Brehminsel

The route back towards the historic old town of Werden follows Hardenbergufer. Continue along the riverside promenade until you reach a small bridge leading to “Brehminsel”, known as the Brehm. Even if you don’t have time to spend hours relaxing on the island, a short walk is well worth it. The Brehm and the Ruhr riverside promenade can also be explored as a circular route along the Ruhr, as shown on the map.

The Brehm is a sizeable island. “Brehm” is a Low German word meaning edge or water’s edge. It is Werden’s municipal park and a place to relax, a playground for everyone, with a magnificent collection of trees, a playground with climbing equipment and a replica of a horse-drawn Ruhr Aake (a flat-bottomed cargo barge), next to a 25-metre-long zip line; a ball court beside a meadow that is also used for sports; a double artwork, the gates by Maria Nordmann entitled “For Those Arriving”; and the wild northern end, formed by silting.

There was much dispute over ownership of the island. It initially belonged to the abbey and, from 1481, was leased to the citizens of Werden for three pounds of wax, so they could graze their livestock there. When the rent went unpaid, the monastery wanted to reclaim it. The town’s representatives objected and appealed to Prussia, while the abbey appealed to the Emperor. This led to a thirty-year dispute, which ended in a settlement. The mayor and council relinquished the Brehminsel in return for 15 Morgen of land and a grazing area.

After secularisation, the Brehm passed to Prussia and was used as pasture. From 1900 onwards, Prieminsel, as it was then called, was opened to the public as a place for recreation and sport. Landscape architect Hoemann drew up the plans, and the Beautification Association (as today’s Werden Citizens’ and Heritage Association was then known) received 3,000 marks to begin the work. After Werden was incorporated into the city in 1929, the City of Essen took over the Brehm. The State of North Rhine-Westphalia has owned it since 1945.

A little further along the Ruhr, past the pedal boat rental, the route continues to Treidelplatz. This is where our tour of historic Werden ends.