Did you know that over 160 years ago, the first recognized Neanderthal was found here in NRW?
Have you ever been to The Neanderthal Museum? Those of us who have, know that it is such a special experience, and not just “a visit to another museum”.
The museum is actually in very close proximity to the location where the first recognized Neanderthal was found all those years ago. It is in fact so close, that while visiting the museum you can take a walk, follow the trail, and actually check it out in person!
With the sun slowly coming back, this is a great idea for a full-day adventure out in nature.
While this place is always a great and fun learning experience for children, it is also good to mention that it can be just as much fun for adults, seniors, and families as well. The museum even participates in workshops for school classes concerning human evolution, birthday parties, and online guided tours for groups from primary school all the way up to universities.
So what’s included in your visit to the Neanderthal Museum?
1: Museum entrance with an interactive exhibition especially suitable for children
The exhibition takes you on humankind’s long journey from the savannah to the metropolises of today, focusing strongly on the Neanderthals. They have life-sized figures that were created from fossil finds and other scientific reconstruction methods.
2: The Stone Age Action Pack (with a quiz and many things to try out in the permanent exhibition)
For an additional 2,95€, you can purchase the Stone Age Action Pack with your ticket! This way you can complete the exercises given while you browse through the museum and awaken the Stone-Age researcher you have inside!
3: Free audio guide in different languages
The use of the audio guide, including the headphones can be acquired in the museum for free! The audio information system is available in both German and English. You can also use your own device (MP3 player, iPod, mobile phone, etc.) to listen to the audio guide. You can download the English language audio files on their website, free of charge.
If you prefer reading the information, instead of listening to it, all texts in the permanent exhibition are in both German and English. If you prefer another language, their texts are also available as Textreaders, free of charge, in the following languages: Chinese, Czech, Dutch, English, French, German, Greek, Italian, Japanese, Polish, Russian, Spanish, and Turkish. You can download the texts ahead of your visit as PDF files on their website, free of charge.
You can also download a free English App version on iOS or Android. It also contains a free audio guide and some information about your visit.
4: Current Special Exhibition | Mummies – Secrets of Life
Available from November 20th, 2021 until May 1st, 2022, if you visit their current special exhibition, you will be able to learn and get to know a wide variety of mummies and scientific methods. This is without mentioning that you will be able to literally look over the shoulders of mummy researchers as they work. A replica of the famous mammoth mummy “Dima” can be found at the exhibition. Do you dare to go and see original mummies with exciting stories and discover their secrets?
It is also worth mentioning that, since October, on the occasion of the museum’s 25th anniversary, there is a new exhibition section on the topic of humans and climate, including a sugar-sweet baby mammoth reconstruction.
The special exhibition is changed two or three times a year. The next one will be about CATS – Ice Age Hunters (Available from May 14th 2022 to Nov 6th 2022).
5: The Neanderthal Discovery Site
The Neanderthal Discovery Site is within walking distance of the museum, and very soon you will also be able to check out the museum’s new Experience Tower, also known as “Höhlenblick”. As of right now, the tower remains closed due to construction work, but it will have its doors open from mid-June on!
The tower is 22 meters high and its top is a dome designed as a skullcap. The entrance includes ramps so it is barrier-free for everyone who wants to join the fun. Once you enter the tower, you will be at the level of the long-lost Feldhofer Grotte cave, which was destroyed in the 19th century. From there you may feel like a Neanderthal, looking out from the cave to the opposite side of the valley.
Let your imagination run wild. Imagine you are sitting around a campfire and you distantly hear a herd of mammoths running wild through the valley. Suddenly, a child pulls on your coat and asks if he can shimmy through one of the many climbing nets. A moment ago, you were still in the Stone Age thanks to augmented reality technology, but now you’re back in the here and now.
When you stand at the very top of the 22-meter tower covered by an impressive skull calvaria, you will feel like you are up close and personal with one of the most famous finds in human history. It is said to have the power to transport you back to the time of the hunter-gatherer’s thanks to state-of-the-art technology.
You can follow the “Höhlenblick’s” Tower development on Facebook and Instagram.
6: The Museum Café and Store
After the adventure is over, why not enjoy a nice Kaffee und Kuchen? If you are hungry they also offer a constantly changing daily menu. Go on a warm, sunny day and enjoy the café’s roof terrace, where you will have access to a wonderful view of the green Neander Valley. The Museum Café is open from Tuesday to Sunday between 10 am and 6 pm.
