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Ennepe-Ruhr-Kreis

Ennepe-Ruhr: a district with many attractions

Situated between the cities of Essen, Bochum, Dortmund in the north and Hagen and Wuppertal in the south, the Ennepe-Ruhr district occupies an optimal location. With its population of almost 340,000 spread over nine towns, it covers an area of around 408 sq. kilometres. The visual heart of the region is the hilly, wooded and extremely varied landscape with its numerous rivers and lakes.

A region of small and medium-sized companies

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The Ennepe-Ruhr district is still one of the most heavily industrial areas in the state of North Rhine-Westphalia. The size of its companies is characterised by a strong SME structure, with the advantages of flexibility and innovative strength that these companies enjoy. The long metalworking tradition is retained in state-of-the-art form. The engineering, automotive and locking systems fields are especially well represented. In recent times these have been joined by further economic core competencies in the region: the health sector and medical technology, together with tourism and the leisure sector.

Popular residential area

The attractive landscape of the Ennepe-Ruhr region and its proximity to the core conurbation of the Metropole Ruhr has long encouraged inhabitants from the cities to relocate to the Ennepe-Ruhr district. The regional property market has reacted to this demand with a range of attractive offers at moderate land prices. The combination of attractive landscape directly in front of the door and every possible form of urbanity and culture just a twenty-minute drive away is what makes this district so attractive.

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Tourist attraction

For many years now the Ennepe-Ruhr district has been drawing in visitors from near and far with its slogan ‘Ennepe-Ruhr – the most beautiful part of the Ruhr district!’. Increasing numbers of cyclists, hikers, boating enthusiasts, skaters and other visitors enjoying an excursion of overnight stay are making their way to the district – whether in search of active enjoyment, relaxation or a shopping stroll through the old town, with its idyllic half-timbered ambience. Popular attractions include the nationally-acclaimed RuhrtalRadweg cycle trail, excursions on the Ruhr and lakes – such as a voyage on a pleasure boat, sailing or boating – and the nostalgic RuhrtalBahn railway and tourist tours of medieval castles and manor houses or the pre-industrial roots of mining in the Ruhr.