Tourismus » Mülheim an der Ruhr - Stadt am Fluss » The new Mülheim

The White Fleet

A glance at the "Blumenuhr" (flower clock) tells you that its time for a Ruhr tour. Mülheim"s "Weiße Flotte" (White Fleet) awaits you at the Wasserbahnhof (river station). It never ceases to fascinate even the city"s inhabitants: Mülheim"s "stream-line" runs to schedule, from stop to stop. Local public transport on one of the most charming river stretches in Germany, in the heart of the Ruhr. Well over 100.000 passengers annually, both German and foreign, get on at the Wasserbahnhof (river station), which harbours the municipal excursion fleet, or in Kettwig, to take a trip through the valley of the river that has given this world-renowned economic area its name. However, this does not include those who use the pleasant passenger and conference boats for family parties, club and business excursions and even managerial meetings. Now and again jazzbands charter a "Ruhr riverboat" for a lively "shuffle"; the "steamers" are sometimes transformed into "swinging" ballrooms on the waters of the Ruhr.

Weiße Flotte In these instances, things run not according to schedule but according to the client"s wishes. Day trips on the Ruhr and Rhine are also offered on certain dates. Since 1927, this Ruhr city has provided this summer service (from May to October). Experienced skippers employed by the City take the helm and trained boat personnel look after passengers" needs during the trip.

For further information call 02 08 / 960 99 96 or email to weisseflotte@betriebe-muelheim.de.

The fleet of four pleasant "Ruhr ships" consists of two spacious passenger and conference boats, the "Mülheim an der Ruhr" and the "Heinrich Thöne", together with two other passenger boats. 50 minutes on your "maiden voyage" that you will not forget and will no doubt wish to relive... According to the schedule, it"s a 50-minute trip through the Ruhr valley to Kettwig, the "weaving town" at the lock gate leading to the "South Seas" of the Ruhr, founded by the Romans to secure the river crossing. Quaint nooks, narrow streets and slate-roofed, half-timbered houses complete the attractive picture. Even the route is full of interesting sights: the parklands from Luisental to the Thyssen Villa located right near the city, the Florabrücke (flower bridge), Kahlenberg and its youth hostel and Bismarckturm, the Ruhraue (Ruhr meadows) and the Saarn Monastery. In addition, there is the Auberg hill and ever more imposing foothills of the Bergisches Land, which are joined before the idyllic village of Mintard by the Ruhr valley bridge - the longest steel bridge in Germany (1.8 km long).

Mülheimer Panorama And finally, now that we"ve reached the area around Kettwig, the Hugenpoet Castle surrounded by water (today a high-class hotel and gourmet restaurant) as well as its marvellous opposite number, Schloß Landsberg. Anyone who cares to check out one or other of these attractions for themselves can do so by getting off and later reboarding at any of five different boarding points. In the locality, you can go on culinary excursions to tourist cafés such as "Dicken am Damm" and "Mintarder Wasserbahnhof" Anyone who has a little time on their hands can sample the fare on offer in Kettwig. Die Schiffe der Weißen Flotte Parking facilities are available on the "Schleuseninsel".

Advance purchase of tickets at the MVG Information Office in Forum City Mülheim (phone 02 08 / 4 51 19 13).

Departure times from Mülheim: at two-hour intervals from Monday to Saturday (11 a.m., 1 p.m., 3 p.m. and 5 p.m.) and on Sunday and public holiday at hourly intervals (from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.).