Troisdorf

Troisdorf is a city of around 78,000 inhabitants in the Rhein-Sieg district of North Rhine-Westphalia, situated between Cologne and Bonn on the right bank of the Rhine. Roughly 22 kilometres south of Cologne and 13 kilometres northeast of Bonn, it occupies a convenient position in the Cologne Bay, bordered by the foothills of the Bergisches Land to the north and the Sieg floodplains to the south. Visitors appreciate Troisdorf both as a self-contained destination and as a practical base for exploring the wider region. Its landmark is Burg Wissem, the brightly painted orange manor house that contains Europe’s only specialised picture-book museum. Beyond the castle, the Wahner Heide nature reserve and the Siegaue wetlands provide extensive green spaces for walking and cycling. The city combines industrial heritage with accessible nature, a lively pedestrian zone, museums and family-friendly facilities. Public transport links and ample parking make arrival and departure straightforward. Families, nature lovers and culture seekers find plenty to occupy a full day or a long weekend, away from the heavier tourist crowds of the neighbouring cities yet close enough to reach them easily when desired.

History of Troisdorf

The history of Troisdorf stretches back more than a thousand years. The earliest documented settlements in the present municipal area, Eschmar and Sieglar, appear in records from 832. Bergheim is mentioned in 987 in a charter of King Otto III confirming fishing rights at the mouth of the Sieg to the Vilich convent. Troisdorf itself is first recorded in 1064 as “Truhtesdorf” in a document of the Benedictine abbey of Michaelsberg in Siegburg. Burg Wissem, the city’s landmark, has origins reaching into the Merovingian period between the fifth and seventh centuries and once served as the ancestral seat of the lords of Troisdorf. The first written reference to the castle complex dates from 1474. For centuries the area remained largely rural until industrialisation began in the nineteenth century. In 1825 Johann Wilhelm Windgassen, formerly head of the mining office in Bonn, established an iron smelter on the mill ditch near the confluence of the Agger and the Sieg. This developed into the Friedrich-Wilhelms-Hütte, later known as the Mannstaedt works, which gave its name to the corresponding district. Industrial growth transformed daily life and established Troisdorf as a centre of iron production and, later, plastics and chemicals. After the Second World War the manor house of Burg Wissem functioned as the town hall from 1945 until 1981. Troisdorf received municipal rights in 1952. In the territorial reform of 1969 the city expanded by incorporating the municipality of Sieglar together with Altenrath and Friedrich-Wilhelms-Hütte, bringing the population to about 51,000 at the time. Today Troisdorf comprises twelve districts, among them Troisdorf-Mitte, Sieglar, Spich, Bergheim and Rotter See. The industrial past is documented in the Museum of Urban and Industrial History, while the Wahner Heide and Siegaue preserve traces of the older agricultural landscape. In 1972 Troisdorf established Germany’s first advisory council for foreign residents, reflecting a long-standing commitment to integration. The journey from early medieval settlement through industrial expansion to a modern city with substantial protected nature areas gives the history of Troisdorf a distinctive and tangible character for visitors.

