An oasis of refreshment between industrial history and artistic flair. Where coke ovens once glowed, there is now a breathtaking pool in overseas containers. Nowadays you can bathe here in the immediate vicinity of the industrial furnaces. The swimming pool was created by the Frankfurt artists Dirk Paschke and Daniel Milohnic as part of an art project. Since then, the pool has symbolized the structural change of this impressive industrial region. Embedded in impressive industrial architecture, the 2.40-metre-deep pool offers a unique atmosphere. A work of art that makes you part of the scenery – through the holes in the container walls you can exchange glances and share unique moments. Enjoy the flair of the Ruhr area while you float in the pool. And after diving? Culinary delights in the café 'die kokerei', where the miner's maker and sweet treats await you.

Uferlos - Strandbad Möhnesee-Wamel offers an oasis of relaxation and recreation on the picturesque Möhne Lake. Swimming in the clear water, sunbathing on the sandy beach and the view of the majestic mountains make this place a real jewel. The ride on the pedal boat or stand-up paddling on the lake is highly recommended and lets you explore nature from a completely different perspective. Children can let off steam on the playground or play beach volleyball, while parents relax in the beach chair. The beach bar offers refreshing drinks and tasty snacks, while live music creates a great atmosphere on weekends.

The Ruhrtal-Oefte viewpoint offers a breathtaking view of the surrounding countryside and Essen. On a sunny day, you can enjoy the beauty of nature and the glistening waters of the Ruhr. The peaceful atmosphere invites you to relax and forget the stresses of everyday life for a while. The idyllic surroundings are perfect for a romantic walk or a picnic with friends or family. Feel the wind on your skin and listen to the soothing sound of the river. The viewpoint also offers a unique opportunity for photographers to take photos that capture the beauty of the landscape. Discover the best that Essen has to offer and experience an unforgettable day!

Wuppertal has a large number of city parks and gardens, but the Botanical Garden on the Hardt is unique among them. With the Elisenturn, which can be seen from afar with its salmon-pink painting, and the adjacent Orangerie, it offers a beautiful setting for strolling through the plants from all over the world that have settled here. In addition to the outdoor area, which is in changing bloom from spring, there are two greenhouses where you can admire cacti, succulents and tropical woody plants. From time to time exhibitions take place in the greenhouses, keep an eye on the website of the association!

On the Witches' Trail, you can immerse yourself in a dark period of history. The circular trail takes you through the picturesque landscape, past historical sights that tell of the persecution of witches in past centuries. The trail stretches over 7.8 kilometers and takes you through forests, the charming village of Friesenhagen and over the heights of the Wildenburger Land. Discover the secrets and stories along the Witches' Trail and let your imagination wander into the past.

A cultural and historical jewel in Essen: The remains of the once magnificent complex offer an exciting insight into the medieval history of the region. From the viewing platform, visitors can admire the surrounding landscape and be transported back to times gone by. A tour of the ruins leads through winding corridors and past numerous interesting details, such as the coats of arms of the former castle owners. A visit at sunset is especially recommended, when the ruins are bathed in a magical light and offer a picturesque backdrop. An insider tip for all those who are looking for undiscovered treasures in the region.

A relaxing oasis full of exotic plants. The Botanical Garden at Ruhr-Universität Bochum covers an area of over 13 hectares. The grounds include a tropical house, the geobotanical department and the Chinese Garden, which was created in collaboration with the University of Shanghai.

Sitting in the sun with your feet in the sand and a cocktail in your hand and letting your mind wander? That's exactly what you can do at StrandDeck on Lake Kemnader in Bochum. Nowhere else in the eastern Ruhr area are you as close to the vacation feeling as here. 1,500 square meters of the finest sandy beach and real palm trees ensure absolute relaxation against the fantastic backdrop of the local recreation area. Relaxing hours in the beach clubWhile the little ones dig in the sand, you can unwind in a deckchair and treat yourself to a cool drink or a first-class cocktail. The beach kitchen offers fresh snacks and tasty delicacies from the grill or fresh waffles and coffee in the afternoon. For those who like to be sporty, take a spin around Lake Kemnader on inline skates or have fun on the two in-house beach volleyball courts. At weekends, the chilled beach café is transformed into an atmospheric beach club. After sunset, popular DJs provide the perfect summer soundtrack and create a relaxed atmosphere.

