CARNIVAL IN LEVERKUSEN. In the midst of the two carnival strongholds of Cologne and Düsseldorf, a lively carnival culture has developed over the last hundred years. Here, everything is a bit smaller and intimate. People know each other, they celebrate together and - they help each other. The carnival societies are not only active in the fifth season, but also shape social life in other...

UP CLOSE. Leverkusen is the city of sports. There is hardly any other city in Germany where you can experience pulsating top-class sport and sport history so close up on almost every weekend. Top sporting performances in and from Leverkusen have been a first-class brand name nationally and internationally for many decades. An above-average number of professional teams rank among the top in their disciplines...

THE ORIGINAL. The Opladener Bierbörse festival, also called the "mother of all beer exchanges", has its home on the grounds with the picturesque chestnut avenue and the large open meadows on the Wupper. This gives the Opladen Beer Exchange its unique flair. An extensive stage programme with live music in the huge Circus Tent rounds off the Festival of 1000 Beers and attracts over 200,000...

BEST OF. The Leverkusen Jazz Days belong to the Champions League of jazz festivals in Europe and are Germany's largest and most renowned festival. Every year, more than 20,000 visitors make the pilgrimage to Leverkusen to experience the unique atmosphere up close. From Ray Charles to Jamie Cullum, many great names have been on stage in Leverkusen and couldn’t help but become fans of this...