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.

Understand

History

Christmas market on Untermarkt square

Hattingen was first mentioned in 990 as Hatneggen, followed by the founding of the town in 1396. In 1554 the town was recognised by the Hanseatic League, and its location helped the textile trade to flourish. After some run-ins with the French and Swedes, the town continued to grow steadily. Following the establishing of the Henrichshütte steelworks in 1854, Hattingen started booming rapidly. World War II meant massive support for the regime and also becoming an important air raid target. After heavy damage the historic town was rebuild but neglected in the post-war period, though public resistance meant only parts of it were demolished in the 1970s. Despite large protests, increasing competition and a bad location caused the closure of the steelworks from 1987 on, causing the loss of almost 10,000 workers and leaving a massive scar to this day.

The city had managed the transition to service industry better. The historic old town was threatened with demolition in the post-war period, but this was largely prevented, besides the southern part of the core, where a large supermarket now stands. Walking around gives you a good taste of how a typical small German city centre (before bombs and concrete boxes) looked like. Several festivals throughout the year invite locals and visitors alike, with the historic Christmas market from the end of November to Christmas as the highlight, drawing people from near and far.

Geography

Hattingen is a collection of settlements in a hilly area, with the Ruhr River running through the north of it, near the city centre.

The centre of the historic core is St Georg's Church. Heggerstraße is the main shopping street and slowly rises up in elevation from the plateau of Hattingen Mitte as you go north.

In clockwise-order the smaller settlements are:

• Welper, a garden suburb featuring a lot of greenery. Originally build for the workers and their families of the nearby steelworks. Stores and eateries can be found along "Marxstraße" and "Thingstraße".

Blankenstein village near the castle

• Blankenstein, small and formerly an independent town before 1971, it offers Burg Blankenstein, a small core with historic buildings and a great vista over the Ruhr Valley.
• Holthausen, a suburb developed in multiple stages since the 1960s, not much of touristic worth can be found here, location of rehabilitation clinic.
• Bredenscheid, small village, lies on cycle path to Wuppertal. Accommodation, two eateries and a 'Sparkasse' ATM can be found here. South of it mostly nature.
• Niederstüter, small settlements between natural areas, great area for walks and hikes. 'Wodantal' valley is a popular road for motorbikes on weekends.
• Elfringhausen, basically the same as Niederstüter but to the west, focused along 'Felderbachstraße' road. No public transport lines serve it directly.
• Niederbonsfeld, private single-family houses between horse stables and fields. No facilities except petrol station on "Kohlenstraße", near the south end of "Tippelstraße"
• Niederwenigern, more affluent town above the Ruhr Valley, large catholic cathedral and hospital, shops of daily needs along "Essener Straße"
• Winz-Baak, another 1960s era suburb, mix of single- and multifamily buildings, above Ruhr meadows.
• Rauendahl, similar to Winz-Baak but with more diverse population. An 'Aldi' market and a couple shops for daily needs can be found at the entry to the neighbourhood.

Neighbouring towns are Bochum, Witten, Sprockhövel, Wuppertal, Velbert and Essen.

Tourism information

• 1 Tourism Office (Touristeninformation), Haldenplatz 3 (from shopping centre walk to left of 'Kaufland', turn right at corner and left at second street, use right alley), ☏ +49 2324 204 3095, info@hattingen-marketing.de. M-F 09:00-13:00, 14:00-16:00; Sa 10:00-13:00. Gives information about city. (updated Nov 2021)

Get in

Coming from Essen, the River Ruhr will be on your right side

Obermarkt square in the historic centre

By plane

The nearest airports are

• Düsseldorf Airport is 40 km away. By car, take A44 follow signs for Velbert, take exit 38 'Langenberg', right, left at first traffic light, follow signs for Hattinge By public transport, take skytrain to Airport station, board regional services RE1, 2, 5, 6 or 11 to Essen Hauptbahnhof, take S3 to Hattingen Mitte (S) station.

• Dortmund Airport is also about 30 km away. By car, take B1/A40 westbound towards Essen, change to A43 at Exit 38 Kreuz Bochum, exit 21 Witten-Herbede, follow signs for Hattingen. By public transport, take the expensive shuttle bus to Dortmund or use Bus #490 for Aplerbeck U, change to U47, change at Dortmund Hauptbahnhof, use RE1 or 6 to Bochum, use Bus #SB37 or Subway 308 to Hattingen.