Between fragrant rose gardens, the colourful Alpinum and the calm water feature of the waterfall, a realm of botanical diversity unfolds. Relax in Asian garden art, explore native and exotic plant worlds, and let yourself be surrounded by the seasonal blaze of color. The spring flowers in spring or the red tones in autumn are particularly beautiful when you stroll through the garden.

Since its opening in 2011, the walk-in roller coaster sculpture has inspired audiences worldwide. The landmark, visible from afar, on a former slag heap in the south of Duisburg, offers you a magnificent view, in good weather as far as Düsseldorf. Around the sculpture you can see the ironworks, storage areas of the Logport and natural forest areas. The work of art is particularly impressive in the dark, when 880 LEDs draw the coils of the steel sculpture in the night sky. Tiger & Turtle - Magic Mountain is open day and night with free admission.

Experience relaxing moments at a unique beach town on Lake Baldeney. The beach location offers a variety of exciting activities and opportunities to enjoy nature. Take a dip in the crystal clear waters of the lake or just relax on the beach. Explore the picturesque surroundings or enjoy a delicious meal at one of the restaurants. Whether you're a traveler or a local, this place offers a unique and creative experience that you won't want to miss.

If you want to get a wonderful view of the entire Baldeneysee, come to the viewpoint Korte Klippe in the district of Heisingen, which can only be reached on foot or by bicycle. It was named after the Essen horticultural director Rudolf Korte, to whom a memorial stone was dedicated. The cliff is located not far from the Schellenberg hunting lodge at an altitude of about 144 meters above sea level. Below the steep slope runs the BaldeneySteig, a circular hiking trail that leads once around the heights of Lake Baldeney over a distance of 26.7 kilometers. The Korte Klippe is one of 31 vantage points of the "Essen Views" project.

The Drachenfels rises majestically above the Rhine Valley and offers a panorama that will amaze you! The castle ruins from the 12th century are enthroned on the summit of the mountain. Fascinating myths and legends can be explored in the historic surroundings. The cog railroad takes you comfortably to the summit, where an impressive view of the Rhine and the surrounding landscape awaits you. If you prefer something more active, you can combine your visit to Drachenfels with a hike.

Here you can relax and enjoy nature. The meadows are ideal for picnics, sunbathing or for a round of Frisbee. For all recreational athletes there is a running track, a beach volleyball court and a skate park. If you are out with your children, you can visit the adventure playground. You can expect a suspension bridge, a ropeway and much more! In summer, various festivals, concerts and events take place here. Special highlights are the Rheinkirmes fireworks and Japan Day, which celebrates Japanese culture and cuisine. Come by and let the Rhine and nature enchant you!

A very special gem of relaxation awaits you in the Japanese Garden. Here, a touch of Zen wafts between the traditionally pruned pines and Japanese fan maples. Let your mind wander while your gaze wanders over calming pools of water. Admire the fascinating natural stone carvings and enjoy the tranquillity and nature. This garden offers a combination of native and exotic plants as well as a pond with Japanese koi and turtles. There is also a Chinese-style teahouse with Japanese interior design to discover.

Immerse yourself in the green oasis of the Stadtgarten in Essen and experience a wealth of activities and attractions for the whole family. Enjoy relaxing walks through lush landscapes, discover a variety of plants and flowers, or romp around in the playgrounds. Whether sports, nature or culture - the Stadtgarten Essen offers an unforgettable experience for every visitor.

