For anyone who has played Civilization 6, Ruhr Valley is a wonder which confers the city in which…read moreit is built 10% increase in production and +1 for every one of its quarries and mines. This UNESCO World Heritage site is categorized as a GeoPark. Hong Kong also has a UNESCO Heritage GeoPark. Both have locations of exposed rock dating all the way back to the Devonian period. However, they're very different in terms of historical, political, industrial, and military impact. According to the Ruhr Museum, Germany had more coal in this region than the rest of Europe combined. As you can imagine, this geological boon was both a gift and a curse. Industrialization made the area an economic powerhouse. Laborers from all over Germany and the region came to work in its mines, processing facilities, and steelworks. This created a diverse community which developed its own dialect, bringing unity to people who have different religions, different cuisines, etc. From the mid-19th century, company housing was built in large tracts, similar to subdivisions in the US, which is very different how other cities developed until then - large around political or religious institutions. Like in the U.S., many of these homes have developed more character as homeowners customize them over time. Since industrial operations ceased in 2018, Germany has done an incredible job mitigating the air, noise and water pollution. It has also planted over 60% of the surface area, more than any former industrial zone. Even the heaps of waste rock generated from mining have been redeveloped into parks and areas for other leisure activities. The Ruhr Museum app guides you through the place in different languages. We wanted to a tour of the former mining and processing facilities, but unfortunately, no English language tours were available today. https://apps.apple.com/us/app/ruhr-museum-audioguide/id1596946739

Very interesting local museum of the Ruhr region housed in an old coal washing complex. There is…read moresomething here to appeal to everyone - panoramic views from the roof of the whole Ruhr valley, thoughtful exhibits highlighting the past and present and captions in both English and German. It's part art exhibit, historical museum, industrial museum and natural history center all together. The best is that the old coal works is largely intact, so you can see all the huge buckets, gears, slides and catwalks. You really get a sense of the industrial past here. I love that the region takes it's heritage seriously and repurposed an old factory as a cultural center. If you are in the Ruhr area doing some sightseeing, it's a nice stop. There's a cafe and many places to have lunch as well as a large park. Very cool!

Highly recommended UNESCO site near Düsseldorf in Germany. Definitely a different vibe than the…read moreusual romantic castles but super interesting. English tours are available and last about 2 hours (possible to reserve for free by calling ahead). The tours cost 10€ and incorporate video for great understanding of the old systems. The tour guide was very nice (our tour guide was from the Netherlands). A great spot for learning a very important part of our modern industrial history. Those interested in architecture will also find many aspects of the site very interesting, especially some areas looking like a perspective drawing and the buildings as steps leading to the main tower.

A UNESCO World Heritage Site, a plus. Important because so much recent history was seen here from…read morethe Romans, the French appropriation after WW1, the massive number of strikes, the rise of Hitler, WW2, and the closing. Strange how this particular site was not dismantled and sold to the Chinese like the others sites. If you enjoy industrial abandonment as much as I do, then visit. This site is one of mankinds stepping stones to life as we know it today. WONDERFUL, p.s., this is still a project under construction.

The Folkwang Museum is an awesome place with a moving history and some unique art on display…read more Perfect for an autumn day.

(my visit was in September 2015)…read more Oh, I am so conflicted about the museum. I appreciate art, I worked in the arts, and I want it to flourish and be shared with as many people as possible, but the curation was so poor. Let's start with the good: there's no admission charge for the permanent collection. Now to the bad: There are some great, fantastic pieces on exhibition, but the low quality displays are so distracting. Artwork is encased in plastic or glass that is slightly opaque and reflects a glare, so it's incredibly difficult to see the pieces in their full glory. The lighting is inconsistent and absolutely awful in some rooms. The museum benefits from beautiful floor-to-ceiling windows that let in so much light, but then you turn a corner and enter a room with fluorescent lights 40 or 60 ft up on the ceiling, casting shadows that shroud the pieces. At the time I went, there was a special exhibit area showcasing a piece of installation art that was fantastic. The staging in the room was done properly: let the artwork be the focus and configure the room and setting around the art. And don't expect too much from the gift shop. I was hoping to pick up a few postcards or souvenirs to send home but was sadly disappointed with just books and knick-knacks. It's no MoMA or Met.

This a great museum to visit!! There's TONS of Picasso paintings and a couple of Warhol ones. I…read morewould say it would take a couple of hours to thoroughly go through everything, not including the special exhibit. Don't miss the rooftop! There's a couple of cool art installations there as well as a gorgeous view of Cologne Cathedral!!

