Witten is a town of contrasts, topographically rather uneven, but precisely for that reason so charming. Witten is located on the edge of the Ruhr Area and borders on both Bochum and Dortmund, but one can nevertheless feel the proximity of the open country of the Bergisches Land and Sauerland. With around 104,00 inhabitants, Witten is the biggest town in the Ennepe-Ruhr District.

As a visitor to Witten, it is hard to believe today that this green town on the River Ruhr was once the birthplace of the coal and steel industry in the Ruhr. According to legend, a swineherd in Muttental Valley was one morning shocked to find that the stones enclosing his overnight fire were themselves burning. In this way, he discovered coal, and coal was to make Witten the centre of the Ruhr coalfield in the mid-19th century. But where not so long ago coal barges were loading and taking away the “black gold”, today, water ports enthusiasts indulge their hobbies and pleasure boats take passengers on board, while on land, people can enjoy the river by bicycle on one of the bank-side cycle paths, or on a museum train on what is probably the most scenically attractive railway line in the region, the Ruhrtalbahn.

That industrial history and enjoyment of the countryside can go together is proved by the Muttental. It is now hardly conceivable that in this idyllic side valley of the Ruhr, with its woodlands, fields and meadows, there were once more than 60 pits in operation. Many original remains and detailed replicas line a 9 km circular trail, taking visitors on a time journey through 450 years of coalmining in the Ruhr. The oldest steam engine in the coalfield can be seen at the Zeche Nachtigall Industrial Museum (Westfälisches Industriemuseum Zeche Nachtigall), which also has a visitors’s tunnel direct to the coalface. The Zeche Theresia Colliery and Field Railway Museum (Gruben- und Feldbahnmuseum Zeche Theresia) presents an extensive collection of historical colliery railway vehicles which are able to run on the mine’s own rail network, while in the Prayer House (“Bethaus”) there is a small exhibition devoted to the working and living conditions of the miners.

The journey of exploration through the history of coal can also be combined with other attractions: 5 well-signed theme cycle trails lead to all the main places of interest within the town area. Or a boat trip on the River Ruhr and Kemnader Lake can be combined from Muttental with a trip through the Ruhr Valley on a museum train.

For further information please contact:
Stadtmarketing Witten, Tourist & Ticket Service, Ruhrstr. 43, 58452 Witten,
phone: 02302/12233, e-mail: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it , www.stadtmarketing-witten.de

Historische Museumseisenbahn (Museum Train): www.ruhrtalbahn.de/
Zeche Nachtigall (coalmine): www.zeche-nachtigall.de
Zeche Theresia (Field Railway Museum): www.muttenthalbahn.org/