Dorms and Dorm City Hostel

A Walk along the Rhine

by Weissdorn

One of the most refreshing things you can do if the weather is nice is to talk a long walk along the banks of the Rhine. Since there are no hills between here and the North Sea, you can almost always expect a fresh breeze from the West in the afternoon.

A Walk along the harbour

by challenger

When strolling along the harbour you will, however, also come across an assortment of apparently left over blocks of stone, concrete and derelict buildings and think that these are just industrial relics that will soon make way for post-industrial splendour once the local government manages to get money into their coffers. Well, think again! ‘Cause this is Dani Karavan’s Garten der Erinnerungen (Garden of Remembrance), an oversized work of art (300x180m) dedicated as a warning memory for the atrocities committed during the Third Reich that this postcard even manages to make look semi-attractive.

Though the intention is without doubt very noble, I will never understand why a city dominated by various shades of grey decided to finance a project that looks pretty identical to its normal environment. Throw a bunch of left over concrete into the middle of a stunning city like Paris or Vienna, and people WILL be shocked and moved. Throw it into the likes of Duisburg, and no-one takes a tack of notice as it just blends in with its neighbourhood.

Pity no-one ever asks me. :-)

Landschaftspark Nord

by Sjalen

The reason we had a VT meeting in Duisburg was because Sabsi, lover of things industrial and harbour-side, wanted to show us the Landschaftspark. Plenty of former industrial sites in the Ruhr area have been turned into cultural or recreational sites but this must be one of the most fascinating simply because of the way it has been left alone, giving it a natural feel amidst all the stacks and chimneys, but also because of the variety of things to do here. I had high expectations and was not disappointed as this place really is wonderful. You can walk around what is a closed down steel factory and it has been left the way it was instead of arranged into something else, so you get to take amazing photos of factory taken over by trees, and huge structures which you can also climb for great views of the whole grounds and more marvellous photography. Have a look at my travelogues below and you will see what I mean. The whole place has also been taken over more and more by trees and this gives it all a wild look, as if nature triumphs over man. Parts of it is used for Duisburg's climbers (see sport tip) and it is amazing to see people with full climbing gear in the middle of a factory. There is also a great slide for children, bike paths and a stable as well as a bar with crap service but good beer, and a snack bar. In the old factory gasworks you can go diving and well, there is just so much.

Duisburg

by nulain

"Duisburg..."

I liked this city the since the first time I visited it. Some people (germans) said me that there is nothing to do, but I don´t think so.
The picture is a typical view I use to have when coming from Düsseldorf to Essen by train.
I will work on this page as soon as I had a scanner.