By train and public transport

1 Hattingen Mitte (Busbahnhof/ ZOB). Central bus/tram/train/taxi station. If you arrive by those in Hattingen, it'll likely be here. (updated Nov 2021)

Long-distance train services stop in nearby Bochum and Essen, both can be reached from Hattingen in 25-30 minutes on public transport. Suburban Railway S 3 runs every 30 minutes from Oberhausen via Essen to Hattingen, terminating at an underground station. Before that, it'll stop at Hattingen (Ruhr) Station, which is always disabled-accessible, unlike Hattingen Mitte station, whose elevator often may not work.

Streetcar line 308 connects the northeast and centre of Bochum to Hattingen M-Sa every 15 min, every 30 min on Sunday and holidays.

The bus station serves local and regional buses, digital signs show you the scheduled departure times whilst you wait in the cold.

See the website of regional transport authority VRR for specific schedules, fares and further information.

Coaches on booked trips will drop you off at the car park next to a large World War II bunker across from Reschop-Carree centre.

By car

Autobahn A43: Exit 21 Witten-Herbede, follow signs Hattingen, keep following main road past Blankenstein, turn off short dual-carriageway, left, at second light (large building straight ahead) left, up the hill and follow signs.

From the south: A43 Exit 22 Sprockhövel, follow signs for Hattingen, park at Reschop-Carre.

Get around

Hattingen Mitte bus station on the right, the train station is on the left

The historic centre is small enough to be explored on foot. People with mobility issues should keep in mind that the pavement in the historic centre can be a little difficult to navigate at certain spots and several alleys are only accessed by stairs.

Low-floor buses and trams serve Hattingen and cost €3.30 per ride (€2.10 for up to 4 stops) or €7.00 to Essen and Bochum per VRR fares in 2024. Most services operate roughly 05:00 to 00:00 during the week. See VER for a plan of the local network.

An information office for local public transport shared between Bogestra and VER is located at the bus station Hattingen Mitte (open M-F 09:30-17:30, Sa 10:00-15:00)

NE4 nightbuses connect to neighbouring Bochum on Friday, Saturday and holiday nights. The route goes (Bochum) - Steinenhaus - Blankenstein - Welper - Henrichshütte - Hattingen Mitte (Centre & Station) - Holthausen - (Sprockhövel - Ennepetal - Schwelm)

Taxis are available at the stand under the pedestrian bridge at Hattingen Mitte station or to be called. Several small operators exist, fares are €9.50 base including the first 2km plus €2.40 for every additional km.

See

The main attraction of Hattingen is its medieval city centre. Despite wars and post-war neglect you can still experience the stereotypical alleys surrounded by timber-frame houses here. During Christmas season the city is especially charming. The other major attraction is the old blast furnace of the local closed steelworks which has been turned into a museum and mostly left in its original state but also houses exhibitions and an annual meet up for Mercedes fans in summer. Both the city and blast furnace can be experienced on your own or with a tour guide in a couple of hours.

City Centre

The 1 Historic Town Centre features over 150 historic buildings

• 2 Old Town Hall (Altes Rathaus), Untermarkt 9. Medieval town hall build in 1576, used to govern the town until 1910, nowadays open as art exhibition. (updated Feb 2024)
• 3 Flatiron House (Bügeleisenhaus), Haldenplatz 1. closed for renovations since 2021. Flatiron shaped timberframe house from 1611, used by merchants, clothmakers and a jewish family of butcher until World War II. After being owned by the Jewish trust corporation and the city, it was bought and renovated to be used as museum until 2021. (updated Feb 2024)

Saint George's Church with it's crooked spire

Church Square (Kirchplatz)

• 4 Saint George's Church (St. Georgskirche), Kirchplatz. 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. (updated Feb 2024)
• 5 Church Square (Kirchplatz). Church square with medieval houses completely surrounded St. George's Church. Restaurants, old headstones, a monument, cobblestone paving: A picturesque european square. (updated Feb 2024)
• 6 City Wall and Moat Street (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. (updated Feb 2024)
• 7 Krämersdorf. Post-war rebuild square with collonnade surrounding it, shaded by trees and often host to events. (updated Feb 2024)
• 8 Upper Market (Obermarkt). Small square with water art installation reminding to the days of horse-drawn shipping on the Ruhr River. (updated Feb 2024)
• 9 Lower Market (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. (updated Feb 2024)
• 10 Synagogue Square (Synagogenplatz). Former location of the Hattingen Synagogue, burnt down by the Nazis in 1933. A small memorial reminds of the almost completely erased jewish life in the town. (updated Feb 2024)

