Bergisches Land

Regional Overview

The Conquest of Nature

The old lands of the Duchy Berg sit high above the Rhine in a thickly forested and rolling highland landscape. Known otherwise only for its high-quality swords in the Middle Ages, the Industrial Revolution first awoke the Duchy’s potential. The land’s bounty was an endless supply of iron and coal hiding beneath the surface. The story of a rural way of life disrupted by modernity is still evident in its towns, villages, and industrial heritage.

Regional Identity

What to Lookout For

  • Urban and industrial environments integrated into the rugged landscape, e.g., Wuppertal and Solingen
  • Countless villages and towns with their characteristic blue slate shingles and green shutters.
  • Traces of the Medieval Dukes of Berg in Altenberg, Burg, and Blankenberg.

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Justin Bunch | CityscapeTravel My suggested travel destinations with the top three destinations highlighted.

What is the Bergisches Land?

As with most of the Rhineland, allied bombers laid waste to all of the urban centers of the Duchy Berg. Solingen, Remscheid, Siegburg, Bergisch Gladbach and most of Wuppertal offer little to nothing for tourists. However, the rolling hills and river valleys offered protection for nearby villages and some city districts that other Rhenish cities did not enjoy. The Bergisches Land retains many charming urban suburbs and incorporated towns, spared destruction by the region’s geography. E.g., The beautiful village Lennep is part of the otherwise gray and modern Remscheid, Gräfenrath is part of Solingen and Vohwinkel is part of the Wuppertal. Given how isolated some of these places feel, you may not even realize you are in a major city.

Regional Overview

Hiking in the Region

Hike: Medieval Landscapes of Blankenberg

Hike: Medieval Landscapes of Blankenberg

This is less of a hike and more of a guided tour. Blankenberg is a remarkable Sieg Valley village with a beautifully preserved old town…

Hiking: Past, Present, and Future in the Wuppertal

Hiking: Past, Present, and Future in the Wuppertal

The Ennepetal is one of the most picturesque corners of the Wuppertal. The ancient monastery church rising above the lake, surrounded by slate-covered houses and…

Hiking: Lords of the Wuppertal

Hiking: Lords of the Wuppertal

This hike takes you on one of the most well-traveled routes in the Lower Rhine. The destination is the Castle of Burg, a 19th-century reconstruction…

Cities of the Bergisches Land

My Quantitative Travel Rankings

To understand where the categories come from, see this article here.

Social Score

4.4 / 10

The score is based on the following:

  • Hype: 6.8
  • Growth: 2.1
  • Wealth: 8.9
  • Recognition: 1.4
Ease of Travel

5.3 / 10

The score is based on the following:

  • Accommodation: 2.7
  • Transportation: 5.7
  • Ease of Planning: 5.2
  • Infrastructure: 9.2
  • Interactivity: 1.4
  • Airport: Yes
Historical Immersion

5.2 / 10

The score is based on the following:

  • Historical Context: 3.8
  • Monuments: 9.7
  • Quality*: 5.0
  • Landscape: 9.8
  • Vineyards: 0
Authenticity

5.8 / 10

The score is based on the following:

  • Undiscovered: 3.2
  • Cultural Immersion: 7.6
  • Tradition*: 7.0

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Rhine-Maas

A tale of two rivers and two revolutions

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