An unusual sight greets the eye here in the Merheimer Heide. Can you imagine a park designed by a mayor with a touch of rivalry? This sprawling expanse of green, known as the Merheimer Heide, was born from a desire to outdo the west bank. Back in the late 1920s, the charismatic mayor of Cologne, Konrad Adenauer, had a vision. He wanted to create a recreational haven on the right bank of the Rhine that could rival the sprawling greenbelts on the left. And so, the Merheimer Heide was born. For three years, workers toiled and transformed this once ordinary land into a verdant paradise. The park, stretching generously toward Merheim, Buchheim, and Holweide, boasts an unusual abundance of beech and oak trees. Their shade beckons you to pause, perhaps for a leisurely picnic. But the story of Merheimer Heide, like the city it graces, is not without its scars. The construction of the Cologne-East Autobahn intersection in the 1970s left its mark. What was once a contiguous 150-hectare expanse was divided. Despite this, the Merheimer Heide, more a park than a heath, perseveres, offering a generous inner space for recreation. Paths meander through the western meadows. The northern part boasts a riding arena with a challenging course. In the south, athletic spirits are ignited at the sports complex with its football fields. Merheimer Heide, a testament to ambition and resilience, invites you to create your own stories within its verdant embrace.
Центральный дом работников искусств
Step through the grand wooden doors of the Central House of the Workers of Art, and you’ll be transported to