Rest of Town

Henrichshütte Steelworks Museum

• 11 Blankenstein castle (Burgruine Blankenstein), Burgstr. 16 ("Burg Blankenstein" 350 or "Museum/Klinik" SB38, 350). 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. (updated Oct 2021)
• 12 Bismarck Tower (Bismarckturm), Schulenburgstr ("Schulenburg" Bus 359). 11-m-tall stone 'tower' build in 1901 to honour former Reichs-Chancellor Otto von Bismarck. Key can be borrowed from nearby Schulenburg restaurant. (updated Nov 2021)
• 13 Blankenstein Old Town, Bus 350, NE4, SB38 Stop "Museum / Klinik". 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. (updated Feb 2024)
• 14 Henrichshütte Steel Works (LWL-Industriemuseum Henrichshütte), Werksstraße 31-33 (Bus: "Henrichshütte" 350,SB37 / "Industriemuseum" 554), ☏ +49 2324 9247140. Tu-Su 10:00-18:00, last admission 17:00, closed Monday and 31 Dec/1 Jan. Old defunct steel works turned museum, blast furnace open for visitors. (updated Nov 2021)
• 15 Isenburg Castle Ruins (Burgruine Isenburg), Am Isenberg 2 ("Isenberg" 331, 141 or "Isenberger Weg" 647). 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. (updated Dec 2021)
• 16 Kemnade Castle, An der Kemnade 10 ("Haus Kemnade" 350 or "Steinenhaus" SB38, SB67, 320, 350). Medieval water castle next to Ruhr, houses an instrument exhibition of Museum Bochum gallery as well as a restaurant and marriage chapel. (updated Dec 2021)
• 17 Railway Bridge Hattingen (Eisenbahnbrücke Hattingen). Steelframe truss railway bridge opened in 1874. Narrow footpath on the north side. (updated Feb 2024)
• 18 Schulenberg Tunnel (from Steinhagentor follow Friedrichstrasse then at 3rd intersection go right on Grünstrasse). Former 195-m-long railway tunnel in use from 1884 - 1984. Now part of the bike trail on the old line. (updated Feb 2024)

Do

Events

Festival in the medieval city centre

• 1 Christmas Market, inside city centre ("Hattingen Mitte" station). Christmas Market annually, late Nov to late Dec. Food, drinks, souvenirs between half-timbered houses. free. (updated Oct 2021)
• 5 to 7 April, The Hattingen Spring Festival in the old town, food, drink, live music.
• 7 April Sunday open for business
• 26 to 29 April Spring funfair on the town hall square.
• 31 May - 2 June Hattingen Old Town Festival with live music and gastronomy
• 2 June Sunday open for business
• 24-25 August 2 Mercedes Meet-up Annual major gathering of and for fans of Mercedes vehicles, including dealer mile and award ceremonies. 2023 over 2000 vehicles from all eras and 13,000 visitors. Next date: 24 - 25 August 2024.
• 1 June Extraschicht Ruhrgebiet, evening events in museums and at old industrial sites throughout the Ruhr region and also at Henrichshütte
• From 6 to 9 September the big autumn fair takes place on the Rathausplatz.
• 3 to 6 October: the autumn market and Panhasfest in the city centre
• 6 October Sunday open for business
• 15 December Sunday open for business

Activities

Steam trains running through the green Ruhr Valley

• Enjoy the Ruhr Meadows, ☏ 112 (emergency). 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. (updated Nov 2021)
• 3 Public Pool Welper (Freibad Welper), Marxstraße 99 (Bus 350 Stop Gesamtschule Welper), ☏ +49 2324 6827330. M Th 07:00-20:00, Tu W F Sa 08:00-20:00. 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. Adult €3.80. (updated Dec 2023)
• 4 Old Hattingen-Wuppertal Railtrail (Glückauf-Trasse) (south on "Nierenhofer Str", left after bridge and before "Shell"). 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. (updated Dec 2021)
• 5 Ruhr Valley Bikepath (Ruhrtalradweg). 240-km bike path along River Ruhr, Winterberg - Duisburg. (updated Oct 2021)
• 6 Skatepark Hattingen, along Ruhr, at the end of "Ruhrdeich" ("Ruhrallee" Bus 554, runs Monday to Friday only). Daily 10:00-22:00. Small skate park next to Ruhr River in commercial estate. (updated Nov 2021)
• 7 Ruhr Valley Railway (Ruhrtalbahn) (Hattingen train station, not Hattingen Mitte). 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. Adult return trip €24.00. (updated Apr 2024)

Buy

Hattingen has plenty of stores, many independent. At the bus and railway station Hattingen Mitte there's a small shopping centre with the usual german chains. A farmers market is open too.

