Founded in 1288 Düsseldorf today is one of Germany's most
important cities with 568.000 inhabitants. In 1946 the town was
declared the capital of Nordrhein-Westfahlen.
The Königsallee
Usually affectionately referred to as the ‘Kö’, Düsseldorf’s
Königsallee with its elegant shopping arcades is one of the world’s
most beautiful boulevards: the catwalk of the latest fashion trends,
one kilometre of seeing and being seen, sauntering in front of an
interested public on the terraces under the chestnut
trees.
The Altstadt
Düsseldorf is a city where everything is close together: just
near the ‘Kö’ is the ‘Altstadt’, the old quarter of the city. With
its 260 cosy pubs and home-brew taverns it is well known as ‘the
longest bar in the world’. But there is much more in this square
kilometre: world famous museums like the Kunstsammlung
Nordrhein-Westfalen hosting jewels of baroque-style buildings like
St. Andreas, the Burgplatz, which has received an award as one of
the finest German squares from the post-war years, opens up to the
Rhine with the old castle tower, within whose walls 2000 years of
sailing romance are revived. Right next to it is the
Radschlägerbrunnen and Düsseldorf’s symbolic city founder’s monument
in the shadow of St. Lambertus, whose crooked, twisted tower still
leads to speculations even today. Only a few steps away, Elector Jan
Wellem greets you seated high on his horse in front of the old city
hall. And if you walk up Bolkerstraße from here, you will eventually
arrive at the house where an even more famous son of the city was
born: Heinrich Heine came into the world here in 1797. A little
further on, you can find renewed proof that the citizens of
Düsseldorf love to promenade: the traditional ‘Kö’ has recently
acquired a new companion promenade, which is two kilometres long.
Now that the new Rhine embankment tunnel has diverted the through
traffic, the Altstadt has taken back its traditional place by the
Rhine.
Rhine Panorama
While the traffic races along underground, strollers on the Rhine
embankment promenade can admire the outlook over the Rhine and the
art nouveau facades of Oberkassel. The view swings to the Rhine
tower, which rises above the North Rhine-Westphalia government
building. From a bird’s-eye perspective you can see the city, the
countryside, the river ..., and on a clear day even the towers of
Cologne cathedral. You can enjoy a romantic view of the city by
exploring it from one of the many white pleasure steamers. A trip
northwards will take you to Kaiserswerth, following Barbarossa’s
tracks to the medieval ruins of his castle ... picturesque houses,
idyllic places ... in the typical Lower Rhine countryside.
Düsseldorf zest of life
In the south of Düsseldorf there is a very special sight: Benrath
Palace, built over 200 years ago as a summer residence and hunting
lodge for the Elector Karl Theodor. The unique ensemble of castle
and park is one of the most significant of its type.
Düsseldorf has a high recreational value. In addition to
the shopping facilities the town and environ offers many important
events. The Düsseldorf Messe is the centre of leading fairs such as
"boot", "Caravan" or "Medica". Well known sports clubs such as DEG
(icehockey), Fortuna Düsseldorf (football), Rhein Fire (american
football) or Rochusclub (tennis).
The inhabitants of Düsseldorf are famous for their openness.
Their predilection to celebrations is expressed by the Rhenish
carnival held between the 11th November and Ash Wednesday, when more
than 600 carnival sessions and fancy dress balls as well as the
major carnival event take
place.
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