ʹTachʹ – short for ʹGuten Tagʹ ( ʹgood dayʹ)
This is how we greet one another in the Lower Rhine region.
So where exactly is the Lower Rhine? You won’t find any conventional borders here. This region is located in the far western section of North Rhine-Westphalia where it borders on the Netherlands. The Lower Rhine’s heartland encompasses the districts of Kleve, Wesel and Viersen as well as the cities of Krefeld and Duisburg.
Wesel – tretford’s production site and company headquarters – is actually on the ʹlower Lower Rhineʹ which stretches from Duisburg along the Rhine River through the districts of Wesel and Kleve all the way to the border with the Netherlands. Near the Rhine, and in very close proximity to us, you’ll also find the river Lippe and the Wesel-Datteln Canal.
In the summertime we take advantage of the beautiful surroundings to hop into a dragon boot at the Kanu Club after work. Or have a little party on the river banks. The close-by lock is inviting for a walk during one’s lunch break – even in winter.
ʹFather Rhineʹ
The Rhine shapes the lives of those of us who live in the Lower Rhine river valley. The early Romans already knew all about the benefits of settling near its banks.
Today the Rhine is not only an important transport route, the river and its surroundings also offers rest and recreation for locals and visitors. Popular leisure activities include water sports and biking excursions.
Our colleague Jens, who shot these aerial views, loves to relax while flying a glider. The Lower Rhine region features numerous spots where the river can spread to during high tide. The floodplains are thus frequently inundated.
This is what draws storks to the area in the summer and our Arctic guests – wild geese – in wintertime. They feel right at home here.
Pollard willows are also typical for this region.
The Lippe
After a journey of some 220 km, the river Lippe enters the Rhine at this spot close to tretford’s headquarters.
There are lots of inviting bicycle paths and hiking trails by which the renaturated estuary can be discovered. Another fabulous and relaxing way to take in the scenery is by canoe, especially if you’re traveling downstream.
While tretford is at home in the Lower Rhine region – our second home is Mongolia. This is where we source the primary raw material used for tretford carpets – the robust top hair of Cashmere goats.
The Lower Rhine, along with the local landscapes, gives us lots of inspiration for our interior designs. And it also served as our muse for the ʹVoyageʹ Color Collection.
Whether Lower Rhine or Mongolia, the impressive color play of nature, with its landscapes and textures, is mirrored in our richly colored carpeting.