Dusseldorf

Trip preparation

Düsseldorf is the capital of the Bundesland of North Rhine-Westphalia and has a population of over 580'000 inhabitants. The city located on the banks of the Rhine river, has two ports and is home to four universities; among them, the Academy of Fine Arts in Düsseldorf Heinrich Heine University of Düsseldorf. The city is known for the famous avenue "Königsallee", where there are many possibilities for shopping, in the old town and at the carnival. The many museums and galleries are attractions for both tourists and natives.

General

Düsseldorf is a major transportation hub, and thus you can easily reach the city with all modes of transportation.

Best travel time

The climate in Düsseldorf and the surrounding area is oceanic. Mild temperatures and heavy rain predominate because of the proximity to the North Sea and Baltic Sea. The winters are mild and snowy. Summers are hot and fresh. In general, the weather is unstable and varies a lot.

History

The city was first mentioned in writing the 1135 AD. After the Napoleonic Wars it was affected by poverty and could not recover until the mid 19th century. Then experienced an economic boom in the industrial revolution. During World War II the city was almost completely destroyed and rebuilt as it was based on the old plan of the city. With the exception of one house, all the houses were rebuilt.

Traditions and Culture

The city is also known for its friendly inhabitants, its hospitality and radiating joy of life. Noteworthy is the large number of immigrants from East Asia. Düsseldorf is the only German city with a Japantown, also known as "Japan's capital on the Rhine", where more than 6'000 Japanese, that also characterize the townscape and enrich the city economically and culturally.

Religion

Most citizens of Düsseldorf are Catholic or Evangelic. Apart from these two major Christian groups, there are also numerous Orthodox churches. The Jewish community in Düsseldorf with over 7'400 members is the largest community in North Rhine-Westphalia and the third largest community in Germany.

By bus

The central train station in Düsseldorf is a major stop for long distance service. Lines leave from there to the Netherlands, Berlin and Munich. To travel with the city buses, subways, light rail (S-Bahn) and trams this is an ideal starting point.

By plane

Düsseldorf has an International Airport in the north of the city which is one of the largest in Germany. The city center is about 10 minutes from the airport. At the airport train station you can take the S11 of the train (S-Bahn) to the center. The taxi to town costs about €20. Düsseldorf-Mönchengladbach Airport is about 20 miles west of Düsseldorf.

Sights

The city is known for the famous Königsallee where there are many possibilities for shopping, but also in the old town and at the carnival. The many museums and galleries are attractions for both tourists and natives. The Kunstsammlung Nordrhein-Westfalen features two art museums and art is a collection of North Rhine-Westphalia. The Burgplatz is the central plaza next to the River Rhine in the old town of Düsseldorf. There is the Düsseldorf castle tower (Schloßturm) and the source of the Radschlägerbrunnen, an emblem of the city. The Basilica of St. Lambertus is one of four Catholic churches in the Old Town. Moreover, among many other things worth visiting is Schloss Benrath with its very large gardens.

Food

A typical culinary specialty in Düsseldorf is the Düsseldorfer Senfrostbraten, a grilled steak with mustard. The Rheinische Sauerbraten or the Rhine mussels are other classic dishes. The Sauerbraten is a roast and is put in a marinade of vinegar, wine and vegetable stock several days before grilling. Another dish is Halver Hahn, a bun made of rye flour and served with cheese. Along the Bolkarstraße there are several bars and restaurants. On this street is also the birthplace of Heinrich Heine, poet, a very important writer and journalist in Germany.