Located a stone’s throw from the Dutch border, Goch is a historic town in the German state of North Rhine-Westphalia. It was first mentioned in 1259 and has experienced a tumultuous past, with time spent under the Spanish Empire, Brandenburg-Prussia and the Kingdom of France. During World War II, Goch was largely destroyed by Allied bombing.
Things to do in Goch
Occupying an island created by the Niers River is the Gocher-Stadtpark, a popular recreational destination with leafy walking trails and sporting facilities. There are plenty of benches for watching the world go by, as well as a bocce court where you can mingle with the locals. Each year, the Gocher-Stadtpark hosts the Schottisches Festival, which features bagpipe performances and highland games.
Goch makes an ideal base for visiting the Traktoren-Museum Pauenhof, which exhibits an impressive collection of agricultural equipment and tools from Germany and beyond. It details how machinery has transformed work on the farm and has tractors and combine harvesters on display. A highlight of any visit is enjoying a vintage tractor ride across the four-hectare property.
A short drive north of Goch is Schloss Moyland, which centres around a moated castle considered one of the most significant Neo-Gothic buildings in North Rhine-Westphalia. Architectural highlights of the property include its four-towered keep, an arched bridge and a staircase decorated with animal figures. Today, the castle showcases an extensive collection of works by Joseph Beuys, as well as Erwin Heerich, Rudolf Schoofs and Hermann Teuber.
Getting around Goch
Goch is around 45 minutes’ drive from Duisburg and Düsseldorf International Airport, which has flights to destinations across the globe. Trains connect to the Goch railway station and buses travel through the town. The centre of Goch can easily be explored on foot.