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Theme Trails - an authentic insight |
People all over the world think of Duisburg as the city of heavy industry and the largest inland harbour in Europe. Since the early middle ages the city has been regarded as an important port and loading place for foreign goods. But the first artificial harbour basins between the Rhine and the mouth of the Ruhr were only built at the start of the 19th century. The very first basin was created by extending a silted up loop in the Rhine which led directly along the Duisburg town walls. The inner harbour came into existence. Three kilometres north-west at the mouth of the Ruhr, a customs station served as the nucleus for the smaller town of Ruhrort which, from the mid 18th century, developed into an important port for loading and unloading local coal. In 1905 both towns and harbours were amalgamated.
Our trail starts at the Duisburg Inner Harbour. Here a new district is springing up around the harbour with its restored historic mills and warehouses. The mixture of residential, working, cultural and entertainment facilities exemplify the structural transformation of the region as a whole. A stroll along the promenade shows how history can be brought to life in an attractive blend of historic buildings and modern architecture. To get from the inner harbour to Ruhrort you can either take a boat trip through the harbour or travel direct by tram. The extensive harbour with its modern loading and unloading facilities lies between the two points.
The Ruhrort harbour district is no longer dominated by the lives and work of boatmen. But tracking down traces of their history is still a lively experience. The Ruhrort harbour trail leads visitors through 250 years of Ruhrort history.
The last tractor-wheel steamer on the Rhine and the German Inland Waterways Museum housed in the former public baths are particular attractions.
All further content is only available in german.