Neanderthal Museum, Mettmann

The Neanderthal Museum at Talstraße 300 in Mettmann stands in the Neandertal valley, about 15 km east of Düsseldorf, on the site where workers found the bones of an early human in 1856, giving the Neanderthals their name. The Regiobahn S28 runs from Düsseldorf Hauptbahnhof to Neanderthal station in about 20 to 25 minutes, followed by a walk of roughly 10 minutes to the museum; the Deutschlandticket covers the journey. Drivers can reach it in about 25 minutes via the A3 or the B7 and use the museum car park. The modern building, opened in 1996, takes visitors on a chronological journey from the origins of humankind in Africa through the Ice Age to the present day. Exhibits include a reconstruction of the Neanderthal man, tools, casts of the original finds and an exhibition about how people lived, hunted and used fire. Outside, the Steinzeitwerkstatt and the Eiszeit-Wildgehege (Ice Age game reserve) allow visitors to see animals similar to those that lived here, and the Neandertal valley paths link the museum to the original find site where a memorial stands. The surrounding Neandertal nature reserve offers shaded walks of various lengths, which suit families and casual hikers. A day might start at the museum when it opens, with two hours in the exhibition, followed by a picnic or lunch at the museum café, and an afternoon walk to the find site and the game reserve. The area is also known for the Neanderthal Prehistory Park nearby. The best time is from April to October, when the woodland paths are dry; mornings are best for families and school groups tend to visit on weekdays. Comfortable shoes are recommended for the paths. Check opening hours on neanderthal.de before travelling.