Jakobstreppe, Stone staircase in Elberfeld-West district, Wuppertal, Germany
The Jakobstreppe is a stone staircase with 155 steps and represents the longest straight outdoor staircase in Wuppertal. It connects Friedrich-Ebert-Strasse with Nützenberger Strasse through the Elberfeld-West district.
Built in 1887, the staircase was named after Jakob Wilhelm Haarhaus, the constructor and owner of the Nützenberg area. It emerged during a period of intense urban growth and reflects infrastructure solutions of the late 1800s.
Local residents use the staircase as a vital passage between neighborhoods, and it has become a defining feature of the Elberfeld-West district. The name reflects the historical connection to the Haarhaus family, who shaped the area's development.
The staircase is freely accessible on foot and offers a direct route between the two streets, though it can become slippery in wet conditions. Visitors should be aware that the steps are steep and parts are currently undergoing renovation.
The staircase is integrated along its sides with existing building walls, which gives it a distinctive construction and makes restoration particularly complex. This tight interplay between the steps and surrounding architecture reveals the challenges involved in its upkeep.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.