Surrounded by wooded hills it nestles in the narrow valley of the Wupper, and the city boundaries melt into the hilly fields and extensive woods of the Graf Berg region.
From any part of the city it is only a ten- minute walk to the nearest park or shady woodland path. Two thirds of the total municipal area is green belt The network of walks for ramblers in
Wuppertal stretches for 400 kilometres. The
âround the city boundariesâ walk, which has been in existence for over 60 years, is 109 km long on its own.
A favourite day- trippersâ rendezvous for the people of
Wuppertal as well as for visitors from near and far is the zoo, one of the most scenically attractive in the world. It has over 5,000 animals and birds from all parts of the globe.
Wuppertal, a mixture of outgoing metropolis and cosy village richly adorned with stucco facades and handsome half- timbered houses, offers interesting surprises: a total of
8,723 municipal steps have to be climbed to get from the lowest point to the highest, for
Wuppertal lies at an altitude of between 100 and 350 meters above sea level.
Anyone feeling in need of replenishment afterwards should not miss out on the legendary regional afternoon coffee spread
Bergische Kaffeetafel, âcoffee and all that goes with itâ, as the locals say. You will find it on the menu of fashionable gourmet restaurants as well as on the bill of fare of quaint and cosy pubs, which can be found on every corner.
Cultural tastes are catered for in a variety of ways.
The Tripartite Theatre, consisting of opera house, playhouse and Pina Bauschâs modern dance theatre, has made a name for the city far beyond its own boundaries. The municipal symphony orchestra, and the boyâs choir
Kantorei Barmen Gemarke are household names to anyone interested in classical music.
An eldorado for art lovers is the well known
âVon der Heydt- Museumâ with masterpieces by 19th and 20th century artists. The first
Picasso ever to appear in public went on display here. Today the museum houses one of the most important art collections of paintings and other works of art in Federal Republic. Following extensive restoration, the cityâs concert hall
Stadthalle on the Johannisberg counts among the most beautiful and acoustically excellent concert halls in Europe
The best way for the visitor to get a first glimpse of this bustling city, which is still so very genial, is to take a ride on the
suspension railway. This fast-moving train is not just a city landmark and monument, but has shown itself it to be the worldâs safest transport system ever since it was inaugurated.
