#MyRuhrvalley...

Have you heard of the giant Tippulus, who created the Tippelsberg in Bochum with the lumps of clay in his shoes?

Did you know that in Essen the mine ghost is haunting the mine "Vereinigte Himmelsfürster Erbstollen"? A restless ghost who wanders the depths of the earth as punishment for his misdeeds against miners and whose chain rattling and howling can be heard many a time?

Or that Hattingen is home to Blankenstein Castle, about which the story is told of the robber baron Jost, who tricked the besiegers only to sink into the Ruhr together with his gold treasure?

In addition to all kinds of wonderfully eerie legends, the Ruhr region with its 3,500 industrial monuments reflects the eventful past of one of Germany's most exciting and densely populated metropolises.

High-rope climbing between disused blast furnaces, diving in a former gasometer or ice skating surrounded by imposing coke ovens and high chimneys? All this is possible in the often misunderstood, colorful Ruhr region! Here it is much greener than you might think and instead of mountains you walk over slagheaps.

For more information and great route planners, please visit    Ruhrtourismus     and     VisitEssen.