Witten
Witten is a city of 96 000 in the Ruhr area of North Rhine-Westphalia, in western Germany.
Understand[edit]
Witten is a city of 96 000 situated between Dortmund and Hagen and part of Ruhr region, on whose namesake river it lies. It consists of the districts of Mitte, Düren, Stockum, Annen and Rüdinghausen, as well as Bommern, Heven and Herbede, which lie on the Ruhr, with Herbede being near the Kemnade Lake, an artificial reservoir. The city, like the rest of the region, has to deal with issues of deindustrialisation and population loss, instead trying to draw visitors with its cultural and industrial heritage.
Get in[edit]
By plane[edit]
The closest airport is Dortmund DTM IATA, about 21 km (13 mi) away. The more useful airport to get to Witten is Düsseldorf Airport DUS IATA in Düsseldorf, about 43 km (27 mi) away, and served by flights across the continent and overseas.
By train[edit]
Trains stop at 1 Witten Hauptbahnhof 
, the only long-distance service stopping here is the InterCity line IC34 Dortmund - Witten - Iserlohn-Letmathe - Siegen - Dillenburg - Frankfurt, which can be used with regional tickets including the Deutschlandticket between Dortmund and Dillenburg.
Regional services are RE4 Dortmund - Hagen - Wuppertal - Düsseldorf - Cologne - Aachen, RE16 Essen - Bochum - Hagen - Iserlohn and RB40 Hagen - Bochum - Essen, in addition to local S-Bahn S5 Dortmund - Hagen.
Long-distance trains to domestic and international destinations stop in nearby Dortmund (including daily Eurostar service to Brussels and Paris), in Bochum and in Hagen.
By car[edit]
Witten lies within the rectangle formed by Autobahns A 1, A 43, A 45, A 448 (until 2021: A 44, still referred to as such by locals). Coming from Frankfurt take A 45. A 448 crosses Witten north of the city centre going east-west, and acts as connection between A43 and A45.
By bike[edit]
The Ruhrtalradweg, Ruhr Valley bike path, runs past Witten along the Ruhr River from its spring all the way to Duisburg, where it joins the Rhine.
Get around[edit]
By public transport[edit]
Public transport consists of two tram lines, 309 and 310, in addition to bus routes that cover most of the city. Services are operated by BOGESTRA or VER and run roughly 05:00-23:00, starting later on weekends, very limited nightbus service is provided on weekend nights. The 2 BOGESTRA information Office at Bahnhofstrasse 1, M-F 08:00-18:00 Sa 08:00-15:00, will help with fares and route information, or use the various apps like Muttis etarif, VRR or the DB Navigator.
- 3 Ruhr Valley Ferry (Ruhrtalfähre), ☏ +49 02302 395380. March, April and October daily 09:00-18:00 May, June, July, August, September daily 09:00-21:00. Small ferry for pedestrians and bikes. Free, but depending on small donations.
By car[edit]
Witten is not subject to one of the many environmental protection zones (DE: Umweltzone), meaning your car does not need any specific green, yellow or red pollution sticker. All modern cars of the last two decades will confirm, and old vintage vehicles are exempt so this would't be a concern most likely anyways.
The city centre is restricted to through-traffic and parts are entirely closed off for motor vehicles, including the main shopping high street, Bahnhofstrasse. Parking spots are available on lots, in garages or on the side of the road.
On many residential streets, only local residents with permits or guests of them are allowed to park, and in many cases even enter the road in the first place, see Driving in Germany.
By bike[edit]
Besides the afforementioned Ruhr Valley bike path, Bike path "Rheinischer Esel" runs on an old railway from Bochum to the south of Dortmund. Bike lanes are common but in bad quality or placed in the worst spots, so exercise caution.
By foot[edit]
The city centre is small enough to explore on foot.
See[edit]
Witten might not be a jewel of old world architecture, but it's certainly worth a stay if you're looking for a cheap and central base to explore the Ruhr area, or as stop whilst cycling through the green Ruhr Valley. The outskirts are full of green rolling hills.
- 1 Berger Memorial (Bergerdenkmal) (access via Ruhrdeich and Hohenstein streets, low bridge 3.7 m (12 ft)). Build in 1904, this 20 m (66 ft) Memorial tower overlooks the Ruhr Valley below.
- 2 Haus Witten, Ruhrstrasse 86. Old knight's mansion, today it houses art exhibitions and events.
- 3 Hardenstein Castle Ruins (Burgruine Hardenstein) (Museum train stop "Ruine Hardenstein", or use the small ferry nearby, limited parking along Herbeder Str.). Old ruins of a former manor house in the style of a small castle.
- 4 Johannis Church (Johanniskirche) (near Rathausplatz). Oldest building in Witten.
- 5 KZ-Aussenlager Annen Gußstahlwerk (Annen steelworks concentration camp) (from Witten-Annen Nord station, cross railway and turn left after the church). Memorial to the subcamp of the nearby cast steel works, a subcamp of Buchenwald. A section of fence and memorial plaques in a small green area commemorate the 750 forced labourers who were exploited here shortly before the end of the war. Most of the area was used as a rubbish dump and car park until the 1980s as part of the suppression of these crimes and was then built over.
- 6 Märkisches Museum, Husemannstr. 12 (same building as the public library), ☏ +49 2302 5812569. W-Su 12:00-18:00. Museum with modern german art. Free admission.
- 7 Nachtigall Mining Museum (Zeche Nachtigall), Nachtigallstr 35 (from bus stop Bommern Bf its a 2km walk, or use the footbridge at the west end of Ruhrdeich). T-Su 10:00-18:00. Museum showcasing the beginning of coal mining in the Ruhr area which started nearby, exhibitions of mining and early shipping on the Ruhr and guided tours. Adult €4.00 Child €2.00.
