Largely rebuilt since World War II, Krefeld has preserved its character, culture and reputation for the arts. A beautiful city with a range of cultural attractions, Krefeld’s majestic Castle Linn reflected in the water at night is a considered a must-see.
Things to do in Krefeld
Built in the 12th century on the site of an older, moated fortress, Castle Linn is Krefeld’s medieval gem serving as both noble residence and a defensive structure. Renovated and opened to the public, you can tour the castle’s chapel and gardens and explore the museum’s collection of mechanical musical instruments and a reconstruction of a traditional Rhineland kitchen.
The Botanischer Garten Krefeld is small but worth visiting. Originally part of a school, it is home to around 5,000 species of plants. The highlights are the rose garden, medicinal herb garden and the greenhouses with cacti and succulents from Africa and South America. The botanical garden has quite a collection of carnivorous plants as well.
Haus Lange and Haus Esters house Krefeld’s Contemporary Art Museum where 14,000 paintings, sculptures, and installations cover styles from Abstract Expressionism to Pop Art and everything in between. The buildings date from the late 1920s and are leading examples of the Bauhaus architectural style.
Getting around Krefeld
Krefeld is 24 kilometres north-west of Dusseldorf. The city has four tram lines which cover the majority of the city and also several bus lines. Public transport is widely used and is a convenient and safe option.