Ratingen, Hanseatic town in Mettmann district, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany
Ratingen is a Hanseatic town in Mettmann district, North Rhine-Westphalia, covering an area with neighborhoods, commercial zones and green spaces. The settlement spreads over gently rolling terrain between several waterways and wooded areas.
The settlement gained town rights on December 11, 1276, under the Count of Berg and grew into a medieval trading center. Later, industrialization in the 18th century brought new momentum through textile factories and mechanical production.
The name comes from an old word referring to reeds or marshy ground, which describes the original landscape near the rivers. Today the town keeps ties to its trading past through markets and community gatherings that bring neighbors together.
Railway stations such as Ratingen Ost and West link the town with Düsseldorf and other destinations in the region. The center is easy to explore on foot, while longer distances can be covered by public transport.
Cromford housed the first mechanical cotton spinning mill in Europe and now forms part of the Rhineland Industrial Museum. Visitors can view the preserved machines and buildings that mark the start of the textile industry on the continent.
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