You can find all sorts of fun items at the museum’s store. You can even check out their online shop!
7: Neanderthal Nature Reserve for walking or hiking
The reserve is perfect to go for a walk or a hike. It is the perfect space to clear your head, take your family for a stroll and absorb all the fresh air. This is accessible for free at all times, and dogs are also allowed while on their leash, so don’t forget to take your furry friend to go on a walk!
The first Friday of every month is “DoggyDay” at the museum from 2 pm on, so use the opportunity then!
8: The largest Stone Age playground in Europe right on the doorstep
Going with kids? Check out the largest Stone Age Playground in Europe! The playground is right on the opposite side of the Neanderthal Museum, and it includes some awesome water features! There is a 34 Meter bridge that connects the museum with the playground, and for those with disabilities, there is a second section of the bridge, which extends across the Düssel River, and provides access to the parking area.
The playground is mainly made of wood. You cannot miss the Spear Tower, where the highest point rises up to 9.5 meters into the sky. The fun part is reaching the slide that leads back down. Ropes and nets are also there to add to the climbing fun. Make sure to go into the Cave of the Bears, where there is also a set of cave paintings to be discovered.
If you are watching your kids play, tree trunks, pavilions, and boulders provide you with the space to sit and relax.
9: The ice-age animal park, where new bison have recently moved in
At the Neanderthal Animal Park, you can find rare Ice Age animals in an ethical, species-appropriate manner. It is called The ‘Ice-Age’ animal park since some of the animals that live there have been ‘back-bred’ to resemble aurochs and tarpan (Eurasian wild horse), which were animals that became extinct in Europe centuries ago. The park was founded in 1935, by the Neanderthal Nature Conservation Society, and it is also the home of European bison.
10: The possibility of guided tours and workshops in German and English
The Neanderthal Museum also offers a variety of guided tours and workshops. As mentioned above, this is a fun learning experience for adults, families, students, and seniors as well. Make sure to check their webpage to see which tour or workshop is best suited for you!
You can book a viewing of their permanent exhibition, have direct contact with a variety of their objects, and access the latest research findings. They also offer expert-guided tours of the discovery site, the art trail, and the nature reserve surrounding the Ice Age Animal Park. You can even join one of the tours without being a part of a group, just make sure to join the tours listed in their events calendar.
As a visitor, you will get the chance to go on an online tour that visits a site in the UK, Italy, and The Neanderthal Museum in Germany. The tour does not happen often, but the Zoom Meeting switches back and forth between the three locations, so you can see something from all three of them. Of course, you also have the possibility to interact with the guides and ask questions. You can buy a ticket for one receiver and watch the tour with your friends or family. It’s a really unique opportunity to see something more than just their museum!
The online Tour will take place on March 4th 2022 at 5pm Berlin / 4pm London. You can get your tickets here.
How can you get to the Neanderthal Museum?
The museum is super fast to reach from Düsseldorf both by car and by train.
If you are driving, you can make your life easier by entering the following information into your satellite navigation system:
- City/Town: Mettmann
- POI Category: Parking – Neanderthal P&R Car Park
You will arrive right on the hillside directly above the museum and from there it is about a 10-minute walk to the museum.
You can also find a small parking place on the other side of the museum on Talstrasse, which is about a 5-minute walk to the museum.
More parking spots in the area can be found at Altenheim Neandertal, Talstrasse 189 (20-minute walk to the museum) or on the company grounds of Erwepa, Mettmanner Strasse 51, Erkrath (15-minutes walk to the museum).
Disabled parking spaces can be found approximately 100m from the museum.
If you are taking the train, you have 4 options:
- The Regio Bahn (Route S 28): Kaarst–Neuss–Düsseldorf–Mettmann: Which arrives at the ‘Neanderthal’ stop (5-minute walk to the museum)
- S-Bahn (Route S 8): Mönchengladbach–Düsseldorf–Hagen: Which arrives at the ‘Hochdahl’ stop (15-minute walk to the museum)
- Bus (Route 741): Mettmann–Hilden: Which arrives at the ‘Neandertaler’ stop, directly in front of the museum
- Bus (Route 743): Mettmann–Erkrath: Which arrives at the ‘Neandertaler’ stop, directly in front of the museum
Remember to ask for your € 1.00 discount on the admission price, which you can grab access to if you travel by bus or by train!
