Nordsternturm GmbH | Opening Hours & Height

The Nordsternturm in Gelsenkirchen is much more than a former winding tower: it is a landmark of Ruhr mining, a viewpoint, a museum, and part of the Nordsternpark. The official website describes it as one of the most significant places of industrial culture and as a place where visitors can look far over the Ruhr area from the terrace. This combination of panorama, history, and concrete visitor information explains why searches for opening hours, height, photos, directions, and parking are so frequent. Those who come here do not get an interchangeable tower, but an ensemble of architecture, exhibition, and landscape that makes the transformation of a former colliery into a vibrant destination comprehensible. ([nordsternturm.de](https://www.nordsternturm.de/))

Opening Hours and Prices for Visiting the Nordsternturm

For a visit to the Nordsternturm, the current times are clearly structured and therefore well-planned. The visitor terrace is open from Monday to Thursday and Sunday from 11 AM to 6 PM, and on Fridays and Saturdays from 11 AM to 5 PM. Those who want to see the exhibition “Change is Always” should especially remember the weekends: On Saturdays, it is open from 11 AM to 5 PM, and on Sundays and public holidays in North Rhine-Westphalia from 11 AM to 6 PM. The ticket office closes half an hour before the end of opening hours, which is particularly important for a later day trip. A separate price applies for the pure terrace visit, and a slightly higher admission fee for the combined access to the exhibition. This allows the visit to be flexibly designed according to interest and time budget. ([nordsternturm.de](https://www.nordsternturm.de/besucherservice_oeffnungszeiten_und_preise.php))

It is also practical that access to the visitor terrace and the museum is barrier-free. This makes the Nordsternturm attractive not only for spontaneous individual visitors but also for families, groups, and anyone planning a culture and viewpoint trip as uncomplicated as possible. Those who just want to stop by briefly can use the terrace with a view of the park, city, and region. Those with more time can include the exhibition and combine the panoramic level with the historical tour through the industrial history of the site. Especially in changeable weather, this combination of viewpoint and indoor area is a real advantage, as the visit is not limited to a single program point. Thus, the Nordsternturm becomes a destination suitable for both a short stop and a longer cultural visit. ([nordsternturm.de](https://www.nordsternturm.de/besucherservice_oeffnungszeiten_und_preise.php))

Height, Visitor Terrace, and Hercules of Gelsenkirchen

When searching for the height of the Nordsternturm, it almost always concerns two values: the structural height of the ensemble and the location of the visitor terrace. Today, the building has 18 floors; the top level is about 83 meters high and has been developed into the visitor terrace. With the Hercules of Gelsenkirchen on top of the access tower, the total ensemble reaches about 103 meters. The sculpture itself is 18 meters high and weighs about 23 tons. This makes the tower interesting not only as a viewpoint but also as a distinctive art and memorial site that is visible from afar and unmistakably shapes the Nordstern location. The official description makes it clear that the terrace and the Hercules together create a characteristic image that is inscribed into the city and landscape panorama. ([nordsternturm.de](https://www.nordsternturm.de/besucherservice_was_sie_erwartet.php))

The view is one of the strongest reasons for the popularity of the Nordsternturm. The homepage speaks of a unique view of the landscape of the Ruhr area, and the visitor terrace offers a broad perspective over the park, city, and region. Additionally, the Nordsternturm website classifies the building as one of seven so-called high points of the Ruhr metropolis. This is a nice indication that the tower is not only a local monument but also a regional viewing experience. Due to its location in Gelsenkirchen-Horst and its immediate proximity to the Nordsternpark, the view meets green surroundings, industrial culture, and art. This is where the special charm arises: You are not just standing on a tower, but at a place where the transformation from a coal location to a cultural and landscape space becomes visible. ([nordsternturm.de](https://www.nordsternturm.de/))

Photos, Museum, and the Exhibition “Change is Always”

Those looking for photos of the Nordsternturm quickly find out that the place is very photogenic. Even the official website works with strong image motifs: panoramic terrace, conveying technology, Hercules, and exhibition scenes shape the visual appearance. This is no coincidence, as the Nordsternturm itself is an aesthetic monument of industrial architecture and at the same time a stage for art and memory. This is particularly visible in the exhibition “Change is Always,” which not only explains the site but also stages it with video installations, films, photos, sound installations, and other artistic works. The combination of historical substance and modern media makes the Nordsternturm a place where images not only document but tell history. For visitors, this means: The Nordsternturm is not only a photo motif from the outside but also an exhibition space with many visual layers inside. ([nordsternturm.de](https://www.nordsternturm.de/ausstellung.php))

Content-wise, the exhibition spans a wide arc from mining to the present. It addresses the development of the site from the colliery through the industrial wasteland to the landscape and business park, and also deals with labor struggles, mining accidents, immigration, integration, and structural change. The official website describes the tour over seven floors, while the exhibition itself is presented on six levels. This difference is not a contradiction but rather shows how extensive the visitor experience is actually designed: The tower connects architecture, memory, and media art across several levels. This is precisely why the keyword photos appears so frequently, as the Nordsternturm is both a place for historical imagery and for current, very photogenic perspectives on the region. ([nordsternturm.de](https://www.nordsternturm.de/))

