Kreis Mettmann is an administrative district in central North Rhine-Westphalia within Germany. It occupies a transitional zone between the Ruhr industrial region and the hills of the Bergisches Land, and functions as a ring of suburban towns and small cities around Düsseldorf. The district seat is the town of Mettmann, and the area is characterised by a blend of residential communities, local manufacturing and service industries.
Geography and settlements
The district includes a number of medium-sized towns and suburbs. Prominent municipalities include Mettmann itself along with neighbouring towns such as Hilden, Erkrath, Haan, Langenfeld, Monheim am Rhein, Heiligenhaus, Velbert, Wülfrath and Ratingen. Much of the district is relatively low-lying with river valleys, while the eastern parts rise toward the wooded, undulating countryside of the Bergisches Land.
History and the Neander Valley
Mettmann's landscape is historically important because of the Neander Valley (Neandertal), a small gorge formed by the Düssel stream. In 1856 workers uncovered skeletal remains there that were later identified as a distinct extinct human type now called Neanderthals. The find gave its name to paleoanthropology's Neanderthal species and remains one of the district's best-known associations.
Economy and transport
The district's economy is a mixture of light and precision industry, trade and commuter services. Many residents commute to nearby Düsseldorf and other Ruhr-area employment centres. Road and rail links provide frequent connections to regional transport hubs, making the district an integral part of the Rhine-Ruhr conurbation.
Cultural and natural attractions
Visitors to Kreis Mettmann often seek the Neanderthal open-air and museum facilities that interpret the paleoanthropological discoveries and local prehistory. The area also contains nature reserves, riverside walking routes and local museums illustrating industrial and rural heritage. Community festivals, small cultural institutions and a network of cycle paths contribute to local life.
Administration and further information
- The district is governed as a Kreis with a county council and administration based in Mettmann.
- Its mix of towns, green spaces and industrial activity reflects the wider contrasts of urbanised North Rhine-Westphalia.
- For official information see the district portal: Kreis Mettmann.
Notable fact: The name "Neanderthal" (also spelled "Neandertal") is derived from the valley in this district and is internationally associated with the 19th-century discovery of Neanderthal human remains.