Tour poster: Siegen's Concrete Canvas: Unburying the River Sieg
Red Thread OriginalSiegen
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Self-guided audio tour

Siegen

Siegen's Concrete Canvas Unburying the River Sieg

Urbanism, Infrastructure & InnovationHistory & Memory
Distance
1.3 km
Duration
73 min
Route
6 stops

Discover how a city tore up 5,100 square meters of concrete to bring its buried river back to life. This immersive journey explores Siegen's radical transformation from a car-centric concrete jungle to a vibrant, pedestrian-first urban oasis.

Tom Bennett
Your guide Tom Bennett Urbanism, Infrastructure & Innovation
Audio sample

What awaits you on this Red Thread tour

Discover how a city tore up 5,100 square meters of concrete to bring its buried river back to life. This immersive journey explores Siegen's radical transformation from a car-centric concrete jungle to a vibrant, pedestrian-first urban oasis. You will uncover the engineering marvels, the fierce public debates, and the ecological triumphs that redefined the city's soul.

Your in-app experience

This is how the Red Thread app brings your tour to life.

Red Thread guides you through the city's stories that you won't find in any guidebook. Authentically and compellingly told by our experts and locals.

Home
01

Home

Get inspired and choose a story that fits your location and your mood.

Search for tours directly
02

Search for tours directly

Use the map to find tours in your city or at a specific address.

Redeem in the app
03

Redeem in the app

Redeem purchased tours or City Passes in the app using a voucher code or QR code.

Start well prepared
04

Start well prepared

Explore the route, stops, and many additional features for your experience.

Listen where it happened
05

Listen where it happened

Hear the stories where they happened.

Ask your guide
06

Ask your guide

Get extra context, deeper details, or useful tips nearby.

Collect discoveries
07

Collect discoveries

Build your travel passport and explore fascinating insights.

Itinerary

1

TOUR START

Apollo-Theater & Siegbrücke

The cultural starting point where modern architecture meets the pedestrian-first bridge, symbolizing the city's shift in priorities.

Apollo-Theater & Siegbrücke

Pic by N/A on Wikimedia Commons (Public domain)

0.25 km • 4 min
2

STOP 2

Siegtreppen (Sieg Terraces)

The iconic stepped terraces that replaced a massive concrete parking lot, now serving as the city's most popular gathering spot.

0.13 km • 2 min
3

STOP 3

Oberstadtbrücke

A new pedestrian bridge offering the best vantage point to observe the river's ecological restoration, including the vital fish ladders.

0.07 km • 1 min
4

STOP 4

Kölner Tor

Formerly a congested traffic bottleneck, now a redesigned urban plaza connecting the lower and upper city.

Kölner Tor

Pic by Matthias Nonnenmacher on Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)

0.36 km • 6 min
5

STOP 5

Bürgerpark Herrengarten

A new green lung for the city, created by demolishing a brutalist shopping center, showcasing the continuation of the river project's ethos.

0.48 km • 7 min
6

END

Campus Unteres Schloss

The historic Lower Castle, now revitalized as the central campus of the University of Siegen, representing the demographic shift in the city's renewal.

Campus Unteres Schloss

Pic by Bob Ionescu on Wikimedia Commons (Attribution)

Where the tour takes place

Starting point and rough tour area – the exact route unfolds in the app.

Good to know

  • Ideal for Urban explorers, architecture enthusiasts, environmentalists, and anyone fascinated by city planning and urban renewal.
  • Best time Late afternoon to early evening, when the river terraces come alive with locals and the golden hour light hits the water.
  • Footwear Comfortable walking shoes are highly recommended for navigating the terraces and bridges.
  • Pacing Take your time on the river steps. It is the perfect spot to pause and people-watch.
  • Photography The Oberstadtbrücke offers the best vantage point for capturing the restored riverbed.
  • Accessibility The route is generally accessible, with ramps available near the main terrace steps.
  • Your voucher You can redeem your voucher for two years from purchase. Once redeemed, you have 14 days of access and can enjoy the tour as often as you like during that time.

Your guide

Tom Bennett
Audio sample
0:000:00

Tom Bennett

  • Urbanism, Infrastructure & Innovation
  • Northern England

Architecture and urban planning professional. Explains the city's hidden systems – from mobility to water pipes – clearly and vividly.

Frequently asked questions

How do I get to the tour after buying?

You see your voucher code right after payment – and you also receive it at the email address you entered at checkout. Redeem that code in the Red Thread app; that's where the tour starts.

When does my access start?

Only when you redeem the code in the app, not at purchase. From redemption you have 14 days of access to the tour.

Do I need the Red Thread app?

Yes. The free Red Thread app turns your tour into a vivid experience: with audio, a map, and thoughtful prompts, it guides you from place to place in an engaging and entertaining way. It's available free for iOS and Android.

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