A Tasty Suggestion
Füchschen Alt is a Düsseldorf speciality and one of the most highly esteemed of Düsseldorf’s Alt beer range. It has been brewed on the Ratinger Straße since 1848, with a fox sign adorning the house facade instead of a house number; more than 150 years of brewing tradition under the symbol
of the fox!
With its famous Alt beer specialities from the Rhine Region, food like Mainzer Handkäse (strong cheese), home-made sausages, knuckle of pork and other local seasonal delicacies
are served.
The typical, tough charm of the “Köbes” (the regional word for waiter) is very appealing and you’ll be impressed by the speed with which you’ll get a new glass of beer without even asking as soon as your glass is empty.
It’s a great experience.
From spring to autumn you can enjoy the flair of the open-air brewery in Ratinger Straße, where you’ll meet up with the locals.
Address: Brauerei im Füchschen,
Ratinger Str. 28
Phone: +49 (0) 211 137 4716
www.fuechschen.de
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NOVEMBER 2008: The FIS Skiing Cross Country World Cup sees some of the world’s most talented athletes battle it out in one of sports most gruelling competitions. To find out more visit www.worldcup-duesseldorf.de
…and here are more great things to see and do in and around Düsseldorf...
AUGUST 2008: The Dusseldorf Carnival involves over 1000 floats, vehicles, bands and dancers as they entertain crowds throughout the city. Thousands turn up to see the colourful event in its full glory. Visit www.duesseldorf-tourismus.de to find out more.
NOVEMBER 20 – DECEMBER 23: The Dusseldorf Christmas Market is a great place to do some of that last minute Christmas shopping in the gaze of the beautiful old city. Quirky shops are mixed in with traditional stalls, go to www.duesseldorf-tourismus.de/default_en.php to find out more.
DECEMBER 2008 – FEBRUARY 2009: The Kö ice skating rink attracts thousands every year as they glide along in the backdrop of the city’s grand boulevard. A great way to break up a shopping trip during the day. For more information go to www.duesseldorf-tourismus.de/default_en.php
JANUARY 2009: The annual Dusseldorf Carnival is one of the largest and most colourful in the whole of Germany. Held at various locations across the city it sees street carnivals popping up all over parts of the old town as huge processions take over the city. To find out more go to www.karneval-in-duesseldorf.de/?lang_G=en
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Guided City Tours
A daily afternoon city tour combined with a boat trip to the Media Harbour has been launched by Düsseldorf Tourist Board. The guided tour starts at 14.30 hrs from Königsallee, taking in many of the town’s key attractions and historical sites and is combined with a short boat hop to the Media Harbour. The boat trip and city tour costs €19.00 for adults, €9.00 for children. Full details from the tourist office. Tel: +49 (0) 211 172 02854. www.duesseldorf-tourismus.de
KIT – Kunst im Tunnel
A new exhibition space has opened under the popular Rhine embankment promenade – in a room lying between the tunnel sections carrying road traffic. The exhibition presents young art with sculptures, paintings and video installations. The entrance area on the promenade – a pavilion with a glass front facing the Rhine – also houses a nice café with a view on the banks of the Rhine. www.kunst-im-tunnel.de Back to top
Straddling the Rhine River with no fewer than six bridges, Düsseldorf is one of the most cosmopolitan and affluent towns in Germany and a city of contrasts. One area is packed with banks, hi-finance offices and skyscrapers, while the Altstadt (old quarter) is a maze of narrow lanes, townhouses, crooked church spires and over 260 restaurants, breweries and pubs.
Düsseldorf is Germany’s leading fashion and arts centre. If you’re after luxury shops head straight to the elegant Königsallee (“Kö”), a sweeping boulevard of designer names and plush arcades. For a slice of culture, choose from one of the 19 museums or galleries and feast your eyes on works by Picasso, Chagall or Rubens. As the former stomping ground of Mendelssohn and Schumann, Düsseldorf’s also rich in classical music. Pick up the listings magazine Prinz for concerts.
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Few places can have a name quite so at odds with their status. Düsseldorf simply means ‘village on the Düssel,' (tributary stream which flows into the Rhine) yet nowadays it’s one of the most prosperous and self-confident cities in Germany with a population of over 580,000. Post-1945, the town set its cap at becoming a major financial and administrative centre - and with great success. Now almost every skyscraper houses one of the world’s multinational giants. This financial boom has left its mark on the city’s landscape. If you are at all keen on architecture, you’ll be in for a treat; the diversified range is one of Düsseldorf’s trademarks. There’s plenty of art nouveau design from Josef Maria Olbrich and Peter Behrens, a stone’s throw away are the 14th-century churches and medieval houses in the old town, but then there are the sparkling new buildings from the brains of present day architects like Frank O. Gehry, Claude Vasconi and David Chipperfield. The swankiest new additions are at Media Harbour, a shining example of chic waterside development. If you want the low-down on the city’s buildings, take a tour organised by the tourist office.Düsseldorf sells itself as
Germany’s leading fashion centre and stages the world’s largest fashion trade fair, the IGEDO Fashion Fairs, each year all the top names in the glitzy fashion world come to town. As a result, Düsseldorf’s shop windows, and many of its shoppers, are dressed to kill. Anyone who’s anyone has a store here, from Armani to Gucci, Prada to Jil Sander. The town even has its own fashion school.Back to top
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Start at the ultra-modern K20 art gallery on Grabbelplatz, world-renowned for its collection of 20th century art including works by Picasso, the abstract painter Paul Klee and Chagall. If you prefer work by the old masters, visit the museum kunst palast. A large part of the gallery is devoted to temporary exhibitions, but you’ll also see Rubens’ vast Assumption canvas which dwarfs just about everything else.
