Alpine Centre: the longest indoor winter sport facility in the world

This gigantic indoor downhill skiing and snowboarding facility is built on a slag-heap. Since the opening in 2001 the Alpine Centre has been a great success with people from near and far. Both newcomers and experienced skiers and snowboarders enjoy the 640 metre long and 30 metre wide ski-run, which is by far the longest in the world. A ski school, ski rent and ski service complete the facilities. Ski and snowboard instructors possess the necessary qualifications and credentials and have successfully completed the in-house training courses.

The Alpine Centre offers several courses which are designed for specific conditions:

• Group courses
• Private lessons
• Holiday courses
• Children's birthday parties
• Courses for business events

The instructors introduce the joys of skiing and snowboarding to the participants in an entertaining way. You would like to try it but you do not have the equipment? No problem, you can rent everything you need - including the right apparel - at a very low price. Come and join the winter fun in any of the four seasons. The Alpine Centre is open 365 days a year.

The Alpine Centre also offers a diversified gastronomic area which can accommodate up to 230 guests. The wooden wall panelling, rustic seating areas and the warm open fire create a typical alpine ski-hut feeling. In addition, a rich buffet is part of the all-inclusive-offer and invites the guests to stay. Through the large panorama windows in the "Hasenstall" and the "Tenne", spectators can watch the hustle and bustle on the ski-slope.
In the "Panorama Stadl" near the entrance hall and the "Hasenstall" with its bar and open fire up to 500 guests can have a drink and party. The large discotheque combines alpine atmosphere with a club-feeling for about 1,500 party-goers. From different levels, you have a great view of the dance floor and the bar.The huge panorama windows in the "Panorama Stadl" offer a spectacular view of the Tetrahedron. Not to forget the beer garden of the Alpine Centre allowing a fantastic view of the Ruhr-area.

The highest beer garden of the Ruhr-area is located in the outdoor park. Being separated from the Alpine Centre gastronomy, it is open to the public. On the 1,200 square metre terrace, about 450 visitors have a gorgeous view of Bottrop and the adjacent pithead with the Tetrahedron. A well-known highlight in the outdoor park is the High Ropes Course.

Another popular attraction is the all-year toboggan run which was opened in May 2009. The toboggan run starts at an altitude of 90 meters on the second level of the ski-hall and reaches a maximum speed of 42 kilometres per hour with a gradient of up to 25 %. There are 48 toboggans available which glide downhill through a tunnel, through various steep turns and a panorama hairpin curve. After a 750 metre run, the toboggan reaches the finish, from which it is automatically transported 250 metres upwards back to the starting point.

The toboggan run glides above the heads of the skiers on certain stretches of the course. Depending on how often the tobogannist slows down or glides at the maximum speed of 42 kilometres per hour the ride lasts between three and six minutes. For safety reasons, this maximum speed limit is controlled by a centrifugal brake. The technical groundwork for the run is a rail-system based on a special kind of steel construction. This allows an all-year operation of the toboggan run even when it rains. Every toboggan is designed to take a maximum of two persons; children pay 2.50 Euros, adults 3.50 Euros per ride.

Contact:
Alpincenter Bottrop
Prosperstraße 299 - 301
46238 Bottrop
Tel.: +49 20 41/ 70 95 0
Fax: +49 20 41/ 70 95 152
E-Mail: info@alpincenter.com

More Information:
Stadtinformationsbüro
(tourist-office)
Osterfelder Straße 13
46 236 Bottrop
Tel.: +49 20 41/7 66 95 13
Fax: +49 20 41/7 66 95 15
e-mail: tourist-info@bottrop.de

(07.07.2009)

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