Rees

When you enter the tranquil Rhine promenade in Rees, you might easily believe you have stepped into a Hanseatic town. Medieval walls and towers line the path, continuing—enhanced by roundels and casemates—on other sides of the town. The fortified Rhine frontage is now a unique feature of Rees in the Lower Rhine region and a treasure with a high experiential value. The elongated market square, located close to the Rhine, dates back to the most important merchant settlement on the northern Lower Rhine in the 11th century.

The granting of town privileges on July 14, 1228, by the Archbishop of Cologne made Rees the oldest medieval town on the Lower Rhine above Duisburg. Hanseatic trade and the designation of Rees as a Hanseatic city, in alliance with eastern Dutch towns, are documented in the 15th century. Since the 16th century, Rees has been one of the most important associate cities of the Cleves Hanseatic League.

To this day, the spirit of this history can be felt in the alleys and streets of Rees—thanks in part to the restrained reconstruction after 1945, which largely preserved the original town layout and is characterized by well-proportioned 1950s brick architecture with historical style elements. Thus, Rees remains both a place of historical experience and a peaceful idyll.

The town center and surrounding countryside, with around 150 cultural monuments—some accompanied by contemporary art and set in an impressive natural landscape—can easily be explored by bike.