Discover Kalkum: Palace ensemble, nature and cycling tours

Kalkum combines historic architecture with nature and outdoor activities. Kalkum Palace, the village of the same name, the Romanesque parish church, the palace park, kitchen gardens and Kalkumer Schlossallee form an unusually well-preserved historic ensemble. Kalkum Forest, the Schwarzbach stream and cycling tours add further highlights. This allows you to plan your trip around cultural history, landscapes and active pursuits.

Palace ensemble and architectural history

Kalkum Palace is one of the most significant moated castles in North Rhine-Westphalia. Together with the village, church, park, kitchen gardens and palace avenue, it tells the story of a place whose historic elements have been exceptionally well preserved. Kalkum Palace and its park are listed as historic monuments.

The palace’s architectural history is also striking: from 1809, its then owner, Countess Maria Anna von Hatzfeldt-Wildenburg-Weisweiler, commissioned architect Georg Peter Leydel to carry out extensive renovations. These works shaped its appearance today. The parish church of St. Lambertus was built in the 12th and 13th centuries and is also an important example of the Neo-Romanesque style. Kalkum’s historic attractions also include an old watermill.

Parkland, water and forest

The Schwarzbach flows through the palace park and feeds the moat around the palace. From the so-called Temple Hill, there are lovely views over the surrounding cultural landscape and beyond the enclosing wall. The watercourse, moat and views give the palace park its own distinctive landscape character, in addition to its role as part of the historic ensemble.

Deer, foxes, hares, rabbits and badgers—which have returned—live in Kalkum Forest. Its diverse, mature woodland provides food and shelter for many bird species, especially cavity nesters such as woodpeckers. Kalkum can therefore also be explored through its woodland nature, where habitats and established tree cover sit alongside the history of its buildings.

Cycling tours and getting around

The wide, flat, straight paths in Kalkum Forest are well suited to longer cycling trips. A 2019 city cycling brochure describes these paths; conditions may change, so check them before setting off. Tour D2 is a circular route from Düsseldorf Airport to Kalkum Palace and along the Rhine through Kaiserswerth. Check the route information again before you start.

Kalkum has stops on Kalkumer Schloßallee and at Kalkum Palace. As routes can change, check current services when planning your journey. These stops and cycling routes give you specific points of reference if you want to consider getting around during your stay.

When choosing where to stay, it helps to consider what you would like to focus on: are you mainly interested in discovering the palace ensemble and historic architecture, or are you more drawn to the forest and cycling tours?

Düsseldorf: parks, culture and food

If you would also like to explore Düsseldorf, you’ll find a different kind of city experience there. The Hofgarten is Düsseldorf’s oldest public park and covers around 27 hectares, with an expansive body of water and numerous sculptures. For food, Carlsplatz is a popular market: you’ll find traditional Düsseldorf dishes as well as Italian, Indian, French and Persian cuisine. Düsseldorf’s Little Tokyo invites you to discover Japanese culture and food.

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Back to the main travel overview: Düsseldorf.