Ringed by medieval walls, Ratingen is a historic town on the northeastern outskirts of Düsseldorf. It was an important textile manufacturing hub during the Industrial Revolution and flourished as a residential area in the post-war years. Several high-tech corporations now call Ratingen “home”.
Things to do in Ratingen
In the heart of Ratingen is the parish church of St. Peter und Paul, a Gothic hall church dating back to the 13th century. It features three towers, the tallest of which rises four stories in height and is topped by a Baroque-style steeple. Coincide your visit with the ringing of the Marienbell, which is one of the most beautiful sounding bells in the Rhineland, or attend a concert featuring the Romanus Seifert & Son organ.
If you’re interested in the textile manufacturing history of the region, visit the Textilfabrik Cromford, which occupies the first cotton spinning mill in continental Europe. Working replicas of 19th-century cotton machines are exhibited alongside textile manufacturing artefacts and explanations of the processes and working conditions. Period furnishings and old photographs decorate the Cromford Mansion, which was built in the late 18th century by Johann Gottfried Brügelmann.
Another top museum is Oberschlesisches Landesmuseum, which documents the cultural heritage of Upper Silesia. While Upper Silesia is hundreds of kilometres away, many people from the region lived in North Rhine-Westphalia from the 19th century. In addition to religious artefacts, agricultural equipment and handicrafts, traditional costumes and artwork are on display.
Getting around Ratingen
Ratingen is around a 20-minute drive from the centre of Düsseldorf and 10 minutes from Düsseldorf International Airport, which has flights to destinations across the globe. Regular trains connect to the Ratingen Ost and Ratingen Im Rott railway stations while U-Bahn services travel throughout the city.