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Hagen: Where industrial heritage meets avant-garde visions and nature reinvents itself.

Three Ways to Rediscover Hagen

A first taste of the best stories the city has to offer. Many more tours are waiting for you.

The Utopian Forge: Forging the Avant-Garde in Industrial Hagen – Hagen Audio-Tour
Tour 01
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Pic by Bärwinkel,Klaus on Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)

The Utopian Forge: Forging the Avant-Garde in Industrial Hagen

Step into the soot-stained streets of early 20th-century Hagen, where a radical experiment forever changed the world of design. Join Clara, a grounded design enthusiast, and Jonas, a passionate architectural historian, as they uncover the 'Hagener Impuls'—a visionary movement led by Karl Ernst Osthaus that brought utopian aesthetics to a gritty industrial powerhouse. Discover how this unlikely city birthed the total work of art and laid the very foundation for the Bauhaus.

7 Stops
199 Min
Neon & Concrete: The Hagen Sound Revolution – Hagen Audio-Tour
Tour 02

Neon & Concrete: The Hagen Sound Revolution

In the late 1970s, the gray, post-industrial city of Hagen became the unlikely epicenter of a musical earthquake. This tour takes you deep into the heart of the 'Hagener Szene', where the raw energy of punk collided with the neon aesthetics of the Neue Deutsche Welle (NDW). Walk the streets where Nena's band first found their voice before their guitarist Carlo Karges dreamed up 99 red balloons in West Berlin, where Extrabreit penned ironic anthems of rebellion, and where grand, decaying villas became the incubators for a generation's creative explosion. Discover how a working-class steel town accidentally birthed the most colorful pop revolution of the 80s.

6 Stops
113 Min
Veins of Steel and Water: The Topography of Hagen – Hagen Audio-Tour
Tour 03
©
Pic by Phil Richards on Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 2.0)

Veins of Steel and Water: The Topography of Hagen

Discover how the dramatic, unyielding topography of the Sauerland mountains forged an industrial powerhouse. On this immersive walking tour, you will trace the paths of Hagen's four rivers, uncovering how steep valleys and fast-flowing water dictated everything from medieval blade-smithing to massive railway networks. We will explore the environmental cost of this industrial boom and witness the modern ecological rebirth of a city that is finally making peace with its geography.

4 Stops
91 Min

Discover Hagen – Stories Worth Hearing

Red Thread is an iOS and Android app with over 1,500 guided audio tours through cities worldwide - including in Hagen.

Hagen is more than just a city in the Ruhr area; it's a living book of history that surprises on every page. Here, you feel the pulse of past industrial giants, while simultaneously experiencing the creative energy of a city constantly reinventing itself and rediscovering its green soul.

From the Bauhaus influences at Hohenhof to the soundscapes of the 'Neon & Beton' era – Hagen is a mosaic of bold ideas and rugged beauty. Our audio tours invite you to unfold these fascinating facets, whether it's the legacy of the 'utopian forge' or the 'ecological awakening' of the iron river.

Hagen Highlights
  • Experience the cradle of German avant-garde
  • Explore industrial culture and modern urban development
  • Discover the green heart along the Lenne and Ruhr
  • Listen to the origins of the Hagen Sound Revolution

Start for free – Premium from €12.99/month. Compare all plans →

Learn more about Red Thread

Frequently Asked Questions about Hagen

General questions about the app, pricing and features are answered in our full FAQ on the main page.

How long do the audio tours in Hagen last and what do they cover?
Our tours range from a compact 38 minutes for 'The Return of the Iron River' to an extensive 199 minutes for 'The Utopian Forge'. They guide you through Hagen's avant-garde, industrial culture, music scene, and natural landscapes.
Can I easily combine industrial heritage and nature in Hagen?
Absolutely! Hagen is known for its unique topography, where 'veins of steel and water' often lie close together. For instance, discover industrial monuments along the Lenne and simultaneously enjoy the re-naturalized river landscapes.
Can I create my own tours in Hagen?
Yes, with the XL or Unlimited subscription you can use our AI-powered tour creator to build your own personalized tour in Hagen on a topic of your choice.
Can I use the Hagen tours offline?
Yes, with an XL or Unlimited subscription you can download tours for offline use.
Can I do Hagen tours together with friends?
Yes – with Together Mode (from XL plan) the whole group listens in sync on their own devices. Up to 4 people on XL, up to 10 on Unlimited.
In which other cities does Red Thread offer tours?
Further tours are available in nearby cities like Dortmund, Bochum, Wuppertal, or international destinations like Zürich, Kyoto, Rome and many more. All cities can be found here.
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