Cities & Culture
Wuppertal: the city with the suspended monorail
In addition to being the biggest city in the Bergisches Land region, Wuppertal is the region's economic, educational, industrial and cultural hub. Above all else, it is known as the city with the suspended monorail that has an astounding amount to offer.
You can tell a lot from a name: Wuppertal is situated in the valley of the Wupper River. (Tal = valley in German.) Wuppertal's most famous landmark, the world's only suspended monorail, follows the course of the river for a few kilometres through the city centre. It opened in 1901. Like the suspended monorail, the city's dance company Tanztheater Pina Bausch has also established a global reputation, while the Stadthalle on the Johannisberg mountain is one of Europe's most beautiful concert and conference venues. Wuppertal has around 4,500 architectural monuments. Architecture of the 19th century is particularly well represented here, with a whole host of remarkable buildings.
The Von der Heydt Museum is Wuppertal's most significant art museum. Since opening in the 1950s, the Clock Museum has built up one of the most comprehensive collections related to the history of timekeeping. You can discover the delights of the local cuisine either in sophisticated restaurants or in the city's quaint pubs. Or even the delights of shopping with Wuppertal's modern malls, arcades and boutiques. And those in search of a good night out won't be disappointed by Wuppertal's nightlife. There are also plenty of places to relax the morning after and recover from the night before. Around half of the city is given over to farmland, gardens, woodland and parks – including one of the most beautiful zoos in Germany.