In the middle of the green parkland, there are plenty of places to rest, read, chat and picnic. Children are particularly attracted by the great playground and for sports enthusiasts there are various sports fields and a half-pipe.

A leisurely and short hike awaits you on the monastery village trail in the Westerwald-Sieg region. Here you can get to know the area around the former Franciscan monastery of Marienthal. The trail takes you along rustic and natural paths that will introduce you to the origins of Marian devotion and life in the monastery village. The magnificent relief paintings on the Way of the Cross on the monastery's Calvary are particularly impressive. A unique experience for nature and culture lovers.

The Nordpark in the city offers a pleasant green oasis where nature and culture merge harmoniously. You can take relaxing walks under majestic trees or enjoy a picnic on the green meadows. The well-tended flowerbeds shine in bright colors and invite you to linger. In summer, artistic water features are a delight, while in winter a romantic ice skating rink offers fun and enjoyment. Whether alone or with the family, the Nordpark offers peace and relaxation.

These two lakes in the Iserlohn area offer a varied nature experience for everyone who wants to escape from everyday life. The Seilersee inspires with its clear water and the surrounding forest area, which invites you to walk and jog. Here, water sports enthusiasts and anglers can live out their passion. The Callerbachtalsperre offers an impressive backdrop with views of the surrounding mountains and valleys. A walk on the circular path or a hike in the surrounding area is recommended here. For cyclists there is a beautiful route along the dam, which is also suitable for families. Those who love nature will find their peace and relaxation here.

Surrounded by green meadows and inspiring artworks, this place offers a variety of ways to enjoy relaxing moments. Refresh yourself in the clear waters of the lake or enjoy a boat ride on the sparkling waters. Stroll along the promenade and be enchanted by the picturesque atmosphere. The paths around the lake, which is about 2300 meters long, are especially popular with joggers, cyclists, inline skaters and pedestrians, and in the summer countless sailboats and pedal boats cavort on the waters. The green meadows on the shore are perfect for a nice picnic in a relaxed atmosphere. The Aasseet Terraces are the place to go for water sports enthusiasts and food lovers. Numerous events also take place here.

The Wuppertal Zoological Garden is one of the oldest and most traditional in Germany. It is home to around 3,500 animals from all over the world. In terms of landscape, the zoo is one of the most beautiful of its kind. Situated on a slope, it is characterized by wide meadows, large ponds and old trees. In 2021, another attraction has been added to the Wuppertal Green Zoo: Aralandia has opened its doors! The almost 1,000m² free-flight aviary offers its inhabitants plenty of space to romp, fly and flirt. The wedding market has opened here, especially for the highly endangered hyacinth macaws, red-eared macaws and blue-fronted macaws. Visitors can be right in the middle of it all, instead of being separated by fences and moats as in the past. Eye to eye with the big cats: At Wuppertal Zoo, lions, tigers and co. live in modern enclosures. With a bit of luck, you can see the animals up close. You can get a great view from above from the Sambatrasse. The former railroad line leads cyclists and hikers right through the grounds. A bridge takes you almost directly over the tiger enclosure.

On a site of almost 180 hectares, "Landi" combines nature and industrial culture to create a unique park landscape. As a lighthouse project of the International Building Exhibition Emscher Park, the park attracts over one million visitors every year. In the park center is the disused Thyssen blast furnace plant Duisburg-Meiderich. Children and teenagers will find a gigantic adventure playground, while adults can take part in guided tours or climb the platform of a blast furnace. Photography and filming are allowed, but drones are prohibited for safety and liability reasons.

In the midst of different climate zones and continents, around five thousand plant species can be discovered free of charge on eight hectares of the botanical garden. The greenhouses are home to plants from warm and dry summer regions as well as rainy, mild winters. A particular highlight is the domed greenhouse, which is home to a variety of plants from the Canary Islands. The apothecary garden presents over a hundred important medicinal plants, whose active ingredients and possible applications can be explored using QR codes.