Detours | Landschaftspark Duisburg-Nord
Steampunk galore in a leafy wilderness

A conglomeration of pipes, tanks, steps and plants: a visit to Landschaftspark Duisburg-Nord is a fascinating adventure. There can hardly be a more enjoyable way to experience the history of the Ruhr region.
 

By Daniel Hinz

Duisburg is even known in Hollywood: part of the movie The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes was filmed here at Landschaftspark Duisburg-Nord. Pig iron was still being produced at the former steelworks until 1985; since 1994 the entire facility has been open to visitors as a theme park – a local recreational area at the disused smelting plant.

People from all over the world come here to experience the industrial past and the newly created natural landscapes. Thanks to British artist Jonathan Park, the park has been colourfully illuminated at dusk since 1996. The colours are a reference to the former Thyssen smelting works: green for gas, blue for water and red for fire and heat.

It does take a bit of courage to climb the historic industrial steps of the former blast furnace, with countless steps leading over 70 metres up into the sky. Once at the top, there’s a panoramic view of the landscape and the entire Ruhr region. In fine weather, it’s said that even the television tower in Düsseldorf can be seen. The most interesting part lies below, however: from the viewing platform, the entire smelting plant can be seen with its numerous pipes, tanks and platforms – bearing witness to the industrial history of the Ruhr.

The people of Duisburg also use their park for events and come in droves to enjoy the summer open-air cinema screenings, the Ruhr Games or the Traumzeit Festival. The question is not what can be found there, but what can’t. Anyone brave enough can go diving in a former gasometer to discover a shipwreck and old cars at depths of up to 13 metres – that’s as deep as a five-storey building is high. A former ore storage bunker has been transformed into an Alpine climbing garden, while a high ropes course has been set up in a casthouse and disused blast furnace. And then there are playgrounds, a sportsground, an indoor skate and mountain biking area. The park and its 700 plant species can also be explored by bike, with routes beginning at the bike sharing station.  

While strolling through the park, it’s not hard to imagine that one has been transported to a leafy cyberpunk world. But that’s as far as this science fiction fantasy goes – as visitors to this industrial monument will discover not a bleak and dystopian atmosphere but one of Europe’s and the world’s loveliest adventure and recreational parks.