Allow me, I am Neanderland. I'm quite old, dating back to the Stone Age. But you probably already know that. After all, it's not hard to guess where I got my name from. Exactly. From Neanderthals, the first prehistoric man who lived here around 42,000 years ago. His remains were found in the middle of the 19th century near me in the district of Mettmann, very close to Düsseldorf. Would you like to meet your great-great-great-ancestor? No problem. In the Neanderthal Museum, one of my main attractions, you can come face to face with him and learn a lot about yourself to boot. I promise!
There's plenty of animal action in the neighbourhood at the Ice Age Game Reserve. Because not only humans, but also the ancestors of today's domestic cattle and horses feel at home in the region between the Rhine and the Bergisches Land. After all, despite my advanced age, I am not stingy with my charms. In terms of scenery, that is. That's why many hikers and cyclists spend their holidays here. My best-known hiking trail is the Neanderlandsteig, where you can get to know all my beauty and my different facets. Because sometimes I'm moorland, sometimes I'm forest. And I'm mountainous to boot. So bring enough breath with you. You can catch your breath in picturesque market squares and at great vantage points with views over the Ruhr Valley, for example.
