Weltgästeführertag: Gratis Stadtführungen in Hattingen

In the organizer's words:

To mark World Guides' Day 2026, HATTINGEN ZU FUSS invites you to two free guided tours of Hattingen's old town on Saturday, February 22, 2026. The tours start at 11.00 a.m. and 2.30 p.m. and have the motto "Envy masks, mock half-timbered houses and wild boars: through Hattingen with open eyes".

What do the envy masks on the Tuchweberhaus from 1611 tell us? What stories are hidden behind the mock half-timbering at Steinhagen? And why do visitors encounter wild boars on the church square? Hattingen city guide Lars Friedrich explores these and other questions on an exciting tour through the old town.

He talks about commercial superstitions, historicizing half-timbered architecture, the town's oldest pharmacy and many details that only become apparent on closer inspection. The aim of the tour is to sharpen the eye for the often overlooked features of the historic city center.

Participation in the guided tours is free of charge after registration at kontakt@hattingenzufiuss.de. A voluntary hat donation is requested at the end. The proceeds will be donated to the Förderverein historische Kalkantenstube e. V.

Background

International Tourist Guide Day (ITGD) has been celebrated since 1990. It takes place annually around February 21, the founding day of the World Federation of Tourist Guides (WFTGA). Qualified tour guides around the world take part with special offers. In 2026, the theme of the events is "With open eyes".