Dusseldorf is known as the “desk” of the Ruhr area and is located in the heart of the heavy industrial area. Dusseldorf is a modern international city where tradition and openness are perfectly integrated. There are 630,000 inhabitants from 180 countries and more than 5,000 international companies setting up their offices here. It is also one of the largest economic zones in Europe. The city is located on the Rhine River that is the European transportation hub, so it attracts a large number of tourists. Visitors from all over the world experience the joy of the cosmopolitan city in the traditional beer house and nearly 260 taverns in the old town (the town is known as “the longest bar in the world”). Please follow me to discovery the beautiful city.
1. King’s Avenue
The King’s Avenue is one of the most elegant shopping streets in the world. There’s a canal in the middle of King’s Road that is lined with chestnut at the each side. It’s said that the angry citizens threw horse manure at the authoritarian king when the King of Prussia William IV cruised here. Perhaps they want to express the dissatisfaction with Prussian rule or they are influenced by European revolutionary ideas. It was renamed King’s Road three years later for expressing tolerance and kindness to the king. On the west side of the boulevard is the banking district of the main bank branch buildings in western Germany. On the east side is a commercial area with modern luxury fashion clothing stores, jewelry stores, porcelain stores, antique auction houses and so on.
2. Old Town
Located 1 km from the Rhine, the old town is surrounded by many historic buildings and 260 pubs and restaurants. The old town is quaint that preserve the traditional German residential architecture completely. Germany is famous for its beer, and Dusseldorf’s Old Town is famous for its beer halls. In less than half a square kilometer, there are many beer halls, bars and restaurants of various national flavors. The local specialty beer of Dusseldorf is Altbier which means “old beer”. This old beer is a kind of dark beer and is unique to western Germany. The largest and most famous beer hall in the old town is Urgie where you can drink freshly brewed real ales.
3. Rhine TV Tower
The 240-metre-tall Dusseldorf TV Tower is located on the banks of the Rhine that was built between 1978 and 1982. It is the highest place in Dusseldorf where you can overlook the city. The TV Tower is the landmark and tallest building in Düsseldorf and the tenth tallest building in Germany. The tower has a revolving restaurant called the Rheinturm Top 180, which is one of the best restaurants in town. The “light table” on the tower is a different place. It is displayed in three parts: hours, minutes and seconds.
4. Media Port Area
The media port area is an avant-garde masterpiece that was once a deserted dock area. It’s an impressive and dramatic transformation completed from the original old port area. It became the most fashionable office area after a large-scale renovation in Dusseldorf at the end of the last century. It is home to the architecture of a new era designed by the world’s designers with new styles of office buildings, hotels and restaurants. Claude Vasconi, David Chipperfield, and especially the three “dancing” buildings designed by Frank O. Gehry make the city look new. The most fascinating aspect of the port area is the perfect combination of “new” and “old”. The old wharf wall, stage facilities and track facilities still exist today, which become the cultural relics.
5. Benrath Palace
The Benrath Palace was built between 1755 and 1769 for the Duke of Karl Teodoro. It is located on the banks of the Rhine and is about 20 km from the center of Dusseldorf. It covers more than 60 hectares and is the most beautiful Rococo style building in Europe. One of the buildings. There is a small lake in front of the palace. The pink palace is reflected on the mirror-like lake. The swans leisurely swim in the lake. The palace building occupies a small part in the huge area and the rest are French gardens – manicured woods, white statues, long canals and large lawns.
6. Palace Tower
The old Dusseldorf castle now has only this tower left. The castle was built around 1260 and is the castle of Count Berg. The castle has undergone continuous expansion during the six hundred years but it was destroyed by war. It was reconstructed. However, it was completely destroyed by a fire in 1882, and then it was not rebuilt, It left only the tower of the corner of the castle. The lower part of the uniquely shaped ancient tower is cylindrical and the upper part is octagonal. It has become now a ship museum.
7. K21 Contemporary Art Museum
The 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art in the International Parliament Building is a museum of international contemporary art. It mainly displays 21st century art works. The exhibits come from different countries and regions, and some interesting exhibitions are held from time to time. There are sketchpads, photographs, installations, and video art created by the masters after 1980 in the museum. You can find the works of Andreas and Berauvilla here. The exhibits on each floor are very interesting and have dedicated instructors. The network on the roof is inspired by spider webs.
8. Side–turning child
Dusseldorf’s mascot is a happy side-turning child. Look for it in every corner of the city! You can find it at the sculptures and the iconic fountains built on the Bergplatz square and the Martin Luther Square, and even mugs, T-shirts and souvenirs at the shops. The side-turning child is everywhere in Dusseldorf. It appears on the door of the Sint Lambertus church; it appears on the manhole cover and even appears on the window of the bakery – the side-turning child can also be seen on chocolate or marzipan. When you buy a stamp for sending a postcard, you will most likely see this pattern.
9. EKO House of Japanese Culture e.V.
Dusseldorf is known as the “Japan City” that is the largest Japanese community in Europe. EKO House of Japanese Culture e.V. is the only Japanese shrine in Europe. The temple is not big, you can browse through everything in the courtyard. The vestibule garden is very beautiful with mountains, water, trees and bridges, which reflect the Japanese characteristics. The Japanese courtyard in front of the EKO House of Japanese Culture e.V.is open to the public freely. There is a Buddhist temple and a Japanese tea room. It is also a cultural center of Japan. It organizes some cultural events from time to time, and also offers courses of Japanese or Japanese dance. There are often the Japanese or Europeans dressed in kimonos pour worshiping on bended knees.
10. Heine’s Former Residence
The former residence of Heine is not eye-catching that is located at 53 Bolko Street that is the most prosperous street in the old town. Now there is a bookstore on the ground floor. There is a bronze statue of Heine’s relief on the wall above the door. Heine spent his childhood and youth here. Heine is the most important representative of German romanticism, and his poetry is famous all over the world. He was also a political journalist, essayist and debater. He has written in <Book of Thought>: ” Dusseldorf is very beautiful. If you think of it in the distance or if you happen to be born there, which is a wonderful feeling. I was born there. I think it seems like I always want to go back immediately. When I talk about going back, I am referring to going back to Bolko Road and the house I was born in.”
