Deep in the west

Herbert Grönemeyer dedicated a hymn to his hometown and said: "You're not a beauty, all gray with work. So it's high time to provide some evidence to prove it: In some places, Bochum is worth more than just a look.

The Bismarck Tower, for example: The 33-meter-high tower made of Ruhr sandstone, which was inaugurated in 1910, not only looks smart and is located in the middle of the Bochum City Park, a charming "English garden" with high recreational value. No, it also has a viewing platform from which the structural transformation of the entire Ruhr region can be admired. Instead of smoky chimneys, the view from up here is now mainly green. (And the Schalke stadium, but a bit of suffering is always part of the story for Bochum residents ...).

You wouldn't necessarily expect to find the neo-Gothic Cistercian monastery of Stiepel in Bochum either: today it's a Marian pilgrimage site where monks have only been living since 1988. On the pretty grounds of the monastery there is also a piece of the Berlin Wall as a symbol of overcoming conflict.

But of course, on a sightseeing tour in Bochum, you can't miss the testimonies of the past as a coal mining capital. In addition to the old industrial plants, it is also interesting to visit the old mining settlement "Am Rübenkamp", which has been a listed building since 1997 and is part of the "Hanover Colliery" exhibition.

By the way, you can find tips on how to travel comfortably and inexpensively on long-distance and local trains with Deutsche Bahn here.

Cover image: ©shutterstock.com/VanReeel