Castles of the Region
by Bagillbaer
"Under construction..."
Just a list for me to work off...
Burg Altena
Schloss Hugenpoet
Schloss Borbeck
Schloss Landsberg
Schloss Schellenberg
Haus Heisingen
Burg Horst
Haus Weitmar
Isenburg
Haus Kemnade
Burg Blankenstein
Schloss Kappenberg
Hohensyburg
Schloss Heeßen
Bodelschwing
Hardenstein
Schloss Lembeck
Schloss Ringenberg
Abtei Kamp
Schloss Oberhausen
Burg Vondern
Schloss Styrum
Schloss Broich (Mülheim)
Haus Böckum (Duisburg)
Schloss Hohenlimburg (Hagen)
Burg Verdringen
Haus Berge
Schloss Bladenhorst (Castrop)
Burg Linn (http://www.krefeld-city.de/burglinn.html)
Note: Some pictures were taken by myself, the rest I took from other sites, mostly the "official" sites mentioned in the according links. As usual, no harm intended, no big fortune awaiting me and I hate to feel like I have to be so careful about this ;oP...
"Burg Altena (Altena)"
http://www.burg-altena.de/
"Schloss Hugenpoet (Essen)"
This is a hotel. You gotta be kinda rich to stay here...www.schloss-hugenpoet.de
"Schloss Borbeck (Essen)"
www.schloss-borbeck.de
"Burg Altendorf (Essen)"
"Isenburg (Hattingen)"
"Haus Kemnade (Bochum)"
www.fzkemnade.de/
Photos
3. NextBike with parking slogan
Animals of the Wild Park
At the Cafe Otto Bittner
Dock, Media Harbour
Forum Posts
Average traffic situation
by ihave2dogs
Hello, we have our back flight from the Dusseldorf aiport at 12.00, Friday, in the middle of July. We will be coming from the Belgium Ardennes region. According to Michelin, it is about 3 hours drive. My question is if we can plan to leave Belgium early in the morning (let's say at 5) and head to Dusseldorf or the traffic is that heavy that it is saver to book the last night somewhere nearby? The other question is if the traffic messages channel that transmits the information to GPS is relyable in the Dusseldorf area? Thanks in advance!
Re: Average traffic situation
by GrumpyDiver
I can't comment on the GPS question, but in my experience, the Autobahn traffic level in that part of Germany is extremely heavy and congested.
I used to travel between Dusseldorf and Bonn at least once a week for meetings. I took the train and public transit, I was usually at my destination a good 30 or 40 minutes earlier than the people that drove.
Re: Average traffic situation
by margsch
You could perhaps fly from Brussels to Duesseldorf then you are right at the airport.
Re: Average traffic situation
by christine.j
The middle of July means the airport will be very busy, and depending on where you're flying to you'll have to be there up to three hours before departure. I would either leave earlier, so that you can take advantage of less traffic in the night, or spend the night near the airport.
Traffic messages are usually reliable, however if the motorway is blocked, you'll get directed around, which is not faster just more pleasant than standing in traffic.
Re: Average traffic situation
by breughel
From the Belgian Ardennes you will have to reach Germany by AACHEN (Aix-la-Chapelle).
From AACHEN to DÜSSELDORF FLUGHAFEN it is about 100 Km by the A44, A46, A57 and again A44 to cross the Rhine north of Düsseldorf city.
The usual traffic problems are at the bridges over the Rhine.
You can find precise traffic info on
www.verkehrsinfo.de
They have a routeplanner and give details about traffic problems. The web site seems only in German but I presume that you understand some basic German.
To-day - Sunday - the time Aachen - Düsseldorf Flughafen is only 61 minutes according to the "Verkehrsinfo" but that will be (much) longer on a work day.
Re: Average traffic situation
by breughel
For your trip in Belgium and the Ardennes I would suggest the info from www.rtbf.be and http://routes.wallonie.be on the traffic situation.
Re: Average traffic situation
by RhineRoll
3 hours average driving from the Ardennes to Düsseldorf sounds okay. Add another 1,5 hours safety margin for heavy traffic and you will be okay. The congestion usually is worst from 8-10 AM and 3:30 to 6 PM. In case you can avoid these times you will be fine.
As has been said, unless a route is completely closed, it is usually not advisable to re-route or follow a satnav's suggestion. I'd especially not follow any satnav suggestions leading you through bigger cities.
