Germany Archives ⋆ Page 40 of 117 ⋆ The Passenger

November 9, 2019December 3, 2019

Stars of the Galaxy

If you’re a fan of the epic Star Wars saga (and who isn’t?) the exhibition Stars of the Galaxy at Mönchengladbach, Germany might be the right place for you to visit. In 2005 collectors started to exhibit their Star Wars collections in an old cinema at the city quarter Rheydt. In 2011 the combined collections moved to an even more bizarre location: the Berliner Bad or Kaiserbad – a former indoor swimming pool. Within the old pool itself you can now see a giant scene on the ice planet Hoth. The AT-AT dominating this battle scene is 4.5 meters high.

November 9, 2019February 19, 2020

Abteiberg

The Abteiberg is a hill next to the city centre of Mönchengladbach, Germany, which received its name when the Münster St. Vitus was built on top. Visiting the Abteiberg can also mean to visit the Städtisches Museum Abteiberg not far away from the church – which I recommend. It is a museum with interesting modern architecture and a lot of modern art within. It was founded somewhen between 1901 and 1904, the current building is in use since 1982. It is one of the most important museums for contemporary in Germany and has a focus on works of the 20th and 21st century.

November 9, 2019December 3, 2019

Fair Hotel

The Fair Hotel is a surprisingly good hotel next to the railway station of Mönchengladbach, Germany. It rather feels like a house with different modern and quite spacious apartments. The reception is not open around the clock but there is a giant red door you can’t miss and which opens with a key you receive when checking in. I had the feeling of living in the city, a situation I absolutely like.

November 9, 2019February 19, 2020

Münster St. Vitus

The city of Mönchengladbach, Germany, is still today sometimes called Vitusstadt (city of Vitus). It is said that Vitus was a Pagan child in Sicilia, Italy and was converted to Christianity. Already as a small child, he is said to have worked wonders as a miracle healer. His father and also the Roman emperor Diocletian tried to punish and kill him – but they all failed. Torture didn’t work, boiling oil couldn’t kill him, lions wouldn’t eat him. He became one of the fourteen holy helpers and relics from his remains were considered really powerful.

November 1, 2019January 21, 2024

Schlichte Hof

The Schlichte Hof is an ancient guesthouse from the year 1492 at Bielefeld, Germany. Within the half-timbered house you will find a hotel with few rooms and a good restaurant serving traditional dishes of Westphalia. But this place seems to be mostly known for family events and especially wedding parties. The former horse stable offers enough space on two levels for many guests.

October 26, 2019January 26, 2020

Wacht am Rhein

There aren’t too many good places to sit at the shore of river Rhein at Leverkusen, Germany. A lot of the space along the river is cover by chemical factories. But if you make your way from Leverkusen-Mitte to the river, leave the shopping malls behind and pass through and endless number of residential homes you will find the Neuland-Park (a vast garden) and next to it a nice restaurant called ‘Wacht am Rhein‘ (Watch on the Rhine) – named after an ancient German song and anthem.

October 26, 2019December 3, 2019

BayArena

The BayArena at Leverkusen, Germany is a soccer stadium I saw multiple times – when passing by on motorway A1 directly next to it. As Leverkusen itself feels like a giant chemical plant with a city around it, I never had the desire to go there. Doing it nevertheless was a good decision as the stadium is really great in its design and services. It is home to the ‘Werkself‘, Bayer 04 Leverkusen, a club owned by this giant chemical plant (the Bayer AG). A club that never won the German championship but ended five times on the second place – and is therefore often called ‘Vizekusen‘.

October 26, 2019February 20, 2020

Museum Morsbroich

The Museum Morsbroich is a museum for contemporary art in Leverkusen, Germany. It is located within the baroque castle Schloss Morsbroich from the year 1389 – later belonging to the German Order. The castle is beautiful and around it, you can find an English landscape garden. The museum was founded in 1951 as the first German museum for contemporary art after World War II. I didn’t know what to expect when coming here, but it really was worth a visit. When I came there an exhibition of Belgian photographer Francis Alÿs was presented there.

October 26, 2019February 20, 2020

Japanese oasis

One of the most beautiful places in Leverkusen, Germany, is the Japanese garden. It dates back to the year 1912 and is part of the Chempark – the collection of companies producing chemical products in the city. Since 1950 it is publicly accessible and you can enjoy having the feeling of being in Japan. There are nice lakes, Japanese temples, red maple trees, koi carps, and different statues. It is simply a wonderful place to relax, discover and enjoy life.

October 26, 2019February 19, 2020

Best Western Leoso

Leverkusen, Germany, is somehow a strange city: a giant chemical factory, some pure residential zones, a city centre with shopping opportunities – all lined up along river Rhein, a major street and the railway tracks. If you’re travelling by train you might want to have a hotel close to the station and then the Best Western Leoso is a good choice. It is located just 500 meters north of the station and is easily accessible on foot. Don’t expect a beauty – it is a huge hotel block and getting into it feels like travelling in time.