What’s really clear is that: hiking is really popular nowadays. That’s great because the BaldeneySteig, which is almost 27 kilometres long, has been an inviting place to hike around Essen’s reservoir since 2017. It passes through forests, over meadows and fields and past quaint farmhouses. Great views are included. There are also four places to stop off at special cultural highlights which can be accessed from the main route. If your feet are asking for a break, you can also travel part of the trail, which climbs to 600 metres above sea level, with the ÖPNV, Weiße Flotte or Hespertalbahn.
Route information
Length: 26.7 km
Metres above sea level (climb): 600 m
Difficulty level: medium to high
Fitness level: high
Suitability for families: only some sections
Landscape/nature:
north of the lake: longer bank trail and lots of hilly forest areas
south of the sea: mixture of forest and agricultural areas
The Baldeneysee was created in 1933 with the dam in Essen-Werden. Two turbines produce electricity here. At the same time, the dam offers a crossing from one side of the lake to the other.
There are only a few full-time farmers left in Essen, some of whom are in Alt-Fischlaken. You can gain an impression of what an old farm group was like there.
The noble manor from the 14th century became a moated castle due to the impoundment of the Ruhr and was damaged significantly in the Second World War. Nowadays, the ruins right by Baldeneysee are a popular trip destination for bikers and walkers.
The museum railway route connects Kupferdreh railway station to the former mine at Pörtingsiepen. The route, which is 3.5 km long, travels along close to the Baldeneysee and offers beautiful views.
The heights of the Ruhr were previously full of small mines, something which is now often only visible to experts. On Augustaweg, for example, remains of retaining walls can still be seen.
The grave system is believed to be the oldest preserved structure in the city of Essen and was built in the period between 3500 and 2200 BC. The grave was discovered in 1937 during the construction of some barracks.
The prestigious suburban railway station was built in 1898 and no longer performs a transport function nowadays. The brick building is worth seeing both inside and outside, particularly the waiting room with its stucco-work decoration.
The bird sanctuary was created at the same time as Baldeneysee. The area with alluvial forest remains is home to some rare bird species and is a rest area for very important migratory birds.
Amongst the mine settlements in the southern part of Essen, the Carl Funke settlement, which was built from 1900 onwards, is impressive thanks to its architectural unity and its location above the Ruhr Valley.
The Carl Funke I winding tower is one of the few structural relics of the mine that was in operation until 1973. It is the most striking moment in industrial history in the Essen part of the Ruhr Valley.
Villa Hügel is the former residence of the Krupp family and is surrounded by a large park. Both are owned by Alfried Krupp von Bohlen and the Halbach-Stiftung and you can visit them.
Directly from the BaldeneySteig, a stop off in Werden includes a walk through one of the districts of Essen which is most steeped in history, lasting around one hour. Werden has a wonderful historic centre and important architectural monuments, which are marked with a QR code and are thus accessible in image, text and sound.
The path through Werden initially leads past the former cloth factory of Feulgen, the halls of which were close to the banks of the Ruhr and are now used as residential space. They are an early example of the conversion of industrial monuments into residential apartments. Heading past a historic lock and Neukircher Mühle, you walk along Heyerstrang and Brehminsel, where you reach Treidelplatz, which is the starting point for the historical Werden-Land path. After crossing the Gustav-Heinemann-Brücke, you cross Laupendahler Landstraße.
From there, you reach Wesselswerth, with its classical buildings, which are worth seeing. Then you will see Gartenhaus Dingerkus, constructed in 1790 by Johann Everhard Dingerkus, the last director of Werden Abbey. An association now deals with the maintenance of the late-Baroque gem and its enchanting garden. Via the Weberviertel you get closer to the former Werden Abbey. In the High Middle Ages, the Abbey was one of the most important abbeys in Christianity. As well as the so-called prison wing, it is also worth seeing the new library and Baroque building, which have been home to Folkwang University of the Arts since 1946. Werden also owes its unique flair to this organisation. The actual historic centre of Werden starts at the old Werdener Markt and the former Abteikirche St. Ludgerus towers, which is worth visiting, towers over the market. The crypt includes the grave of Saint Ludger who founded the Abbey and the church around the year 800 and thus started the settlement of Werden. Now St. Ludgerus Pfarrkirche has the status of a basilica. The rest of the path leads through the narrow streets of the historic centre, some of which feature beautifully-restored half-timbered houses and Gründerzeit buildings.
You will go past the evangelical church in Werden, which is in a majestic location and the tower of which is a deliberate response to the Abteikirche, and then to the St. Lucius-Kirche, which is the oldest parish church north of the Alps. Continuing on, you will soon pass the mayor’s residence, which dates from 1895 and is now a house of culture. You will also see the Rondellviertel with its statues of William I, Bismarck and Moltke, as well as Emperor Frederick III., and then return to your starting point.
Korte Klippe is thought to be one of the most beautiful of the many viewpoints at Baldeneysee and along the trail. It is located close to Jagdhaus Schellenberg and was named after the former horticultural director from Essen, Rudolf Korte, who accomplished many things, including as Director of the Botanical Gardens, which was the predecessor of the Grugapark. From Korte Klippe, which is one of 31 viewpoints in Essen known as "Essener Aussichten", you can look out over the entire Baldeneysee.
Count Dietrich von Altena-Isenberg constructed a castle around 1240 at a strategically advantageous location high up above the Ruhr, which, in order to distinguish it from the old Hattinger Isenburg, was recorded in the history books as Neu-Isenburg. The proud castle was not destined for a long life and Neu-Isenburg was destroyed as a consequence of a feud just 48 years after it was built. The Ruhr Museum, still known as the Ruhrlandmuseum at the time, helped to expose the remains of the ruins, which are still visible today, as part of an excavation starting in 1927.
The Brandenbusch settlement is special amongst the many Krupp settlements. The employees of Villa Hügel lived here in a beautiful location above the Hügelpark in very close proximity to their workplace, where they worked as servants, gardeners, cooks or washerwomen. The settlement was built in a cottage style which is very typical for Krupp. Visible half-timber work and the picturesque overall image of a small garden town are characteristic features.
