The River Rhine winds its way through Dusseldorf for many kilometres and it is this natural feature which defines the city. Dusseldorf is located on the delta of the Dussel River as it enters the River Rhine, which flows through the North-West German Lowlands. It is a big, attractive and modern city, the capital and economic centre of the Federal State of North Rhine-Westphalia and stands approximately 40 kilometres north of Cologne and 230 kilometres north-west of Frankfurt. It is the third wealthiest city in Germany and an important commercial and industrial centre, known for its many industrial trade fairs, fashion shows and events, especially the popular ‘Kirmes’ fun fair in July, which attracts over 4 million visitors!! On the east bank of the River Rhine stands the ‘Old Town’, or Altstadt that is known as the ‘longest bar in the world’ due to having over 250 bars and clubs squeezed into less than one square kilometre!! Covered in narrow streets and alleyways, the Altstadt lies between the famous shopping street of Konigsallee (the Ko) and the River Rhine. It is here that the heart of the city is found amongst the crowded narrow townhouses, the old churches and museums, the art galleries and dance clubs, the quaint breweries and ancient pubs. The modern city of Dusseldorf sports a new architectural face and explores more exciting looks as shown in the Media Harbour area of the city with the unique wonders of the bright and multi-coloured ‘Colorium’, the renovated Roggendorf-Haus and the ultra-modern development created by Frank O. Gehry of the three buildings called ‘Neuer Zollhof 1,2 and 3. The city is also proud of its futuristic see-through Dusseldorf Stadttor, or City Gate and the adjacent 240.5 metre Rhine Tower, from the top of which great views over the city can be enjoyed. Dusseldorf is located within the Rhine-Ruhr Metropolitan Area and is the main economic powerhouse of the region. This Metropolitan Area is a major European community and accounts for the largest GDP of any region in Germany and is home to over 11.5 million inhabitants making it the most populated area in the country.
Dusseldorf was once a small village, or Dorf, on the banks of the tiny River Dussel. Over the centuries from these early beginnings, Dusseldorf had risen to become a major industrial centre and due to its importance during World War II, became a strategic target of the Allied Forces. For this reason the city was heavily bombed with a massive 85% of Dusseldorf being destroyed during the war. However this energetic city rose from the ashes, re-building in a bold new modern way which has led to the creation of this unique riverside town, whose old heart still stands in the Altstadt. Here tourists flock, not only to see the old Dusseldorf, but to absorb the atmosphere and indulge in the excitement that the city is known for!! Night owls should look around the Bolkerstrasse area as this is the place to be, but during the day the old cobblestoned Marktplaz, with the ivy covered 16th century Altes Rathaus which overlooks the statue of the city’s Elector Jan Wellem, is the centre from which to experience the history and culture of the city with its numerous museums and beautiful baroque architecture.
The Altstadt is a small area to explore and walking is the best way to enjoy Dusseldorf, be it ambling along the Rhine Promenade which follows the river’s embankment or strolling around on the old cobblestoned streets. If you are interested in history the best place to start your exploration is in the Burgplatz. Here you will find the Schlossturm, which is all that is left of the Dusseldorfer Schloss, and today houses the Maritime Museum. The original Palace has been outlined in the square with different coloured stones which enables you to see where it once stood. Within the Burgplatz is also the Stadterhebungsmonument, or City Exaltation Monument which is a very graphic monument that commemorates the 700 year history of the city from the Battle of Worrigen in 1288 after which the village of Dussel was granted town rights. Overlooking the Burgplatz is the Lambertuskirche, which is probably the oldest building in the city and Dusseldorf’s original landmark. Located in the Stiftsplatz the church was built between 1288 and 1394, and was unfortunately damaged during the war having to have its roof re-placed. This has been built exactly as it was, twisted and leaning!! If interested there are many churches in the city with the following being of interest. The 17th century Berger Kirche, which is located in Bergerstrasse and has been built in a small courtyard as at the time of its construction it was not allowed to build Protestant churches directly on the street, the 17th century Neander Church that is located in Bolkerstrasse and is reputably Dusseldorf’s oldest Protestant church, the John Church that is located in Martin Luther Platz and which is the first Protestant church built in an open space, and the 17th century Baroque Church of St. Andreas with its twin towers is located in the heart of the Old Town. Just out of town located in the Borough of Himmelgeist is the Romanesque styled 10th century Church of St. Nikolaus, and one of the best preserved historic churches of the Rhineland can be found in Gerresheim, the 13th century Basilica of St. Margareta.
Other attractions worth noting in Dusseldorf include museums, galleries and gardens such as the Palace of Art Museum in Ehrenhof which is one of the largest and most comprehensive museums in the Rhineland and displays a variety of works from the Middle Ages to the present day, the Concert Hall which was once used as a planetarium and is located next to the Oberkassel Bridge, the 16th century Hofgarten, or Court Garden which is the central park of the city and is located along the Heinrich Heine Allee, the 18th century Schloss Jagerhof which was a former hunting lodge and today houses the Goethe Museum that displays a private collection of over 1,000 items dealing with the life of the great German writer, the K21 Kunstsammlung NRW Museum that displays art collections of the 21st century in the renovated Standehaus, and the K20 Kunstsammlung NRW Museum that displays art collections of the 20th century in the stunning modern buildings in the Grabbeplatz. There are many museums and galleries in Dusseldorf and it seems impossible to see them all in one visit, however others museum include the Theatre Museum, the Hetjens Museum of ceramics, the Kunsthalle and the Memorial of the Victims of the Nazi Regime which documents the persecution of the Jews, communists and gypsies. While in town your interest may be enticed to see the museum dedicated to Christian Johann Heinrich Heine who was born in Dusseldorf and considered to be the most important German poet between Romanticism and Realism. The museum is called the Henrich Heine Institute and it houses extensive archive and library holdings. There is also Henrich Heine’s birthplace which is open to the public and can be seen at Bolkerstrasse 53.
No visit to Dusseldorf would be complete without a walk down the Konigsallee, fondly known as the ‘Ko’. This tree lined boulevard with its central canal is recognised internationally for its extensive variety of fashionable shops and fine restaurants.
There are perhaps two attractions which are worth a short trip away from the Altstadt and they are the 18th century Schloss Benrath at Benrath, which lies approximately 10 kilometres south-east of town, and the ruined 10th century Barbarossa Palace at Kaiserswerth which lies approximately 7 kilometres north of town.
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