• 1 Reschop Carré, Reschop-Carré Platz 1 (next to Hattingen Mitte transit hub), ☏ +49 2324 6865435. M-Sa 09:00-20:00. Shopping centre. Clothes, food and electronics, public library and toilets. Parking on 2 levels on roof. (updated Dec 2023)
• Wochenmarkt (Farmers Market), Rathausplatz/ Große Weilstraße. Tu 09:00-15:00, Sa 07:30-13:00. Farmers market twice a week, fresh bread and produce. Tuesdays on "Große Weilstraße" infront of 'Kaufland' Supermarket, Saturdays on "Rathausplatz", near new city hall. (updated Nov 2021)
• 2 Hattinger Markt, Martin-Luther-Straße 24 (Bus "Engelbertstraße"), ☏ +49 2324 3951888. M-Sa 07:00-19:00. Small Turkish and Middle Eastern grocery store, good selection of ethnic products, halal meat and cheap fruit and veggies. Wheelchair accessible but narrow. (updated Jan 2022)

Eat

Most restaurants can be found in the historic centre, surrounded by Martin-Luther-Str / Schulstraße / Augustrastraße and August-Bebel-Straße. Besides that, eateries and restaurants can be found throughout most of the city.

• 1 Asia-Palast (Mongolisches Grillrestaurant Asia-Palast), Wittener Str. 8 ("Burg Blankenstein" 350), ☏ +49 2324 687989. M W-Sa 12:00-15:00, 17:00-22:30; Su 12:00-22:30; closed Tuesdays. Asian restaurant opposite Burg Blankenstein, dine-in or take away (call before), Buffet starting €10-17, casual. (updated Nov 2021)
• 2 China Express Van Loi, Kreisstraße 11 (from city centre walk west on Bahnhofstr, turn left on Kreisstr. Tram 308 "Bahnhofstr), ☏ +492324593110. Tu-F 12:00-15:00 & 17:00-21:00, Sa Su 16:00-21:00. Asian restaurant with seating area hidden away, access difficult for mobility-impaired. (updated Nov 2021)
• 3 Fachwerk, Untermarkt 10 (next to Altes Rathaus), ☏ +49 2324 6852770. Tu-Sa 16:00-23:00. Rustic-modern ambience, Michelin-recognised. The menu features honest, good home cooking, regional specialities as well as excursions into top international cuisine. (updated Jan 2024)
• 4 Pizzeria Tonino, Kirchplatz 3 (next to St Georg Church), ☏ +49 2324 52267. Daily 12:00 - 22:00. Italian trattoria/pizzeria. (updated Nov 2021)
• 5 Restaurant Haveli, Johannisstr. 8, ☏ +49 2324 3916158, info@haveli-hattingen.de. Tu-Th 12:00-15:00, 17:00-22:00; F Sa 12:00-15:00, 17:00-23:00; Su 12:00-15:00, 17:00-21:30; closed Mondays. Indian restaurant, small but genuine. (updated Nov 2021)
• 6 SIDE Döner, Langenberger Str 3 (corner between Kaufland supermarket and 'Reschop Carree' shopping centre). Su-Th 10:00-22:00, F Sa 10:00-04:00. A small döner kebab place, take away only, long opening hours on weekends. (updated Nov 2021)
• 7 Eiscafe San Remo, Heggerstraße 41, ☏ +49 2324 3910983. 09:00-20:00. Italian gelato and coffee. (updated May 2024)
• 8 12 Apostel Schulenburg, Schützenplatz 1 (Schulenburg Forest, from Hattingen centre follow Friedrichstr.). M-Sa 17:00-23:00, Su 11:00-23:00. Regional and international cuisine, beer garden on a terrace. (updated May 2024)
• 9 Bella Bella Mozzarella, Bahnhofstraße 79 (inside the old Hattingen (Ruhr) station building, S3 and Bus 359, 554 Stop Hattingen Ruhr S, Tram 309 stop Bahnhofstr.). M Tu Su 17:00-22:00, F Sa 17:00-23:00. Authentic Italian cuisine, owner is from Naples. (updated May 2024)

Drink

• 1 Barney Kirnan's, Keilstraße 3, ☏ +49232423401. Su-Th 17:00 - 01:00, F Sa 17:00-03:00. Irish pub in a half-timbered house, cozy. (updated Nov 2021)
• 2 Torkelkeller, Kirchplatz 4 (entry via Haldenplatz), ☏ +49 1702 838690. F Sa night before holidays 22:00-04:00. Small cozy bar hidden away. Good atmosphere. (updated Nov 2021)

Sleep

Both campsites and regular hotels are available. Don't expect the Plaza Hotel but small local places.

