Dusseldorf Travel Guide, Germany

Düsseldorf, Germany - Overview

Düsseldorf is a city in the western part of Germany with a population of 574,600 as of 2004.  This city is a key commercial, financial, and industrial center, as well as an important junction for trains and an inland port.  Düsseldorf has 3 harbors on the Rhine River, as well as one of the busiest civil airfields in the nation at Lohausen.  The city is the manufacturer of chemicals, glass, steel, textiles, iron, and machinery.

During the second World War the city was damaged severely, but has since been rebuilt.  The Düsseldorf of today is a cultural center and an elegant city.  It has notable museums, theaters, and a university.  Düsseldorf is also famous for its art academy, which was founded in 1777 and reestablished in 1819.

Culture and Art

Düsseldorf is one of the more popular places to visit for contemporary and modern art in the country.  There are over 100 significant galleries that corroborate this claim, including the Academy of Arts.  The Tonhalle Düsseldorf, which is a concert hall, the German Opera, and the different theaters make for a broad range of quality entertainment in the city.  There are also daily jazz, rock, and pop concerts that you can attend.

Design and Architecture

Düsseldorf is a city with a diverse architectural style, which is its trademark.  The marks of renowned architects have been left on the city, some of them from the period of Art Nouveau, including Peter Behrens, who was the director of the popular crafts and arts school, and Josef Maria Olbrich.  Later came the star architects of architecture around the world, including Claude Vasconi, Frank O. Gehry, as well as David Chipperfield, the architect that shaped MediaHarbour.

The exquisite display of the numerous design shops in the city reflect the city's climate on the river.  Among the design shops is the wonderful 'stilwerk' department store that has turned into a mecca for trendsetters.

Joie de Vivre

The embankment promenade on the Rhine River is thought to be the most beautiful walkway along the river.  The construction of the walk has linked the river and the city, which welcomes travelers to stay or take a stroll for a while.  One of the most popular meeting spots for the locals in  Düsseldorf is the Burgplatz steps.  There are also regular boat tours operating between April and October.

Shopping and Fashion

Düsseldorf has one of the most elegant shopping centers in the world, with the stylish shopping malls and arcades of Königsallee, the hip boutiques on Altstadt, and the highest turnover shopping street in Germany, Schadowstraße.