//
Town in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany
Photo: Arnold Schott, CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Hattingen is a city in Ruhr. It is known for its medieval core and abandoned steel mill. It has a population of about 54,000 (2020). The city focuses on tourism, with the former steel works becoming a museum and the historic old town drawing in tourists, but not yet being overrun.
From the travel guide. Select a place for details, a map and what is nearby.
Altes Rathaus
Medieval town hall build in 1576, used to govern the town until 1910, nowadays open as art exhibition. During the Christmas market, the windows get turned into a calender.
Bügeleisenhaus
Flatiron shaped timberframe house from 1611, used by merchants, clothmakers and a Jewish butchery until World War II. After being owned by the Jewish trust corporation and the city, it was bought and renovated to be used as a museum until 2021.
St. Georgskirche
Church from the 1200s, rebuild in 1450 and renovated in the early 1800s. The crooked steeple is allegedly the revenge of carpenters but most likely just a construction error. German services on Sunday.
Kirchplatz
Church square surrounded by medieval houses. Restaurants, old headstones, a war monument, cobblestone paving: A picturesque European square.
Stadtmauer und Grabenstraße
remains of the historic city wall. Protecting the narrow streets and buildings behind it from attacking troops and bandits, most of it eventually was broken down at start of the 1800s, sections in the southeast and northwest remain standing.
Post-war rebuild square with collonnade surrounding it, shaded by trees and often host to events.
Obermarkt
Small square with water art installation reminding to the days of horse-drawn shipping on the Ruhr River.
Untermarkt
One of the main places of the historic centre. Very busy during events. 1 - 24 December "Frau Holle" (Miss Holle) will open a calendar window in the facade of the old town hall, read stories and throw sweets every day at 17:00.
Synagogenplatz
Former location of the Hattingen Synagogue, burnt down by the Nazis on 9 November 1938. A small memorial reminds of the almost completely erased Jewish life in the town, with an annual remembrance service.
Burgruine Blankenstein
Partially reconstructed ruins of medieval castle, great vista over Ruhr Valley. Location of granting Bochum's town rights in 1321. Today it houses a restaurant.
Bismarckturm
11-m-tall stone 'tower' build in 1901 to honour former Reich-Chancellor Otto von Bismarck. Key can be borrowed from nearby Schulenburg restaurant.
Once a small independent town until the 1970s, Blankenstein lies in the shadow of the namesake castle and still has some historic buildings in the village.
LWL-Industriemuseum Henrichshütte
Old defunct steel works turned museum, blast furnace open for visitors exploring on their own or on guided tours, tours for children available. Wheelchair accessible, blast furnace requires lift to work. Anchor point of the Industrial Heritage Route (Route der Industriekultur).
Burgruine Isenburg
Ruins of late 12th-/early 13th-century Isenburg castle, ruins dug out 1969-1989 by local school club, great view over Hattingen and Ruhr, small museum open Sun/Holiday afternoons.
Medieval water castle next to Ruhr, houses an instrument exhibition of Museum Bochum gallery as well as a restaurant and marriage chapel.
Eisenbahnbrücke Hattingen
Steelframe truss railway bridge opened in 1874. Narrow footpath on the north side.
Former 195-m-long railway tunnel in use from 1884 - 1984. Now part of the bike trail on the old line.
St. Mauritius
Large church in Niederwenigern town, also called Cathedral (dome) by locals due to its scale. First records date from 1147, the current building stems from the 1850s. Small memorial for Nikolaus Gross, a local resistance fighter and victim of the Nazis who was posthumously blessed by the pope in 2001.
This floating bridge crosses the Ruhr River and links the northernmost tip of Hattingen with the Dahlhausen area of Bochum. Closed for any vehicles exceeding 2.1 m width or weight after damage from old age, enforced by cameras and heavy concrete bollards. Lewackerstrasse on Bochum side is a northbound one-way.
Christmas Market annually, late Nov - late Dec. Food, drinks, souvenirs between half-timbered houses.
On sunny days you can find locals enjoying the meadows besides the Ruhr, but you should never attempt to swim in it, drowning victims are sadly an occurrence almost every summer.