- 8 Ruhr Viaduct. 700 m (2,300 ft) long, arched stone bridge, that carries a railway line across the Ruhr and stands firmly in the middle of it. Usually nowadays only carries freight trains but if you're lucky you might get diverted across it between Witten and Hagen, allowing a fantastic view of the valley below.
- 9 Saint Mary's Church (St. Marienkirche) (next to Marienhospital). Church dating back to the 1840s.
Do[edit]
- 1 Freizeitbad Heveney (Heveney leisure pool), Querenburger Strasse 35 (Bus 320,374,375,SB67 Stop "Freizeitbad Heveney"), ☏ +49 02302 13471. M-Th 09:00-22:00 Sa 09:00-23:00 S 09:00-21:00. Public indoor and outdoor pool with wellness area. Adult €12.75 Child €6.75 Family €24.50 09:00-11:00 early bird special €7.75.
- 2 Kaker Lakers (Baseballplatz Kämpen), Kämpenstr. 149 (Stop Brenschede Bus 375), ☏ +49 01635 516640. Small local baseballteam with their own baseball field, play games here.
- 3 Lake Kemnade (Kemnader See) (from Witten take tram 309,310 to Heven Dorf, or take Bus 320 direction Ruhr-Universität or Niedersprockhövel to stop "Freizeitbad Heveney"). Artificial reservoir, boats to ride, paddle boats to rent, long bike, jogging and inline skate paths around the lake, lawns to relax on. Busy on nice days.
- Ruhr Valley Railway (Stops within Witten at Bommern, Nachtigall Museum, Hardenstein Ruins and Herbede stops), ☏ +49 (0)2324 492516, sonderfahrten@eisenbahnmuseum-bochum.de. The railway museum in Bochum-Dahlhausen offers regular trips with its historic trains from April to October, including a steam locomotive every first Sunday from 7 April. The journeys run from the museum in Bochum via Hattingen along the Ruhr to Wetter-Wengern Ost and back. One trip per direction takes around 1.5 hours. Adults retour trip €24.00 Cash only!.
Buy[edit]
The main shopping street is Bahnhofstrasse, stretching from the City Hall (Rathaus) to the Central train station.
1 StadtGalerie Witten Hammerstr. 9, (M-Sa 10:00-19:00, parking garage 10:00-20:00) is small modern shopping centre a short walk from the station, with the usual chains of clothing, electronics and the like. Here you'll find public toilets.
Farmers Markets with fresh produce are on the square in front of the City Hall (Rathausplatz) on Tuesdays, Wednesday and Saturday from 08:00-14:00, in Annen on the square between St.Joseph Church and the railway and in Herbede on the town square at Meesmannstr., both on Friday between 08:00-13:00.
Eat[edit]
- 1 Akropolis, Ruhrstraße 36, ☏ +49 0230223054. Tu-Sa 11:30-22:00 Sun- and Holidays 16:00-22:00. Long established Greek restaurant.
- 2 Picasso im Ruhrblick, In der Lake 19 (on Ruhr Valley bike path, next to footbridge across Ruhr. Car access via Herbeder Str. on Witten side), ☏ +49(0)2302 1797872, info@picassoimruhrblick.de. Tu-Su 12:00-23:00. Restaurant with terrace situated between the Ruhr River and the Ruhrtalradweg bike path.
- 3 André's 1726, Schulstr. 1 Witten-Herbede (Bus 320 Stop Wittener Str), ☏ +49 02302 9410600. Lunch Menu W,F 12:00-15:00 , a la carte W-Sa 18:00-22:00 Su 18:00-21:00. Traditional german cuisine in an old small timberframed house, won price on national tv. Changing opening times, call before.
Drink[edit]
Sleep[edit]
- 1 Ardey Hotel, Ardeystraße 11 (Tram&Bus stop Marienhospital), ☏ +49 02302 984880, info@ardey-hotel.de. Modern hotel in a central location, 56 rooms of which 3 are disabled-designated. Certified by ADFC german bike assoc. as bike friendly. Run as non-profit organisation and employs people with disabilities.
- 2 Ringhotel Parkhotel Witten, Bergerstrasse 23 (from station walk right and straight past the roundabout), ☏ +49 02302 588-0. Slightly dated but clean hotel tower in walking distance to the train station,.
- 3 Hotel Haus Hohenstein, Hohenstein 32, ☏ +49 02302 580000. More upclass hotel in a park-like area to the south of the city centre,.
Connect[edit]
- 2 Public Library Witten (Stadtbibliothek Witten), Husemannstr. 12 (Bus stops "Saalbau" and "Husemannstr."), ☏ +49 (0)2302 5812543, bibliothek@stadt-witten.de. Tu-Sa 10:00-18:00 S 12:00-18:00. Public library, no library staff on Saturdays 13:00-18:00 and on sundays entirely.
Go next[edit]
- Dortmund, home of Borussia Dortmund football club, the german football museum and a busy city centre. 12 km (7.5 mi)
- Hattingen, medieval town centre and castle ruins. 11 km (6.8 mi)
- Bochum, large university and nightlife. 9 km (5.6 mi)
- Wuppertal, home of the famous Schwebebahn monorail. 24 km (15 mi)
- Düsseldorf, state capital on the mighty Rhine river, rich fashion capital and home of a large japanese community. 45 km (28 mi)
- Cologne, Germany's fourth largest city, cathedral, arts, music and media, huge LGBTQ community. 61 km (38 mi)