NordRhein WestFalen Tourism reps Julia Bauer and Silke Dames gave a virtual update last week about travel to the western German region, with an emphasis on a new bike route, the 100th birthday of artist Josef Beuys, and the beloved attractions along the Rhine River.
As one of the sixteen federal states of Germany, NordRhein WestFalen borders Belgium and the Netherlands, and is very well connected to the rest of Europe by both railway and air. The region is most famous for its opera and music, its palaces and castles, and its bauhaus architecture.
For Canadians visiting the region, Bauer and Dames suggest flying into Frankfurt, as there is regular service to the city provided by Air Canada. From there it is recommended that travellers take a short flight with Lufthansa, or a quick train ride on a regional train to Dusseldorf, one of the central cities of the region.
For travellers who love the outdoors, one of the region’s most famous attractions is the Rhine, whose castles are one of the major attractions of Rhine river cruises, and the presentation noted there are many on and off-boat tours showcasing the famous waterway and the cities lining it. Major cities along the Rhine include Cologne, Dusseldorf, Rotterdam, Strasbourg, and Bonn.
A new 300km (190 mile) bike route along the river has been completed for what would have been the 100th birthday of Josef Beuys, a highly influential contemporary artist who was a founder of the art movement known as Fluxus – an international, interdisciplinary community of artists, composers, designers and poets during the 1960s and 70s who engaged in experimental art performances emphasizing the artistic process over the finished product.
On the new “Beuys & Bike Route” route, participants can experience the artist, his ideas and works from Kleve to Leverkusen, while passing through Krefeld, Mönchengladbach, Duisburg, and Düsseldorf, among other places. The route passes stations of Beuys’ life and work, such as the building where he was born, his first studio, the Art Academy, and museums that made his art known early on. Participants will not only get to know Joseph Beuys from different angles, but also pass many interesting locations on either side of the Rhine.
More information on the bike route can be found here.
Among other, permanent regional attractions, Bonn is known for being the birthplace of Ludwig Van Beethoven, as well as being the former capital of Germany from 1949 to 1990.
Cologne is home to the famous Cathedral Church of Saint Peter. The cathedral is a renowned monument of German Catholicism and gothic architecture and was declared a World Heritage Site in 1996. The cathedral is the tallest twin-spired church in the world, the second tallest church in Europe, and the third tallest church in the world.
Travellers interested in architecture will also enjoy Drachenburg for its baroque castles and palaces, Dusseldorf for its selection of buildings designed by famous architect Frank Ghery, and Krefeld for its Bauhaus style architecture.
More information and the latest updates about NordRhein WestFalen Tourism can be found here.