For a change of scene, head over to the Königsallee. Even if the budget doesn’t stretch to designer names and diamonds, there’s nowhere better to window shop. Stopping for a cake and an espresso on Germany’s most stylish catwalk is a must.
Beyond the Opera House is the Hofgarten Gardens, the green lungs of the city and home to the rococo Jägerhof Palace and Goethe Museum. It’s the perfect place to get back to nature and rest your feet after all that shopping.For lunch, there’s no better place than the Old Town (Altstadt). Choose from any of the cosmopolitan restaurants or blow out on a hearty German meal with a glass of Altbier at one of the quaint beer halls. Then take a peek inside one of the old town churches or simply meander through the passageways crammed with little shops and avant-garde stores.
At dusk, take an hour’s boat trip on the Rhine, from Burgplatz along the Old Town to Media Harbour, to see one of Europe’s most impressive redevelopments. End the day with a riverside candlelit dinner, then relax into the early hours at any one of the city’s music venues.
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Hotels are aimed predominantly at business travellers and, consequently, prices are above the national average. Visit www.flybehotels.com for a list of hotels offering some of the best value. Pick those right in the heart of the city and you’ll be perfectly placed for shopping on the Kö and enjoying the pubs in the old town. For something special check into Sir and Lady Astor, a centrally-placed boutique hotel with a unique décor. All rooms are themed - choose from the likes of Africa, Paris or Renoir - and all have plenty of individual touches. For four-star opulence, stay at the Carat Hotel, ideally placed for enjoying the altstadt’s nightlife.
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By road: Düsseldorf International Airport (+49 (0) 211 4210) is 8kms (5 miles) north of the city centre. Take the A44 east and then A52 south into town. Contact Flybe’s car rental partner Avis for best available car hire rates. www.flybe.com/avis
By train: S-Bahn No. 7 leaves from the airport terminal every 20 minutes and takes 10 minutes into the city. It costs about €3.
By bus: Bus 721 runs into Düsseldorf Central Station and takes 30 minutes.
By taxi: There is always plenty of taxis in front of the Arrivals terminal. Expect to pay about €16 to the city centre.
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It’s well worth investing in a WelcomeCard, the cheapest and simplest way of seeing the city. It gives free entry to museums, attractions and leisure facilities plus reduced prices for the theatre, music concerts and Rhine trips. Best of all, it allows you to jump on and off buses and trams at will. Pick one up at the tourist office along with an information pack which includes a Düsseldorf City Guide and list of events. A 24 hour individual card costs €9 or €14 for 48 hours. That said, many of Düsseldorf’s attractions are within walking distance of each other. If you want to travel further afield, buy an integrated ticket for public transport run by Rheinbahn, which covers the entire Rhine-Ruhr region. www.rheinbahn.de Back to top
There’s no shortage of nightclubs, discos and late-night bars in the town centre and still some jazz clubs left from the fifties when Düsseldorf had a very active jazz scene.There’s little better than enjoying a cool beer overlooking the Rhine to the mellow sounds of improvised jazz.
Jazz Knoten (+49 (0) 211 133 220) is nothing short of a jazz-lover’s dream, there’s a full line-up of live performances from regional and local groups, the ideal spot for an after-work drink. Different bands also play each night at Dr Jazz, Flingerstrasse 11, but jazz dives abound all over the Altstadt. If you’re after a dance-floor, Checkers Club (+49 (0) 211 327 521) offers live music and a hot disco. The club is where Claudia Schiffer was ‘discovered’.
For a mix of rock, pop and folk head to Dä Spiegel (+49 (0) 211 323 7490). Tor 3, Ronsdorfer Strasses 143, is one of the town’s leading club. It’s huge and packed with energetic, hip youth. For a night at the opera, call the Opera House (+49 (0) 211 890 8211). For listings and for classical concerts and theatre, pick up a copy of Prinz of Coolibri.
