Discover Haan: cycling routes, village history and fair
Accommodation in Haan
Cycling and hiking routes, the Historic Village of Gruiten and the Haan Fair offer different ways to enjoy a stay in Haan. When planning your trip, consider whether you mainly want to go on a tour, explore historic village scenery or attend a festival.
Getting around by bike and on foot
The signposted Panorama Cycle Route niederbergbahn runs from Essen-Kettwig via Heiligenhaus, Velbert and WĂĽlfrath to Haan. The route is 40 kilometres long in total, is accessible and has only a few uphill sections. It is suitable for cyclists, pedestrians and wheelchair users. Some sections follow a former railway line. As temporary closures may occur, check the route before setting out.
The neanderland STEIG trail also passes through Haan: stages 1 and 17 run through the city. The first stage follows the Düssel to its source. Stage 17 crosses the Itter Valley and passes old cottages and mills that recall the Itter’s former industrial use. Three Haan discovery loops pass through typical stream valleys, across meadows with old farmsteads and by traces of limestone quarrying and the grain-milling and knife-grinding industries.
The Haan-Gruiten South Discovery Loop starts and ends at Gruiten station, ThunbuschstraĂźe 20, 42781 Haan. Check the route and access details before setting out.
Historic Village of Gruiten and Haan museums
The Historic Village of Gruiten is a picturesque Bergisches Land village with well-preserved half-timbered houses. It makes up the largest heritage-protected part of Haan. Limestone quarrying shaped the village up to the 1960s. A stroll through this historic setting offers a different perspective on Haan from the trails through stream valleys and meadows. Historically, there were four cottages and three mills in total along the Itter within Haan’s city limits.
A digital audio guide to the village is available on smartphones. It comprises 22 chapters and lasts 46 minutes in total. Guided tours of the Historic Village can be booked on request through the BĂĽrger- und Verkehrsverein Gruiten e.V.; check availability before your trip. The association has also developed an informative self-guided tour of the village. City tours of Haan can be booked through VHS Hilden/Haan; registration is only possible through the VHS.
The Haus Stöcken local history museum is the city’s only local history museum. It displays many old objects, including items typical of Haan and its surroundings. Königs Klassik-Radios – Das Autoradiomuseum has a different focus: it opened in Haan in 2002 and displays rare car radios.
Natural landscapes, views and events
For those who want to include some scenery alongside local history, Haan offers two distinct highlights: Grube 7 and the Itter Valley. Grube 7 is a former quarry, now a nature and local recreation area with viewpoints and lovely vistas. The Itter Valley within Haan’s city limits has been a nature reserve since 1997.
The Haan Fair is a family festival that brings together several generations. It takes place over one week in September in the heart of the city. Around 200 rides and stalls are spread throughout the city centre; the precise number may vary from year to year. The fair attracts hundreds of thousands of visitors every year. Check the dates of the relevant edition when planning your trip. The “Haaner GartenLust” event has also been a regular part of Haan’s leisure programme for several years, though this does not imply any specific current event dates.
Another local highlight is Gut Ellscheid: this family-run farm in Haan sells its own products in its farm shop.
Discover more destinations: Monheim am Rhein, Ratingen, Erkrath, Velbert, Mettmann, Hilden, WĂĽlfrath, Heiligenhaus.
Return to the higher-level travel overview: Mettmann.
