LaPaDu

The Landschaftspark Duisburg is a 200 hector large abandoned iron work, which has now been converted into a massive museum.

The Iron work was built in 1901 by the "Rheinische Stahlwerke" and was later taken over by Thyssen. In total 5 different blast furnaces had been in use, having produced a total of 37 million tonnes of iron in 84 years. 

Two blast furnaces were knocked down in the 1960s, another two shut down in 1982. From then onwards the fifth furnace, only built in 1973, was the only one working on the grounds. However, in 1985 the surplus on the steel market also forced this furnace to be shut down, after only 12 years of production, marking the end of steel production on this site. 

The solid pellets that are heated for the production of the steel mainly came from the neighbouring sinterling plant I visited the same day. Both sites were run by Thyssen and therefore connected by rail and also numerous pipes which can still be seen today.

In 1994 the plant opened its doors again. This time however not for production. During a period of 10 years the whole site was re-developed, making it part of the industrial heritage trail. Architects regenerated halls, buildings, furnaces and the surroundings into a massive public park. 

During the day events take place in the buildings, there is a museum about the industrial history and anyone can walk through the park or climb the furnaces for free. The park also features a via ferrata climb along the walls, a small climbing and bouldering area and a gasometer transformed into a diving pool. During the night the whole site is illuminated in a range of colours.