Freibad Welper
Small slightly outdated but clean public open-air swimming pool, diving boards, public and private changing rooms, child pool. Open 16 May — 25 Aug, early/longer if weather permits.
Glückauf-Trasse
27-km-long former Hattingen-Wuppertal Railway via Sprockhövel, closed in 1988, now foot- and cycle path. It's not paved but it is well maintained, no lights at night. Plenty of nature and occasional railway remnants like tunnels, bridges, station buildings.
Ruhrtalradweg
240 km bike path along River Ruhr, Winterberg - Duisburg. Paved and separate from traffic, but can get flooded during high water. In good weather cows graze here, in bad weather the fog often creates a great atmosphere.
Small skate park next to Ruhr River in commercial estate.
Ruhrtalbahn
The railway museum in Bochum offers rides on historic trains between their Museum and Wetter-Wengern via Hattingen on the Ruhr Valley Railway between April and Oktober. On the first sunday of the month the trains will be pulled by steam engines.
Asian restaurant with seating area hidden away, access difficult for mobility-impaired.
Italian gelato and coffee, outdoor seating in nice weather.
Small Italian gelato place.
Currywurst, fries and other German Imbiss food, try the house sauce.
Long-established imbiss, currywurst+pommes is a regional classic and staple snack. Plenty of parking including for caravans and trucks
A small döner kebab place, take away only, long opening hours on weekends.
Mongolisches Grillrestaurant Asia-Palast
Asian restaurant opposite Burg Blankenstein, dine-in or take away (call before), Buffet starting €10-17, casual.
Authentic Italian cuisine, owner is from Naples.
Rustic-modern ambience, Michelin-recognised. The menu features honest, good home cooking, regional specialities as well as excursions into top international cuisine.
Indian restaurant, small but genuine.
Italian trattoria/pizzeria.
Regional and international cuisine, beer garden on a terrace.
Irish pub in a half-timbered house, cozy.
Small cozy bar hidden away. Good atmosphere.
Hotel north of centre, free wifi and cycle storage, rooms slightly dated but clean, restaurant. 10- to 15-min walk into centre.
Small hotel in old mill building next to Ruhr River, awarded by German Cyclists Assoc. Restaurant closed due to flood damage.
Hotel, spa, conference rooms, located 500 m west of centre, secure bike storage, free wifi, hotel bar open 17:00-22:00.
Hotel/ Wirtshaus Zur alten Krone
Friendly hotel. Lower floor has restaurant of the same name. TV, free WiFi, secure bike parking, car park at nearby public garage.
Shopping centre. Clothes, food, public library and toilets. Parking on 2 levels on roof.
Wochenmarkt
Farmers market twice a week, fresh bread and produce. Tuesdays on "Große Weilstraße" infront of 'Kaufland' Supermarket, Saturdays on "Rathausplatz", near new city hall.
Small Turkish grocery store, good selection of ethnic products, halal meat and cheap fruit and veggies. Wheelchair accessible but narrow.
By bike
Hattingen is an intermediate point on the Ruhr Valley cycle path, which mostly follows the flat banks of the river. The route to the city centre is signed, watch out for the red on white signs.
The historic centre is small enough to be explored on foot. If you have mobility issues be careful when walking on the cobblestone in some alleys.
Read in the guideChoose an airport to see hotels, stations, taxi ranks and car rental desks around it.
Düsseldorf · International · DUS
Loading places around the airport…
Articles and travel topics about Hattingen and Germany.
Travel tipsUnderstand travel insurance for a Schengen visa in 2026. Learn mandatory €30,000 medical coverage, zero deductible rules, and embassy-approved policies.
7 min read
Travel tipsEstimate your Europe trip cost for 2 weeks in 2026. Compare realistic budgets for lodging, Eurail trains, dining, and sightseeing across three styles.
8 min read
Travel tipsPlan your trip with our Oktoberfest 2027 guide. Learn how to reserve beer tent tables, understand Munich hotel booking windows, and budget daily costs.
8 min read
InspirationExplore the best castle and gothic hotel stays in Europe. Discover historic fortresses, medieval estates, luxury châteaux, and Spanish parador hotels.
6 min read
Every section of the guide. Open one to read it in full.