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Industrial Heritage Trail
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What is the Industrial Heritage Trail?
Even today blast furnaces, gasometers and pithead towers
continue to give the Ruhrgebiet its own unique features. They
are important witnesses to 150 years of industrial history in
the region, and also to the process of structural transformation
which has been taking place here for several decades. The
disused factory sites – many of which are under a preservation
order – are not sites of nostalgia and regret. They have long
been transformed into lively industrial venues and attractive
centres for cultural and tourist events.
The regional tourist project entitled “The Industrial
Heritage Trail”, a ca. 400 km circular route around the Ruhrgebiet,
opens up the region’s industrial heritage to visitors.
25 so-called anchor points make up the core network of the
Trail, including six important museums of technical and social
history, many panorama points and a series of significant
workers’ settlements. Outside all the anchor points there are
large conical yellow identification posts. Around 1,500 signs on
motorways and local roads point the way to these industrial
and cultural highlights. The “Discovery Pass” introduces all the
attractions in words and pictures.
This project is the responsibility of the Regional Association
of the Ruhr (RVR). The “Ruhr visitor centre” is the main visitor
centre for the Trail and can be found at the Zollverein World
Heritage Site in Essen.
The “Discovery Pass” – How it works
It’s very easy. All you have to do is visit the sites along the
Industrial Heritage Trail and get your pass stamped. You have
to get at least 15 stamps. You can find where to get your pass
stamped on the pages giving brief descriptions of the sites.
Once you have collected the minimum number of stamps,
go to the “Ruhr visitor centre” at the Zollverein World Heritage
Site in Essen, present your stamped “Discovery Pass” and pick
up a bathing towel with a heritage trail motif, free of charge.
part and win!