MOERS OFFERS more The Romans, the Orange Order, the Spaniards, the French Moers thrives on contrast and the Prussians were here. And even the labour-fi lled era of the coal industry has left its traces. Moers has … and likes to top it! preserved this all as part of its history– and is newly re- vitalized. A wonderful result: a modern city with a lot of fl air! Dear Visitor, Nijmegen Do you feel the same – or are you visiting Moers for the Kleve fi rst time? A3 Weeze Lippe FROM OLD TO NEW – MOERS STANDS OUT Our beautiful city on the Lower Rhine with its pleasant A57 Wesel A2 opposites offers much more than some people initially Rhein A42 imagine: Moers Essen discover & experience A40 Venlo Duisburg – Historical fl air and modern shopping pleasure Krefeld Ruhr Düsseldorf more – International live experience and romance and Mönchengladbach relaxation Köln – Sports and leisure in beautiful natural surroundings and lively city life full of variety! Visit us – alone, as a couple or with the whole family. You are always welcome here. Anyone who has visited Moers …and the best part: Even getting here is quick. will think: “It’s lovely here” – and has by no means seen it Idyllic yet central, you will fi nd us right on the all! border of the Ruhr area and Lower Rhine – and optimally connected every which way by A 40, Old Town – promenade with ambience A 42 and A 57. And we are also easily reached built in 1778. Before a new church was built, In keeping with our motto “Opposites attract” we would by bus, train and even airplane (Düsseldorf and this was in fact the fi rst Catholic church in like to show you our entire range and even more– for a Weeze). Moers. day, a week or gladly even longer. You will see: No other You can quickly reach Moers by car from locations such as place in the region is as friendly and lively as here. We now walk back to the Schlosspark (6) Venlo 20 Min. / 35 km (castle park), with its old and partly ex otic Be inspired. Düsseldorf 30 Min. / 25 km trees and the historic ramparts. Designed in 1836 by horticultural director Maximilian We look forward to seeing you! Weyhe in an English style, it is now consid- ered to be one of the region’s most beautiful landscape gardens – and part of the Strasse der Gartenkunst (Road of Garden Art). We leave the palace gardens north-east and arrive at Meerstrasse, where we turn left again. Here “Im Rosenthal”, the former New INFORMATION ABOUT Town (7) begins. On the right hand side at ACCESSIBILITY the end of the street is a group of houses from the Orange Order period (8). The step- ped gables of Number 61 / 63 originated in Moers has a heart for people with dis abil- 1640. Number 22 / 24 on neighbouring Fiesel- i ties. A range of our tourist offerings and far top: Luise Henriette, top: Altmarkt strasse is just as old. At the “Pumpeneck” (9), destinations – such as the recommended Enchanted corners, winding alleys and old we continue to the right into Neustrasse, city tours or the castle – are designed to be buildings: The old town is well-known which opens onto Neumarkt (10) (new com pletely or partly handicap accessible. far beyond the city limits. The best way market) with the statue of Friedrich I. On to experience its charm is on foot. Our the right is the Peschkenhaus (11), the city’s If you have any questions, please contact tour begins at the Kastell (1), the town oldest town house. Built at the end of the the addresses on pages 14 –15. You will centre’s largest square. Here you will fi nd 15th century, it later became a town man- also fi nd additional information about the Kreisständehaus (2), a Renaissance sion. Today it is a gallery for contemporary accessibility in our Guide for people with building dating back to 1898. Passing the art displays showing rewarding, temporary disabilities (in German). Castle (3) on the left, we make our way to exhibitions of national importance. St. Josef catholic church (4) built in 1871. The Kindergarten (5) on the other side was Continued on page 4 2 3 Additional tips to experience Kaleidoscope of past powers The Evangelische Stadtkirche (12) (Protes- more tant parish church) opposite dates back to Rulers and infl uences from all corners of the globe have shaped the town’s history, the the 15th / 16th century. mentality of its population and the townscape. Wherever you look you will see the roots. The key cornerstones of town history are: Would you like a tour of the town? The special Back in the pedestrian zone, Steinstrasse fl yer ”Stadtführungen“ (in German) has many tips leads further into the old town. On the left, 2.500 BC Finds from the Neolithic period such as the family tour, Felke tour, Roman tour, town houses from the 17th / 18th century 500 BC First “offi cial” evidence of settlers cultural history tour, mining tour, etc. surround the Altmarkt (13) (old market) with 12 / 11 BC Roman settlement Asciburgium established the Prussian monument. Here you will fi nd (the Asberg district owes its name to the fortifi cation.) many inviting pubs and restaurants – this 1200–1700 Period of prosperity of the Counts of Moers Interested in religious history? Visit the Turm- In 1300 Habsburg King Albrecht I. grants Moers town rights. is where people meet up in Moers. If you’re museum in one of Germany’s oldest churches – the looking to take a break you can’t go wrong 1597 The “guest performance” of the Spanish ends. Repelen village church. On a guided tour up to the here. Then we continue past the pharmacies 1601 Maurice of Nassau, Prince of the Orange Order refl ourishes Moers. belfry you will learn interesting facts about church to Kirchstrasse. “Rösgen” house no. 38 was 1702 The county becomes part of Brandenburg-Prussia through inheritance. life during medieval times and earlier. built in 1677. Today people can take delight Picturesque all over: from the Kreisständehaus to the catholic church, to the Gänsebrunnen (above), Shortly thereafter Moers becomes a principality. in the classical plaster façade. images of Steinstrasse (below) A brief spell with the French follows. 1857 The small country town becomes county seat Moers. ...and another tip to pursue: Moers is part of the 1904 Coal mining begins. Rheinpreussen coal mine is sunk. renowned 2,500 km long Orange Order Route. One 1922 The Pattberg shaft system is created. The population skyrockets; of many highlights: our castle social and working structures change drastically. 1975 Moers becomes part of Wesel county. 1990 / 93 Mining is history. New business parks and the arrival of future-oriented industries speed up structural change. 2000 Moers celebrates its 700th anniversary. today Moers is a lively centre of the Lower Rhine with economic and cultural diversity. The Castle – Refl ection of the past Revitalisation in Moers? What once was, still is! Living monuments of the mining industry At the entrance we are received by Orange Located in the Repelen district the more The Meerbecker mining town is a special Order Princess Luise Henriette. The castle than 100 year old Jungbornpark is popu- part of the urban developmental history of itself is essentially one of the few pre served lar among those seeking rest and recrea- Moers. ringfort complexes of the High Middle tion. Around 1900, this once independent After careful restoration true to the original, Ages. The original tower castle dating to munici pality became recognised worldwide it is nowadays one of the most beautiful P 14 around 1200 is the oldest building and as a health resort, founded and operated and best preserved colonies of its type in landmark of Moers. by Emanuel Felke with his naturopathy Germany. Living history can also be found in the in- procedures similar to those of Kneipp. This Old witnesses of that time are also shining P 15 side: The Grafschafter Museum provides tradition has been revived: A former Felke with new splendour in other areas. The The Peschkenhaus at Neumarkt Neustr. 9 10 visitors with lots of insight into the his- hut was built from plans derived from the centrepiece of the Industrial monument tory of the castle and county. The Schloss- original huts to serve as a museum. The of Rheinpreussen coal mine is Shaft IV. 13 At the turn-off to Friedrichstrasse (14) is theater is a modern contrast. The smallest light-air hut, the clay minigs, the bare-foot The restored building and the characteris- 8 11 12 the Gänsebrunnen (15) (goose fountain). munici pal theatre in Germany is nation- path and other natural healing elements tic A-frame shaft tower are unique center- The houses here and on Pfefferstrasse were ally recog nised for its performances. can be toured and tried out. pieces of this monument to labour. lovingly reconstructed or rebuilt in line 7 with urban redevelopment. On the way back 17 urgstr. through Burgstrasse to Kastell we again 2 B P 1 cross Haagstrasse. House number 7 in Dutch i Baroque style is the present day County Court (16) – buildings number 24 and 26 (17) are also worth seeing. 16 6 By the way: The leafl et “Altstadt-Bummel” 3 4 5 (“Old town rambles”) also offers this tour in “pocket size” (in German). Südring Right-hand page, left to right: Front view of the castle, Countess Walburgis who lived in the castle around 1600, the Felke hut at Jungbornpark, “King Lear” at the Schlosstheater, mining village in Meerbeck, the old shaft tower with machine building at “Rheinpreussen” 4 5 To shopping fans and night owls Moers is the heart of the FROM LOUD TO QUIET – AND ANYTHING IN BETWEEN! Lower Rhine.