Hamm: Industrial Heritage, Parks and the Lippe Floodplains
Accommodation in Hamm
In Hamm, travel interests range from a former coal mine to a Tamil temple and cycling routes along the Lippe floodplains. When planning a hotel stay, you can first decide whether to focus on culture, parkland or outdoor activities.
Parks and Industrial Heritage
Maximilianpark was created in 1984 on the site of the former Maximilian coal mine, on the occasion of North Rhine-Westphalia’s first State Garden Show. The connection between industrial history and parkland was therefore built into its origins. The park is home to the Glass Elephant, the world’s largest building in the shape of an animal. From there, you can look out over Maximilianpark, the city of Hamm and the surrounding area from a height of 35 metres.
Lippepark also recalls a former mining site: the 42-hectare area lies at the former Franz shaft and has been developed into an accessible urban park with special attractions. Bridges over the Lippe and the Datteln-Hamm Canal connect the different sections. Both the industrial past and the park’s modern design are among the defining features of this place.
Cultural Sites and Architectural History
The Sri Kamadchi Ampal Temple has been in Hamm since 1989 and has been located in Hamm-Uentrop since 1997. It is considered Europe’s largest purpose-built Tamil temple. Schloss Oberwerries offers a different historical perspective: the manor house was built between 1685 and 1692. The castle is a destination on the Lippe, in the middle of a protected landscape area.
Today, the Gustav-LĂĽbcke Museum displays objects collected since 1886 across more than 4,000 square metres, as well as frequently changing exhibitions with appeal beyond the region. If you are interested in a particular exhibition, check the current programme before your visit, as exhibitions change. In Hamm, these offer different ways to explore culture and history: a temple of special significance, a historic manor house and a museum with a collection and changing displays.
The Lippe Floodplains and Water Sports
The Lippeaue recreational area covers about 195 hectares and includes an approximately five-kilometre stretch of river that has been restored to a natural state. Wet meadows, riparian woodland and small bodies of water are part of this landscape. The area and the length of the restored stretch describe different aspects of the site: its extent and the course of the river.
The water sports facility at Haarener See has a sandy beach, a spacious shallow-water zone and two beach volleyball courts. As facilities can change, check the conditions before your visit. The water-ski cableway on the lake officially began operating on 18 July 2008. If you plan to make it a fixed part of your itinerary, check the latest operating details in advance.
Explore Hamm by Bike
The 32-kilometre PANORAMA ROUTE starts at the cycling station at Hamm railway station and is signposted with a white binoculars logo on a blue background. It leads to Maximilianpark and the Glass Elephant. The route thus connects a starting point at the railway station with two of the destinations mentioned, with a clear focus on the park and the view.
The main route of the Römer-Lippe-Route offers another option for cycle tourists: it passes through Hamm and leads to the restored Lippe floodplains. The two routes can be matched to different interests: the PANORAMA ROUTE leads to Maximilianpark and the Glass Elephant, while the Römer-Lippe-Route follows the river landscape. The 32-kilometre distance applies to the PANORAMA ROUTE.
More Experiences and Travel Planning
The h4 cultural festival takes place every year on the first weekend in September, transforming Hamm’s city centre into a large creative stage. As programme details can change, check them if you want to plan your trip around the festival. At Hamm Zoo, the Fabeltier-Erlebniswelt offers play activities and thoughtfully designed areas where children can enjoy role-play suited to their age.
This gives you several options when planning your trip: culture and architectural history, parks and river landscapes, cycling, or a visit to the zoo with children.
Discover more destinations: Hamm, Rhynern, Mettmann, Unna, Borken, Bielefeld, Rheinisch-Bergischer Kreis, DĂĽren.
Go to the regional travel overview: North Rhine-Westphalia.
