Bochum in the Ruhr valley - experience the buzz of a region transformed

The former industrial city of Bochum is located near Duesseldorf at the heart of the Ruhr area on the Industrial Heritage Route. The age of coal and steel has long since passed, but the city has successfully reinvented itself.

> Places of interest
> Art & culture
> Leisure

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Places of interest

Visitors can explore and enjoy a wealth of marvelous industrial monuments. The fascinating contrasts of busy city life and open landscapes, state-of-the-art industry and extensive recreational areas, efficient transportation networks and idyllic river meadows outshine the traditional image of the Ruhr region. On a moonless night, when the twinkling stars appear brighter than usual, even the most earth-bound among us will have dreamt of going on a voyage to the stars. This has been made possible at the captivating Zeiss Planetarium, where visitors can experience the wonder of the stars whether it's day or night. Home to VfL Bochum soccer club, the FIFA Women`s World Cup Stadium is well-established in sporting history and makes the perfect venue for fans to experience the action close-up from any one of the venue's 30,000 seats.

Art & culture

Bochum also boasts various cultural attractions, including many fascinating museums, such as the Hannover Colliery Museum and the Bochum-Dahlhausen Railway Museum, along with a number of others. As the Ruhr region's premier festival venue, Bochum offers a wealth of culture. Performances of one of the world's most successful musicals - Starlight Express - have been held at the Starlighthalle theater since 1988 and - as an all-time favorite - just keep on going. The well-known Jahrhunderthalle (Centennial Hall) in the center of the city is an attraction for the whole region and one of Europe's most impressive and innovative festival halls.

Leisure

If you are looking for the perfect spot to enjoy all kinds of leisure activities, the area around the lake Kemnader See (the most recent of six man-made reservoirs in the region) is the right place. And while the Botanical Gardens provide an oasis for nature lovers, the Ruhr Valley Cycle Route offers an experience for all tastes. In the center of Bochum, colorful festivals, markets and sporting events take place in the town's streets and squares throughout the year.