Quietly at first, Bergisch Gladbach has grown impressively over the past few decades and, as a result, has become both the largest city and district capital of the Rhenish-Bergisch region. It is therefore unsurprising that you can visit cultural buildings of particular note during a city trip here.
Between agriculture and small businesses, the city sprawls over a total of 25 districts, each with its own cultural background. In Bensberg, during your city trip to Bergisch Gladbach you can experience a slice of history in the present. Schloss Bensberg, built at the beginning of the 18th century, which, as a luxury hotel, still welcomes guests today, displays the dominant baroque style of the day with its curvaceous and ornate appearance. The adjoining Schlosspark also invites you to enjoy a stroll and the architectural diversity that the city has to offer.
A further tourist attraction in Bergisch Gladbach, and also established in Bensberg, is the Rathaus. The decayed castle, destroyed during the Thirty Years War, was later used as a hospital up to the 1960s, until the rest of the castle was integrated into a new building by the architect Gottfried Böhm between 1964-1969.
In the Katterbach district you will find the Schulmuseum Bergisch Gladbach – Sammlung Cüppers (Cüppers Collection). Here you can immerse yourself in the school history of a long forgotten era. The collection includes school furniture from the beginning of the 20th century onwards, learning and teaching materials, as well as historical school uniforms, books and pictures.
One of the city's oldest buildings is the Alte Katholische Pfarrkirche Refrath (Old Catholic Parish Church of Refrath), also known as the Taufkirche (baptistery). The listed building makes every architecture enthusiast's heart beat faster, for, in spite of its complete restoration in 1983, it still contains two arched windows from around the year 1200, as well as the remains of murals in gothic style.
A visit to the Gronau district is worthwhile for sports enthusiasts. Besides a golf course in the south of the area, the city also lays claim to two open swimming pools, an indoor pool, a climbing wall, and opportunities to surf, sail or fish.
A mini-break to Bergisch Gladbach would, however, not be complete without a short trip to the Rhein-Berg-Galerie. The centrally located shopping centre offers, alongside a variety of shops for the services and culinary sectors, as well as fashion and sport, promotions such as the annual glass sale.
You can get out and about during your city trip either by car or via the well developed public transport system. Obviously it is also possible to comfortably explore the city on foot. During your travels to Bergisch Gladbach, also take a wander through the surrounding nature, a diverse low mountain landscape.