• 1 Avantgarde Hotel, Welperstrasse 49 (Bus stop "Hüttenstr" 350, walk down Welperstr.), ☏ +49 2324 50970. Hotel north of centre, free wifi and cycle storage, rooms slightly dated but clean, restaurant. 10- to 15-min walk into centre. (updated Nov 2021)
• 2 Hotel Birschel-Mühle, Schleußenstr 8 (Hattingen (S) S3,359,554 / Bahnhofstr 308, cross railway on 'Bochumer Str.' bridge, use ramp on left side (northbound), cross under main road), ☏ +49 2324 9100871, hotel@birschel-muehle.de. Small hotel in old mill building next to Ruhr River, awarded by German Cyclists Assoc. Restaurant closed due to flood damage. single room from €60/night. (updated Nov 2021)
• 3 Campingplatz Ruhrbrücke in Hattingen, Ruhrstraße 6 ("Hattingen Ruhrbrücke" 308/359, cross under Bridge), ☏ +49 2324 80038, info@camping-hattingen.de. From €8/night. (updated Nov 2021)
• 4 Ruhr Inn Hotel & Sauna, Eickener Str 41 (Bus stop "Engelbertstr" 359, 554. From centre: walk west between tower blocks, across small pedestrian bridge; from Ruhr: onto "Kreisstr." at McDonalds, left after LIDL, after 150 m left again), ☏ +49 2324 39567100, info@ruhr-inn.de. Check-in: 14:00-20:00, check-out: 08:00-11:00. Hotel, spa, conference rooms, located 500 m west of centre, secure bike storage, free wifi, hotel bar open 17:00-22:00. Single room from €72/night. (updated Dec 2021)
• 5 Zur alten Krone (Hotel/ Wirtshaus Zur alten Krone), Steinhagen 8 (right in the middle of the centre), ☏ +49 2324 506771, info@zur-alten-krone.de. Friendly hotel. Lower floor has restaurant of the same name. TV, free WiFi, secure bike parking, car park at nearby public garage. (updated Nov 2021)

Connect

Post service

2 Deutsche Post (Post office), Moltkestr. 6 (Bus 350 "Hüttenstraße", enter pedestrian street and right at first cross street). M-F 09:30-13:00, 14:00-17:00; Sa 09:00-13:00. Post office. Unreliable opening times. (updated Oct 2021)

Hattingen's postal codes are 45525, 45527 and 45529. If in doubt just use 45525, it all goes through the same grumpy post office anyways.

The telephone area code is 02324.

Internet

Public wifi is spotty but available, as alternative the McDonald's (Kreisstr. 29a), west of the centre, offers free wifi. During its opening hours the 3 Hattingen Public Library (open M Tu Th F 10:00-18:00, Sa 10:00-14:00) on the 3rd floor of the Reschop-Carree has wifi and public PCs against a small fee.

Newspaper

The two local and regional papers are Stadtspiegel and WAZ, which won't be of great use if you don't speak german. The former one has birth and death announcements in it.

For international news you'll have to use the internet like normal people or make use of the book store at Essen central station.

Cope

Religion

• DITIB Fatih Moschee (Mosque), Martin-Luther-Straße 24, Tel: +492324919501

Safety

• 4 Hospital (Ev. Krankenhaus), Bredenscheider Str. 54, 24/7 Emergency Room, Busses 330, 332, 558, SB37 Stop "Ev. Krankenhaus" or Bus 359 Stop "Blumenweg"
• 5 Police Hattingen, Nierenhofer Str. 14, open 00:00-24:00, Bus 647 Stop "Bruchstr." or 10 minute walk (at entrance to S-Bahn Hattingen Mitte go left on main road "Nierenhofer Strasse")

Go next

• Bochum Large university city with the regions prime bar&club area.
• Essen The Ruhr area's central shopping location, Gruga fair grounds and park, formerly home of world-famous Krupp Steel works.
• Dortmund The gate to Westphalia, bustling city centre, BVB football club
• Düsseldorf More posh than the Ruhr Area, large international airport, luxury shopping and strolls along the mighty Rhine
• Cologne Germany's 4th largest city, entertainment hotspot, fairs and exhibitions, cologne cathedral, very LGBTQ-friendly, founded by Romans.