany’s largest archaeological open-air museum. The LVR-RömerMuseum displays numerous original finds from the Roman city and its two legionary camps. They tell the story of the city’s origins, heyday and downfall. A walking route takes visitors through the Roman centuries in a spectacular building. The park and the Roman museum regularly host demonstrations, festivals and activities to watch and take part in; individual dates and offers change.

Another natural highlight is Bislicher Insel in Xanten: one of the last near-natural floodplain landscapes on the Lower Rhine, it is largely protected as a nature reserve. The area is a wintering ground for several thousand Arctic geese, including especially greater white-fronted geese and barnacle geese. Along the route, three observation huts offer views of the water and, with a little luck, numerous bird species. These attractions add further dimensions to the wider Wesel destination, complementing Rheinberg’s own nature and history.

Discover more destinations

Discover more destinations: Neukirchen-Vluyn, Alpen, Wesel, Kamp-Lintfort, Moers, Schermbeck, Voerde, Hünxe.

Back to the main travel overview: Wesel.