Düsseldorf, Germany

Düsseldorf is the 7th biggest city in Germany.  Over 612,000 people live here but the surrounding metro area is home to around 11,3 million people.  Located in western Germany, it sits on the east side of the Rhine River and is less than an hour from Cologne and bit further from Bonn.

In 1288 it was granted town privileges by Count Adolf VIII of Berg and today it is the capital of the German state of North Rhine-Westphalia.

Düsseldorf is known for its architecture, fashion, and trade fairs.  Karneval kicks off each 11 November with colourful costumes and parades.

For some reason, after London and Paris, it is home to the third-largest Japanese community in Europe.

The Altstadt is a charming area with well-preserved buildings including the town hall that was built in the 1570s.  The equestrian statue was erected in 1711.

The nearby castle tower is all that remains of the old castle that was once here and demolished in 1888 after a fire.  The tower is home to the country's oldest maritime museum.

The promenade along the Rhine embankment is about 1,5 km and is a great walk to enjoy the city.  It opened in 1997 and it, quite cleverly, hides one of of the city's busiest roads which is below the promenade.

The Oberkassel Bridge crosses the Rhine River and was completed in 1969.

The Rhine Tower, at 240,5 metres (7,890 feet), is the tallest building in Düsseldorf.  It is a telecommunications tower with an observation deck and a restaurant.  There's a light fixture on the shaft which makes it the world's largest digital clock.

At the harbour are three buildings by Frank Gehry which were completed in 1999.  They make up the centre of media arts.

Across from them are a few other interesting buildings.  The mix of old and new architecture here really is really cool.

Königsallee, which locals call the "Kö", was laid out in 1802.  It extends along both sides of the old town moat and there's a huge Triton fountain at one end.  This is the high street as the retail and office space here command the highest rents in Germany.

The Roman Catholic Church of St. Andreas is in the city centre.  It was consecrated in 1629.

St. John's Church is the city's largest Protestant church.  It was built between 1875 - 1881.  It sustained major damage in WW2 and reopened in 1953.

Here's a short DW video I found out on YouTube highlighting the city.

©DW English