Culture of Bochum. Places to visit - old town, temples, theaters, museums and palaces

Bochum is a city with an interesting history and numerous historical landmarks. An excursion in the city will be nothing but pleasant as tourists will be able to see many beautiful monuments and gorgeous churches. They are welcome to visit museums and walk on picturesque streets, admiring the splendor of local natural landmarks.

St. Peter und Paul Church is one of the most famous landmarks in the city. The first chapel appeared on the site of the modern church yet in the 8th century. The first extensive restoration took place in the 11th century, and in 1517 the shrine suffered much damage because of a fire. It was rebuilt only in 1547, and an attractive Roman church was replaced by a no less attractive gothic building. Later, the magnificent cathedral suffered damage from the fire several times. A part of the building was destroyed during the World War II years. Nowadays, the church is fully restored, and so tourists can see how beautiful it is. Inside the church, tourists will see unique religious artifacts, including the ancient crypt, hallows of saints, an ancient Roman baptistery, and the altar that dates back to the 14th century.

Stiepel Priory, also known as the Cistercian monastery, is a no less interesting religious landmark. The opening of the monastery took place in 1988. The beautiful modern building is surrounded by spacious squares and avenues, and even a gorgeous park. Every month, the monastery hosts wonderful performances of church music. Tourists should not forget to see the ancient building of the town hall and the Bochum bell that has become one of the symbols of the city. Copyright www.orangesmile.com

One of the most famous artisans in the city made the bell in the middle of the 19th century. Since that time, the bell has been installed on the square in front of the city hall. Such an unusual monument is a reminder of the steel founding masters who lived in Bochum and made the city famous worldwide. In 1867, the giant bell became the winner of the Paris exhibition. Participants agreed that it was a doubtless victory of Jacob Mayer. His priceless masterpiece was a sensation at the exhibition.

Fans of long strolls and outdoor recreation will enjoy a visit to the Geological Garden that is one of the most interesting natural landmarks in the country. In the past, the garden was a coal and iron mining area. Nowadays, thousands of tourists come to the park to see the diversity and unforgettable beauty of different geological structures. Bochum Stadtbahn is also an interesting landmark. The light rail line consists of only one route, which will certainly leave many unforgettable memories. The train will not only get tourists to different parts of Bochum in a blink of an eye but help to reach neighboring towns in a convenient way.

Bochum is rich in museums dedicated to different spheres, but the most famous ones tell more about the industrial part of the city. The Deutsches Bergbaumuseum or the German Mining Museum is a fabulous place where all visitors of this wonderful city can learn more about its industrial past and the history of the Ruhr region. As this museum was founded in 1930, it exhibits a large collection of precious items. Guests are welcome to visit its shafts and underground tunnels. By the way, finding this museum is incredibly simple – it is made in the shape of a tower that is 68 meters high.

The next museum, the Zeche Hannover or Hanover Coal Mine is a museum that is built on the site of a former coal mine that was closed in 1973. The mine was then carefully restored and, therefore, became a popular landmark of the industrial part in Bochum. It is also a wonderful place for everyone who wants to learn more about the heritage of this region. This is also a family-friendly museum – at the Kiddies Colliery children will learn about the coal mine working principles in a fun and entertaining manner.

The Stadtpark is a great place to take a walk. You will find along the way here a variety of attractions, like for example, Bismarckturm. The building was constructed in 1871 to commemorate, as the name implies, Otto von Bismarck. From here opens up beautiful views of the city and its surroundings, you should not miss it for anything in the world. On the territory of the park, there is also a children’s playground, a zoo, a couple of stunning restaurants, a miniature golf course, Kirche im Pott, as well as a lake, near which you can sit and feel the unparalleled carelessness. Nearby is situated the Kunstmuseum, all connoisseurs of contemporary art will definitely like it here. Some of the exhibits you will find here are works of fine art and sculptures.

Dorfkirche Stiepel is one of the oldest churches in the city (it was built in 1001); you should definitely pay a visit to this place at least for this reason. The exterior of the sanctuary is astonishing – you can guess that the building is ancient by merely looking at it. The interior decoration likewise deserves the highest of praise – you can see here beautiful frescoes and sculptures. The surrounding is very peaceful, not just because it is a church, but also for the fact that it is surrounded by vegetation. In the vicinity is situated a park with an excellent playground, and the famous Fliegenkirmes Stiepel festival takes place here.

Fans of flora will be delighted to visit Botanischer Garten. This is a very quiet and peaceful place with everything you need for a perfect walk. It is very comfortable here despite the fact that the garden is very small. You can gaze at the plants for so long that the whole eternity would seem not to be enough. The garden is located within the territory of Ruhr University. There is also a greenhouse here which is open to the public, and it has many exotic plants from all over the world. One of the most interesting places in the garden is Chinesischer Garten. Another great place to take a walk is Tippelsberg, where the views will amaze just about anyone who decides to enjoy a quiet holiday away from the bustle of the city.

From among museums, the Deutsches Bergbau-Museum is worth missioning. This place introduces visitors to the coal industry in the region. Zeiss Planetarium will amaze everyone, both adults and children. It is also remarkable that often, in addition to traveling to the stars, “trips” to the world of music are organized, where you can enjoy excellent music program with rock'n'roll and rock stars like Deep Purple, Pink Floyd, Beatles. A visit to the Eisenbahnmuseum will be a real gift to those who are crazy about the railways or those who want to get acquainted with how the wagons are assembled. Another organization worth talking about is an industry situated in Bochum. We are talking about LWL-Industriemuseum.