Museum Ludwig is the most popular museum in Cologne on TripAdvisor and one of the top attractions…read moreoverall in the city, and for good reason. I stopped by on a Sunday evening for two hours before they closed. Ideally, you'd like to spend 3-4 hours here, especially if you do the audio guide. Museum Ludwig is Cologne's preeminent museum of contemporary art. You'll find works of art from pretty much every major artist who painted in this style. Pablo Picasso, Salvador Dali, Andy Warhol, Paul Klee, Piet Mondrian, Rene Magritte, etc. It's a feast of riches so I'm only scratching the surface. Beyond the quality of the art, something else I care about at museums is how the exhibitions are laid out. Here, it's intuitive. It's pretty easy to go from room to room without worrying about missing something. Some museums aren't laid out in the best way logistically---Museum Ludwig is. There are three floors. Start at the top and then make your way down. Outside of the layout and the artwork, the final piece for me is comfort. You have that here, too. There's air conditioning which certainly is not a guarantee in Europe. You have free lockers. You have free WiFi. Well done all-around. If you're visiting Cologne, Museum Ludwig should definitely be part of your itinerary.

I enjoyed the one exhibit but our visit was a bit short. Maybe they're doing a lot of construction…read moreand changing out a number of exhibits, because there was really only the one thing to look out. "Captivate!" is curated by German supermodel Claudia Schiffer who is a native of the North Thine-Westphalia district making the Düsseldorf Kunstpalast a good choice. The exhibit takes us through the golden age of fashion and supermodels. Photographs, more photographs, some memorabilia and lots of captions in both German and English. I enjoyed it but would like to have seen more art. If there's more going on here, we couldn't find it. [Review 16376 overall - 181 in Germany - 1883 of 2021.]

Beautiful Museum! The parking is a little tricky but there is plenty of it once you get footed! The…read moremuseum is relatively large on the inside! The staff are friendly, attentive and super informative! Although I've been to Dusseldorf a few times now, this was my first time visiting the museum to see "PS Ich Liebe Dich" And I was wonderfully impressed with how organized and informative the exhibit was! Can't wait to come back!

It is free, it is extensive, it has evil Russian propaganda. Do I need to say more?…read more I do have to take off a star for not accommodating stupid Americans like me. Even with the audio guide, there are some parts of the museum that you will just have to squint at intelligently, take pictures thinking that you will translate when you get home (you won't), and move on with the other children to the big tank. Big tanks require no translation. Neither does the life-sized canoe crashing through the wall with life jackets pouring out of it (bet you're going now, aren't you?)

This is one of the best museums to visit if you are at all interested in contemporary German…read morehistory (WWII and on). While it is a bit frustrating if you don't know German (only the major captions on signs are translated into English, though I heard you can ask for an English guide), the fact that it's free more than makes up for it. Regardless of my utter lack of German language ability, I still managed to spend hours in this museum. The best part? Admission is absolutely FREE. Definitely a must-see attraction in Bonn. Go with German locals if you can; it'll likely make your visit much more meaningful. Note: You will be asked to turn in your personal belongings at the coat check. Also, there is a direct entrance to the museum from the Heussallee/Museumsmeile U-Bahn station, on the western side of Friedrich-Ebert-Allee -- going through this entrance will actually allow you to see a neat car and train.

Dear tourists, if interested in modern art and architecture, this is your place to go!…read moreGreat old-modern-combination, probably one of the best architectural highlights in town. Art showed is truly modern (21st century, got it?) And rooms are dedicated to a huge range of different artists. This eclectic concept plus room in the basement for bigger expositions make this museum a good example of its kind. Not to talk of the tomas saraceno installation which can be entered (right.) Until end of 2014.

Go for the In Orbit installation. After donning a special suit and shoes, climb in to the exhibit…read morebut be forewarned : trying to walk on three layers of nets suspended 90 feet in the air isn't for the faint of heart. You can always take a break and lounge on the clear plastic orbs. Afterwards, come back to earth and visit the crazy spider exhibit: intricate webs are suspended from sheet glass. A guard is positioned in the room that visitors don't sneak in a can or two of Raid. Another exhibit featured rows of suspended fabric for the visitor to weave in and out of. After winding through, be rewarded with a highly unusual film short. This museum doesn't have as much art as the sister museum, K20, but it's well worth a visit. We were there in January and it wasn't busy- only a few minute wait to go up "In Orbit" The building is beautiful and spacious; we didn't even see the entire museum but would consider returning next time in Düsseldorf. Quite a few of the exhibits are admittedly unusual but it's still and enjoyable way to spend an afternoon doing something a bit out of the ordinary- especially if you've got painting and sculpture overload.