Things to do in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany: The Best History Museums

A "workshop for the world" - that was the city of Solingen with its cutlery production at the end of the 19th century. Even today, in the Hendrichs drop forge of the LVR Industrial Museum in Solingen, you can experience how the red-hot slit pieces are forged into scissor blanks under a loud roar, how it bangs and hisses. You will learn exciting facts about the history of the famous Solingen cutlery industry.

Das Sauerland-Museum ist ein architektonisch spannendes Gebäude-Ensemble mit attraktiven Ausstellungen. Es vereint einen modernen und historischen Stil. Im Landsberger Hof zeigt das Sauerland-Museum die Geschichte des ehemaligen Herzogtums Westfalen von den Anfängen bis in die Gegenwart. Unser Audioguide führt Sie auf Wunsch in den Sprachen Deutsch, Englisch und Niederländisch durch die Ausstellung. Auch barrierefreie Führungen für Blinde und Sehgeschädigte, in deutscher Gebärdensprache und in leichter Sprache sind möglich. Der Neubau, den man über eine Verbindungsbrücke erreicht, widmet sich attraktiven Sonderausstellungen.

Travel back in time through German history since 1945: Our exhibition starts with the post-War years, new beginnings and the division of Germany. Why did the Cold War come about? How did the two Germanies develop and what links existed between West Germany and Communist East Germany? What prompted Reunification and what challenges has Germany faced since? Political events and developments form the red thread running through the exhibition. Moreover, you will see a broad variety of objects relating to everyday life, culture, business life and world events. Each item in the exhibition has its own story to tell. We present the small private and the large public narratives that changed society. Contemporary witnesses report their personal experiences and memories of their youth. We offer additional special services for kids, families, school classes, students, adults and senior citizens, such as guided visits, audio guides and educational materials.

Situated directly on the river Anger and embedded in an old English landscape park is one of the oldest preserved industrial plants in Germany: the Cromford cotton spinning mill in Ratingen. Founded in 1783/84 by the Wuppertal businessman and entrepreneur Johann Gottfried Brügelmann, it is today considered the first fully mechanical cotton spinning mill on the European continent. The early industrial plant from the late 18th century has been almost completely preserved: the five-story "Hohe Fabrik" and the late baroque Cromford Manor - today both buildings of the LVR Industrial Museum, the "Alte Fabrik", the simple workers' apartments, the office and the wheelhouse, which once housed the water wheel.

More than 20,000 spindles once turned at the Herding Spinning Mill. Today, the imposing brick building is a forum for textile culture. Special exhibitions offer insights into the technology and show off fashion design and international textile art. Function rooms and a glass rooftop café provide space for events. In close proximity to this is another site, the Weaving Mill. In the huge weaving hall, the drive belts still set more than 30 historic machines in motion. Materials are produced here on a daily basis for the tea towels and tablecloths of our historic collection. In a worker‘s house, complete with cultivated garden, you can get to know the meagre everyday life of workers‘ families.

Mueseum. Art. Culture These three words sum up the culture programm of Vischering Castle and breathe life into the fascinating piece of architecture. The permanent exhibtion ensures entertainment for visitors from all generations by making history come alive. Moreover, the castle stages alternating culture historical exhibtions, as well as top class exhibtions of contemporary artists work. In recent years the concert series BurgJazz managed to build up a reputation by featuring high class musicians. Numerous events and festivities such as the annual Ritterlager as well as our Zaubergala , are desgined for families. Surrounded by extensive stretches of water, the castle is the ideal place for taking a stroll through beautiful scenery and the obervation of nature. We are a hand on castle for our little kids. So that also the little ones going to have fun when it comes to history. You can find our tours in english, french, dutsch, german and russia language.