Podcast Tour Remscheid: Medieval Lennep & Röntgen's X-rays

Walk Lennep's medieval streets while experts unpack its hidden industrial past

This self-guided podcast tour of Remscheid takes you through the preserved medieval quarter of Lennep over 71 minutes, visiting six stops that trace Wilhelm Conrad Röntgen's connection to the town and the textile wealth that shaped its architecture. An audio guide narrated by experts and locals plays at each station. You navigate between stops via the app and can ask the interactive guide questions about the history and surroundings as you go.

Step-by-step itinerary

Explore Lennep's history and architecture

• Discover Röntgen and X-rays connection
• Visit Röntgen's birthplace
• Walk medieval fortifications of Lennep
• See 18th-century merchant houses
• Stroll narrow medieval alley
• Learn about textile industry history

The experience

The tour starts at the German Historical Museum, where the audio introduces Röntgen and his world-changing discovery of X-rays, and how that methodical scientific culture grew from Lennep's own character. From there you move through the town's circular medieval layout, visiting Röntgen's birthplace (a functional example of Bergisches Dreiklang architecture), walking the line of the old fortifications, and stopping at the 18th-century merchant houses that survived the Second World War. The podcast style means you're not just moving between points. The experts and locals tell you what you're standing in front of and why it matters.

The route covers 1.2 kilometers and takes about 71 minutes at a walking pace, which leaves room for a coffee or a meal before or after if you have a free afternoon. You'll need the app on your phone for navigation and to access the audio at each stop. The guide is available in English or German, and the app lets you ask questions about what you're seeing, so if something catches your eye beyond the six main stations, you can dig into it. Service animals are welcome, and the walk is suitable for all fitness levels.

The final stop circles back to the textile industry that financed Lennep's beauty and reflects on what it costs to preserve the past. It's a tour built for people interested in how a town's industrial history shaped its architecture and how one person's discovery echoes through a place for generations.

What’s included

• Podcast-style audio guide narrated by experts and locals in English or German.
• interactive guide in the app to ask questions about history and surroundings.
• turn-by-turn navigation between all six stops.
• verified historical facts woven into the story at each station.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day

AgesAdult (13 and older) · Under 13: can't be booked

Audio guideEnglish and German

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends at a different place from where it starts.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated 7 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortPets welcomePublic transport nearby

Operated by Red Thread

Is this one for you?At 71 minutes, this tour fits into a free afternoon without eating up your whole day, leaving time to explore other parts of Remscheid or linger over a meal in Lennep. The self-guided format means you move at your own pace and can pause the audio whenever something catches your eye.

Top questions

Who was Wilhelm Conrad Röntgen and what is his connection to Lennep?

Röntgen was born in Lennep and discovered X-rays: a world-changing scientific breakthrough. The tour traces how his birthplace and the methodical culture of the town shaped his work, and how his discovery became part of Lennep's identity.

How long does the tour take and can I do it in one afternoon?

The tour takes 71 minutes over 1.2 kilometers, so it fits easily into a free afternoon and leaves time for a meal or other stops in the town.

What are the merchant houses of Lennep and why do they matter?

The 18th-century merchant houses are the visual centerpiece of the medieval quarter and a testament to the wealth the textile industry brought to the town. They survived the Second World War and remain the most striking architecture on the route.

Do I need anything to take this tour besides my phone?

You need the app downloaded and a phone with audio capability. The app provides turn-by-turn navigation between the six stops and plays the podcast-style audio at each one. No printed map or separate device is required.

What language options are available for the audio guide?

The audio guide is available in English and German, so you can choose whichever suits you best before you start.