Highlights of Troisdorf

The principal highlight of Troisdorf is Burg Wissem and its Picture Book Museum. The striking orange classical manor house, built around 1840, houses Europe’s only museum dedicated specifically to picture-book illustration and children’s literature. Permanent displays explore themes such as Little Red Riding Hood, ghosts and classic fairy-tale figures, while temporary exhibitions focus on individual illustrators and the history of the picture book. A reference library of approximately 3,000 volumes invites browsing, and the tower room offers views across the courtyard. Opposite stands the Museum of Urban and Industrial History, which presents the development of Troisdorf since 1800 through interactive exhibits. The Wahner Heide Portal displays a large aerial photograph of the nature reserve and archaeological finds spanning nearly two thousand years. The surrounding castle park contains a deer enclosure, adventure playground and sensory experience path, making the site especially appealing to families. Immediately adjacent lies the Wahner Heide, North Rhine-Westphalia’s second-largest and most species-rich nature reserve, home to more than 700 threatened plant and animal species and over 150 bird species. In late summer the heather blooms in vivid colours and draws walkers. The Siegaue, designated a nature reserve in 1986, offers open meadows, old fruit trees and paths for walking and cycling as far as the Rhine. A local speciality is the cable ferry St. Adelheit at Bergheim, which crosses to the Bonn side in under two minutes for fifty cents per person. In the city centre the pedestrian zone features the glass city gates designed by Joachim Bandau and Victor Bonato, the water steps on Kölner Platz and the sculpture “Dicker Mann” by Karl-Henning Seemann on Fischerplatz. The weekly market on Thursdays and the evening market on the first Friday of each month from May to October add further atmosphere. Rotter See and Sieglarer See provide pleasant lakeside walks; swimming is not permitted at Sieglarer See, where grey herons and cormorants nest on the islands. Families can also enjoy the Aggua leisure pool, numerous playgrounds and the forest and bird park. Combining the castle and museums with a heather walk or a ferry crossing fills a rewarding day. A visit to Burg Wissem alone typically takes two to three hours, and the surrounding nature areas easily extend the stay.

Opening Hours, Tickets & How to Get to Troisdorf

Reaching Troisdorf is straightforward. By car take the A 59 to the Troisdorf exit and follow signs for the centre and the Burg Wissem museums. Parking is available in Burgallee and on Römerstraße, some spaces limited to three hours with a parking disc. By train alight at Troisdorf station; bus lines 501, 503 and 508 towards Siegburg stop at Ursulaplatz after two stops, a short walk from the castle. Line 506 stops at Römerplatz, about five minutes on foot. The walk from the station itself takes roughly fifteen minutes. The Tourist Information office at Burgallee 3 is open Tuesday to Friday from 11:30 to 16:30 and Saturday, Sunday and public holidays from 10:00 to 18:00; it is closed on Mondays. The Picture Book Museum opens Tuesday to Friday from 11:00 to 17:00 and at weekends and on public holidays from 10:00 to 18:00. The Museum of Urban and Industrial History and the Wahner Heide Portal are open Tuesday to Friday from 11:30 to 16:30 and at weekends from 10:00 to 18:00. All museums are closed on Mondays; if a public holiday falls on a Monday they remain closed. Combined admission for the Picture Book Museum and MUSIT costs 5.00 euros for adults, 2.00 euros for children aged 3 to 14, 12.00 euros for a family ticket and 3.50 euros reduced. Entry is free on the first Sunday of each month when the museums are open. Guided tours for children cost a flat 50 euros plus reduced admission; adult tours cost 60 euros plus reduced admission. The best time to visit is from spring through autumn, especially August and September when the heather is in bloom. Allow two to three hours for the castle and museums and a further two to four hours for a walk in the Wahner Heide or along the Sieg. The sites are accessible, and the Tourist Information office supplies maps, walking routes and accommodation advice. Families particularly appreciate the combination of museum visits with the park and playground. Those planning to use the cable ferry should check local operating times and carry small change.

Attractions Near Troisdorf

Several worthwhile destinations lie close to Troisdorf and combine easily with a visit. The Siegaue and the cable ferry to Bonn-Beuel are only a short distance away, providing a direct link towards Bonn. Bonn itself, with its cathedral, Museum Koenig and former federal capital atmosphere, is about 13 kilometres distant and reachable in under thirty minutes. Cologne, dominated by its cathedral and the Rhine, lies roughly 22 kilometres to the north and is quickly accessible by train or car. South of Troisdorf the Siebengebirge hills offer walks to the Drachenfels, Löwenburg and Petersberg with views over the Rhine valley. The Wahner Heide extends well beyond the city limits and connects with the Königsforst. Towards Siegburg the Michaelsberg abbey is a short journey, and further paths follow the Agger and Sieg. Longer stays can include Rotter See for relaxation or the Aggua leisure pool. The proximity to Cologne and Bonn makes Troisdorf an excellent base for combined outings: morning at Burg Wissem and the Picture Book Museum, afternoon in the heather or on the ferry, evening in one of the larger cities. Good transport connections allow several of these attractions near Troisdorf to be experienced in a single day without lengthy travel times.