Nature & Outdoor Activities
Industrial Heritage Route: Cycling through the Ruhr region
The Industrial Heritage Route combines around 300 kilometres of cycling with the industrial heritage of the Ruhr region and relaxed cycling enjoyment. It has been awarded three stars as an ADFC Quality Cycle Route.
Crossing the Ruhr region, this circular route offers ever-changing perspectives on a region in transition. Former railway lines, riverside paths and low-traffic roads lead to mines, blast furnaces and harbours — now industrial monuments, cultural venues and experience spaces that make the region’s transformation visible. Highlights along the route include the UNESCO World Heritage Site Zollverein Coal Mine Industrial Complex in Essen, the Gasometer Oberhausen, Landschaftspark Duisburg-Nord and the Henrichenburg Boat Lift. Typical of the Ruhr region are the green slag heaps — man-made hills created from mining waste — which offer sweeping views across the area. Workers’ settlements, winding towers and former industrial sites bring the region’s history vividly to life. The junction system with its numbered waypoints makes orientation very easy along the way, allowing cyclists to plan the route flexibly and with minimal effort.