Duisburg, 1 hôtel

The Duisburg-Nord Landscape Park was established on the former site of an iron and steel works, and is among the main highlights in the Ruhr district. The park is not just a place for the staging of cultural events such as concerts, readings and an open-air cinema in the summer, but also a popular destination for diving, climbing and relaxing. On the weekend, the disused chimneys and steel structures of the industrial ruins are lit up, and the whole park is illuminated with a sea of colours. A special tip is the blast furnace, which you can walk inside, and which offers a breathtaking view across Duisburg.

Did you know that koala bears aren’t bears at all, but rather, that that they belong to the marsupial family, like kangaroos and wombats? At Duisburg Zoo, you can marvel at the gorgeous animals and learn all about the koala. For the past 20 years, the Duisburg Zoo has been caring for and breeding koalas. At least 30 young koalas have grown up here already, bringing the zoo worldwide acclaim for its breeding programme. However, it isn’t just koalas that live on the Kaiserberg: monkeys, dolphins, giraffes, lions and many other animals from all around the world have made Duisburg Zoo their home.

At the time of the industrial revolution, Duisburg’s inner harbour was the city’s central hub. The port lost much of its significance after the boom came to an end, and in the 1990’s, British architect Norman Foster was charged with transforming the area into a combined living, work, cultural and recreational zone on the water. Today, the inner harbour attracts locals and tourists alike with its growing gastronomy mile, unusual architecture, numerous museums and other cultural attractions.