Route of Industrial Heritage by Bike awarded by the ADFC
The long-distance cycle route "Route Industriekultur per Rad" (Industrial Heritage Cycle Route) has received a three-star quality rating from the General German Bicycle Club (ADFC). The certificate was presented on November 18, 2025, at the German Mining Museum in Bochum.
The "Industrial Heritage Route by Bike" is a 300 km circular route connecting numerous industrial heritage sites in the Ruhr region, such as the Zollverein UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Oberhausen Gasometer, and the German Mining Museum in Bochum. Cyclists can discover over 50 destinations along the route, each offering a glimpse into more than 200 years of industrial history. These include spectacular panoramic views, often situated on the Ruhr region's many slag heaps, and former workers' settlements.
Despite the dense population of the Ruhr area, the long-distance cycle route largely runs away from road traffic on old railway lines and along the river and canal banks of the Rhine, Ruhr, Emscher and Datteln-Hamm Canal.
The cycle route scored particularly well in the ADFC certification process due to its excellent transport connections by bus and train, as well as the diverse tourist infrastructure found in the Ruhr region. For example, cyclists have access to over 100 bicycle-friendly accommodations along the long-distance cycle route, all of which have also been certified by the ADFC.
You can find more information, maps and inspiration at route-industriekultur.ruhr/route-per-rad.
Photo: RTG / Dennis Stratmann