Solingen is known worldwide for its sharp knives and cutting goods. But did you know that there is also the highest railway bridge in Germany and great excursion destinations?
Today I recommend a hike from Müngstener Bridge Park to Burg Castle. You walk under the highest railway bridge in Germany, along the Wupper, through beautiful forests, past wonderful Bergisch slate houses up to the imposing Burg Castle. On the way you can cross the river with a transporter ferry, eat delicious waffles and solve secret puzzles – well, if that doesn’t turn out to be a successful excursion!

 

 

 

Müngsten Bridge Park – location, directions and parking

The Müngsten Bridge Park is located directly on the Wupper between Solingen and Remscheid. You can reach him via the A46, for example. At the Sonnborn motorway junction, change to the 224 expressway towards Remscheid and follow it to the T-junction. (Warning, there are speed controls in both directions on the expressway.) It is of course also possible to arrive via Solingen or Remscheid.
There are parking spaces on the one hand just before the T-junction on the right-hand side and on the other in a larger parking lot on the left-hand side of the junction. Paths along the Wupper lead from both parking lots to the park.

 

 

If you follow this, you next turn right onto an old stone bridge. From here you already have a wonderful view of the Wupper and the Diederichstempel on the slope above the river.

 

The Diederich temple

 

 

On one of his walks, the wealthy August Diederichs discovered the vantage point with a wonderful view of the Wupper and Müngstener bridges and in 1901 had a small pavilion built there.
It is noteworthy that the Diederich temple is on Remscheid city area, but belongs to the city of Solingen, as it had already bought the property in 1882 !!

 

The Müngsten Bridge Park

After you have crossed the bridge, keep left and follow the road to the bridge park. There are also a few parking spaces for people with disabilities and a bus stop. Here’s my first tip: If the approx. 6 miles long hike to the castle and back is too far for you, you can also take the hiking bus for a part of the weekend. It leaves the main street in front of Burg Castle and arrives here again in front of the entrance to Müngstener Brückenpark.

 

 

 

Before you reach the park, I have a second tip for you: The small kiosk on the left side sells really tasty waffles on a stick – an absolute must on every trip to the bridge park!

 

 

The Müngsten Bridge Park got its name due to its location below the Müngsten Bridge. At the beginning of the 19th century, after the railway bridge was completed, this area was a very popular destination. From here you could enjoy the view of the railway bridge, a technical masterpiece at the time.

 

 

There were various restaurants for excursions, walks and the opportunity to go by boat on the Wupper. Over time, however, people became more and more mobile and the area under the bridge fell into a kind of deep sleep.
With the 2006 Regional Structural Funding Act, the entire area was redesigned and the new Müngstener Brückenpark officially opened on May 20, 2006. It is characterized by open green areas with numerous seating and lounging options, direct access to the Wupper,

 

 

balconies over the water, a mini golf course with a small kiosk and the transporter bridge over the Wupper. Children are also enthusiastic about the acoustic installations. These are large metal plates that are scattered around the park and on which puzzles can be read. For every puzzle there is a twin plate somewhere in the park and if you stand on the metal plates, there are also acoustic clues to solve the puzzle.

 

 

 

 

House Müngsten

 

 

In May 2011, the ‚Haus Müngsten‘ restaurant in the Brückenpark opened its doors to visitors for the first time. The building, clad with Corten steel, is located directly on the Wupper and blends in perfectly with the landscape. Through the large picture windows you have a wonderful view of the bridge, the river and nature.

Opening times: Monday to Friday 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., Saturday and Sunday 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

https://www.haus-muengsten.de/

 

Müngstener Bridge

 

 

With a height of 107 meters and a length of 465 meters, the Müngstener Bridge is the highest railway bridge in Germany. It was built from 1894 to 1897 and was the only large arch bridge of its kind in the 19th century. On March 22nd, 1897, the last rivet was knocked into the bridge and thus completed. Since this is the 100th birthday of Kaiser Wilhelm I, it was given the name „Kaiser Wilhelm Bridge“. After the end of the monarchy, it was renamed ‚Müngstener Bridge‘ after the nearby Müngsten district.
Remarkable: The bridge connects the cities of Solingen and Remscheid, which are 5 miles apart. Before the bridge was built, the distance by rail was 26 miles!!

If you now cross the park, past the Müngsten House and the mini golf course, you will come to the transporter bridge. Here you have to decide whether you want to hike on the Solingen or Remscheid side towards Burg Castle. Both hiking trails are approx. 2.5 miles.

 

The transporter bridge

 

 

The transporter bridge not only connects the two banks of the Wupper, but also the cities of Solingen and Remscheid. Like a draisine, it is only powered by muscle power – so here you can show how strong you are!