Directions, Address, and Parking at the Nordsternturm

The directions to the Nordsternturm are straightforward when using the official address. The Nordsternturm GmbH can be found at Nordsternplatz 1, 45899 Gelsenkirchen. This is particularly practical for navigation, as the name of the location is associated with the surrounding Nordsternpark and the historic site of the former Nordstern colliery. Those arriving by car should ideally plan their visit with the Nordsternpark parking garage, which is located directly opposite the tower. This way, you do not have to walk long distances through the area and are very close to the actual destination. This is a real advantage for families, groups, or guests with little time, as arrival at the site is very direct and without detours. ([nordsternturm.de](https://www.nordsternturm.de/besucherservice_anfahrt.php))

The parking garage offers 510 free spaces, is open 24/7, and is suitable as a short-term parking solution for visiting the Nordsternturm and the Nordsternpark. The rate is 2.00 euros per started hour up to a maximum of 15.00 euros, and there are also disabled parking spaces available. The location is clearly described: Fritz-Schupp-Straße 4, 45899 Gelsenkirchen, directly at the Nordsternpark and opposite the Nordsternturm. This is very helpful for visitor planning, as it provides not only an address but also a specific, official parking name. So, those looking for parking will find a clear, pedestrian-friendly, and publicly documented solution at the Nordsternturm. ([verkehrsgesellschaft-gelsenkirchen.de](https://verkehrsgesellschaft-gelsenkirchen.de/parkhaus-nordsternpark))

History, Architecture, and Industrial Culture at the Nordstern Site

The historical depth of the Nordsternturm begins long before the current excursion site. The official page on industrial culture describes that Fritz Schupp and Martin Kremmer designed the first operational buildings for the Nordstern colliery as early as 1926. The current winding tower over shaft 2 was built in the early 1950s, specifically in 1951/52, and still forms the architectural heart of the ensemble today. The construction with steel skeleton, brick and glass infill, as well as the preserved tower hoisting system makes the tower a rare representative of post-war mining architecture. It is particularly noteworthy that only three of Schupp's winding towers from this time have been preserved, and the Nordsternturm is the only one that can be opened to visitors. This classification explains why the site is not only regionally known but also so significant for industrial culture in the Ruhr area. ([nordsternturm.de](https://www.nordsternturm.de/industriekultur_schupp_und_kremmer.php))

The later development of the area is also closely linked to the site. After the closure of the colliery in 1993, the site was thoroughly renovated and transformed into a landscape park with the help of the Federal Garden Show in 1997. The current Nordsternpark connects the districts of Horst and Heßler and keeps many traces of the industrial past visible. These include preserved construction elements of the colliery, the pumping station, the graffiti wall, the climbing area, and of course the Nordsternturm itself. In 2009/2010, the tower was extended by four glass floors; later, the monumental Hercules figure was added as a widely visible sign. Thus, a former winding tower becomes a highlight of structural change, where architecture, art, and landscape work together. Therefore, when visiting the Nordsternturm, one experiences not just a building but the history of an entire site in transition. ([vivawest.de](https://www.vivawest.de/nordsternturm))

Guided Tours, Events, and Barrier-Free Visits

The Nordsternturm is interesting not only for free visits but also for organized tours and events. The official site offers group tours such as “At the Green Intersection,” which connects the Nordsternpark with the Nordsternturm, as well as “Winding Tower instead of Double Bock,” which focuses on the Nordstern Museum and the panoramic terrace. In addition, other topics can be individually arranged, such as Nordstern as an art site, industrial and settlement architecture, or the relationship between tradition and modernity. The tower also plays a musical role, as FineArtJazz concerts regularly take place there. For visitors looking for more than a short viewpoint stop, this is a strong signal: The Nordsternturm is a lively cultural site that is well-suited for thematic groups, club excursions, school concepts, or special occasions. ([nordsternturm.de](https://www.nordsternturm.de/besucherservice_fuehrungen.php?utm_source=openai))

Especially positive is the clear visitor service information. Access to the visitor terrace and the museum is barrier-free, and the official pages state a practical upper limit of a maximum of 100 people in and on the tower. Therefore, larger groups are recommended to register in advance. This rule helps with planning, as it makes the visit safer and more orderly while also showing that the tower is well open to the public despite its historical structure. Together with the clear opening hours, the parking garage directly opposite, and the various tour formats, a very service-friendly overall picture emerges. The Nordsternturm is thus a destination that remarkably combines history, views, and organization. ([nordsternturm.de](https://www.nordsternturm.de/besucherservice_oeffnungszeiten_und_preise.php))

Sources:

• Nordsternturm - Homepage
• Nordsternturm - Opening Hours and Prices
• Nordsternturm - Exhibition Change is Always
• Nordsternturm - Hercules of Gelsenkirchen
• City of Gelsenkirchen - Nordsternpark
• Traffic Company City of Gelsenkirchen - Nordsternpark Parking Garage