Herten: Parks, spoil heaps and industrial heritage

When planning a stay in Herten, you can focus on several themes: the palace park and palace forest, nature at Ewald Lake, trails on the spoil heaps, or industrial heritage at the Ewald colliery. If you are looking for a hotel, first consider which theme you want to shape your time here. This will help you weigh up the park’s design and tree species, habitats and circular trails, the different paths on the spoil heaps, or the architecture of a former mining site.

Palace Park, Palace Forest and Ewald Lake

Herten Palace Park features Baroque garden design and the character of an English landscape garden. More than 200 tree species grow in the park. The paths through the palace park and palace forest are used for jogging, cycling and walking. The palace forest covers 179 hectares and has a nine-kilometre network of walking and cycling paths.

Numerous plants and animals find a habitat at Ewald Lake, including tufted ducks and great crested grebes. Two circular trails begin at the southern end of the lake. The named bird species offer a glimpse of the area’s wildlife, while the circular trails provide a practical way to plan a walk there.

Spoil-Heap Trails and the Horizon Observatory

Together, Hoheward spoil heap and Hoppenbruch spoil heap form a 220-hectare spoil-heap landscape, described as the largest in Europe. Serpentine paths run across Hoppenbruch spoil heap and are used for hiking and mountain biking. Routes range from easy options to advanced trails with jumps. Check trail conditions and operating regulations before setting out, as both can change. A wind turbine and information boards stand at the summit, with views stretching across the Ruhr region.

Hoheward Landscape Park combines a former colliery site with extensive green spaces, art installations and views of the surrounding region. Its many paths are suitable for hiking and cycling. The Horizon Observatory uses sighting markers and two monumental arches to observe the sun, solstices and seasons. As of August 2026, the observatory cannot be accessed; completion of the planned renovation is targeted for the end of 2027. The sundial on Hoheward spoil heap is freely accessible.

Ewald Colliery: Architecture, Exhibition and Getting There

Ewald Colliery is shaped by architecture from three eras of mining. Its features include the Malakow Tower, Shaft 2 and the headframe of Shaft 7. You can explore the complex along the Ewald Promenade or as part of a guided tour. The RVR Hoheward Visitor Centre at the colliery houses the interactive exhibition “New Horizons – Tracing Time”.

The free QR-code rally starts at the entrance to the Pay and Lamp Hall, which houses the visitor centre. It is described as a digital treasure hunt, has twelve stations and takes about one to one and a half hours. Check the details of the activity before travelling.

For cyclists, junction 43 of radrevier.ruhr leads directly to the Ewald Colliery site. The Avenue of Change begins at the RVR Hoheward Visitor Centre. It follows a former colliery railway line through Herten towards Westerholt and is approximately 31 kilometres long. Ewald Colliery is served by bus routes SB27 and 210 at the Bergwerk Ewald 1/2 and Gelsenkirchener Str. stops. Check current public transport connections before setting off.

Discover more destinations: Gladbeck, Dorsten, Castrop-Rauxel, Marl, Waltrop, Hervest, Oer-Erkenschwick, Haltern Am See.

For the main travel overview: Recklinghausen.