You can find the opening times of the transporter ferry and special features during the Corona period here:

https://www.haus-muengsten.de/schwebefaehre

 

Hiking trails to Burg Castle

You can get to the Remscheid side by crossing the Wupper with the transporter bridge. From here an almost flat hiking trail leads to Burg Castle. It is therefore particularly suitable for families with small children or cyclists.
You can also hike on this side of the Wupper via the Höhenweg to the Diederich temple – this is not in the direction of Burg Castle, but a short hike in the other direction.

For the hike on the Solingen side, just continue straight ahead at the transporter bridge. We’ve already hiked both trails and neither was a problem for our kids. In Corona times, the question arises whether you want to take the transporter ferry. We decided against it and hiked on the Solingen side.

There are always nice views of the Wupper and nice little works of art:

 

 

 

 

 

After about 0.9 miles you will reach the former beer garden of the Waldschänke Wiesenkotten.

 

 

The Kotten existed for about 300 years and was operated as an excursion restaurant for decades until 2016. In November 2018, the building unfortunately burned down to the ground for unexplained reasons. Behind the former Kotten you cross the Wupper and here both hiking trails meet again.

 

 

 

On the way to the castle you will first pass the beautiful Waldfrieden house

 

 

and some time later at the evangelical church in Burg with the picturesque old cemetery. Is it macabre when I write it like that? I think these old gravestones are beautiful and I am always looking forward to this section of the trail.

 

 

 

Remarkable: The cemetery was laid out in 1744 with 105 numbered graves and the tombstones were all made at the same time and with inscriptions. Only the digits of the year of death were left blank and entered later.

 

 

 

 

Up to Burg Castle

Now after a few minutes you will reach the Unterburg district with its many traditional Bergisch houses and restaurants.

 

 

Here you can now decide whether you want to take the cable car to the castle or prefer to hike up the mountain. Go to the cable car about 0.1 miles to the right. Especially with children, this is a nice way to get to the castle and a real highlight after the long hike.

 

 

 

To hike up the mountain, cross the main road and follow the small road uphill.

 

 

 

 

Now there are two options again: either the ‚very steep‘ but approx. 0.1 miles shorter path over the castle stairs or the ’steep‘ but longer hiking path. We chose the castle stairs and it was really very steep!

 

 

When you get to the top, the first thing you see is the cable car and the next time you will plan to go up the mountain with it !!

Right next to the cable car is the impressive Kaiserlinde, which was cut into the impressive shape by the monks who used to live here. Why? Because they loved to pray in the linden tree!

 

 

Passing beautiful shops and restaurants, the last few meters are up to the castle.

 

 

 

 

Burg Castle

 

 

Burg Castle is one of the largest castles in West Germany. It had been the ancestral seat of the Counts and Dukes of Berg since the 12th century. First as a main residence and later as a hunting lodge. After Benrath Castle was built, it was hardly used and after the 30 Years War it fell into more and more ruins. In 1887 the association for the preservation and reconstruction of the castle was founded. From 1890 to 1914 it was rebuilt with donations, lottery prizes and also with the support of the German imperial family. Today’s owners are the cities of Solingen, Remscheid and Wuppertal. The castle complex can be visited and houses a museum with a keep, dungeon, knight’s hall, kemenate and many other beautifully reconstructed rooms.

 

 

https://www.schlossburg.de/start/

The jousting games at Schloss Burg are also well known and worth seeing. Then a knight’s play is performed in front of the castle backdrop and afterwards the children can admire and touch swords, helmets, morning stars, etc.
There is also an Easter market, a historic medieval market, the castle lights, an Advent bazaar and much more:

https://www.schlossburg.de/termine-news/terminkalender/

 

You can now hike all the way back to Müngstener Brückenpark – this time I recommend the ’steep‘ hiking trail and not down the castle stairs. The path isn’t really steep at all!

 

 

Alternatively, you can take the cable car down. Tip: The last ride is indicated at the top at the entrance to the cable car.

To get back to the Brückenpark more comfortably and if you are traveling with small children or don’t feel like hiking anymore, you can take the hiking express back to the Brückenpark on weekends, as already described at the beginning. The bus leaves from the street in front of the castle.

I wish you a lot of fun on your hike and maybe also on the tour of Burg Castle. The Corona times are not over yet – so please keep your distance when hiking!

Greetings and stay healthy,

Your Diana

 

 

… and here are further tips for excursion destinations in the Bergisches Land:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

… and because it is so beautiful here, I have put together wonderful hotels and holiday apartments for you in Solingen: