Industrial Culture
Until the 1990s, Duisburg's economy was primarily based on iron and coal. Although structural changes have taken place, Duisburg, with its steelworks HKM and ThyssenKrupp, remains one of the largest steel producers in Europe. The situation is different with coal: the mines have been closed and some have been demolished. Those that have survived have been converted into cultural sites, and many of them are UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
The Duisburg-Nord Landscape Park, also known as LaPaNo, occupies a prominent position. On a 180-hectare site surrounding a disused steelworks, industrial heritage, nature, and recreational sports facilities are combined. Trade fairs, music festivals, and open-air cinema screenings take place here; an alpine climbing park, diving pools, and viewing platforms attract visitors from all over the world, as does the fascinating light installation by British artist Jonathan Park.
You can reach the Duisburg-Nord Landscape Park from our hotel by car in just 10 minutes. The journey takes approximately 60 minutes by public transport – but has an added charm as it takes you through a number of interesting old parts of the city.