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Benrath: South of Düsseldorf is Benrath. Well worth a visit, it features a wonderful schloss (castle) and beautiful landscaped gardens. When you’ve toured the castle and grounds, the old quarter has some of the best restaurants, check out the beer halls. Benrather Schlossallee 100-106, Tel: +49 (0) 211 899 3832.
www.schloss-benrath.deDyck Castle: The imposing moated castle Dyck counts as one of the most significant cultural monuments on the Lower Rhine and can look back at a nearly 1000-year-old history. The castle is set on four islands, and lies in the heart of the generous park. 41363 Jüchen, Tel.: +49 (0) 218 28 240, www.stiftung-schloss-dyck.de Zons: The well-preserved city fortification with towers from the 14th century are the symbols of the historical city centre of Zons which offers peace and tranquility, lively history and many green areas for waterside river walks. A special highlight is a lunch break at the antique and traditional restaurant “Altes Zollhaus“. Tourist Office: +49 (0) 213 337 72 or 257 686, Restaurant “Altes Zollhaus”, Rheinstrasse 16, 41541 Dormagen-Zons, call: +49 (0) 213 341 095, www.zollhauszons.de.Kaiserswerth: Here you’ll find the impressive ruins of the medieval imperial castle called ‘Kaiserpfalz’, built for the legendary Emperor Friedrich Barbarossa which was once one of the most important fortresses on the Rhine. The town has charming streets, houses and beer gardens. From March to October the shipping company “Weisse Flotte” offers daily boat trips from Düsseldorf Old Town to Kaiserswerth.River cruises: The romantic Rhine Valley and the Rhine Legends Route are right on the town’s doorstep. A day’s river cruise will take you past splendid castles, thriving vineyards and charming villages to Cologne. The huge Gothic Dom cathedral is the country’s most visited monument and dominates the city, but Cologne’s Roman remains (this was the birthplace of Julia Agrippa, wife of Emperor Claudius) and medieval buildings are second-to-none. There’s also an impressive group of museums. Cologne is known for its beer, and can boast more breweries than any other city in the world.
www.koelner-dom.de  Duisburg: Just a short boat trip from Düsseldorf is Duisburg, the world’s largest inland port and originally a small, walled medieval town of a few thousand inhabitants. Parts still date back to the Middle Ages and there’s a surprisingly good number of galleries and museums. But if you can spend more than a day on the Rhine, take the historical Rhine Legends Route from Düsseldorf to Mainz.
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 Start by picking up a WelcomeCard from tourist offices (see Getting Around below) which gives free or reduced entry to museums, attractions and leisure facilities.
Altstadt (Old Town) - Stroll around the quarter to find the old town hall, elegant historical palaces now occupied by wealthy Düsseldorf residents, some 260 rustic pubs and breweries - known as the ‘world’s longest bar’ - jazz clubs and some of the best restaurants in town. St Lambertus - A 14th-century church with crooked spire, houses an impressive Gothic tabernacle, 15th- century Pietá and 16th-century tomb of Duke Wilhelm V.St Andreas Church - This is a Jesuit foundation of 1629, with ornately decorated stucco interior. Behind is the Mausoleum, open Mon-Fri 3-5.30pm, containing coffins of the Electors, the most famous of which was Jan Wellem who ruled from 1679-1716.Hetjens-Museum - Open Tues and Thurs-Sat 11am-5pm, Wed 11am-9pm. Entry €3. An outstanding ceramics exhibition. Highlights include Mesopotamian grave objects from 3500 BC, vases from ancient Greece and figures from China’s Tang dynasty.Königsallee - The city’s trademark and one of Germany’s most famous streets. A grand tree-lined boulevard, flanked on one side by a wide stretch of water and on the other by top designer outlets, arcades, offices and banks.Hofgarten - Germany’s oldest public park, commissioned in 1769, contains the rococo Jägerhof Palace, an Aquazoo with aquariums and science exhibitions, North Park with fountains, sculptures and all manner of beautiful flora and fauna.Rheinturm - Open Mon-Fri 11am-11.30pm, Sat-Sun 10am-11.30pm, entry €3,40. A radio tower built between 1979 and 1982. Ascend in the high-speed lift to the observation platform for city’s most spectacular views. Great panorama restaurant at the top. MediaHarbour - The meeting place of some of the 21st century’s greatest architectural minds. Disused old storehouses have been transformed into shiny new buildings now home to advertising agencies, TV firms and other media moghuls. With its trendy bars and restaurants, it’s the Docklands of Düsseldorf.
K20 Art Gallery - Open Tues-Fri 10am-6pm, Sat-Sun 11am-6pm Entry € 6,50, All the major works of abstract painter Paul Klee, a professor in the city until 1930 when he was dismissed by the Nazis. In atonement, a collection of his work was acquired. Also work by Picasso, Kirchner and Chagall, amongst others. www.kunstsammlung.de
K21 Art Gallery - Open Tues-Fri 10am-6pm, Sat-Sun 11am-6pm,€ 6,50. Set on five floors, 5,300 sqm of exhibition space, the museum for contemporary international art from 1980 onwards provides room for about 170 pieces of art by 61 artists and constantly changing exhibition projects. The building also houses a restaurant with cocktail bar - the perfect place for a drink after a long shopping tour or an exhibition visit. www.kunstsammlung.demuseum kunst palast - Open Tues-Sun 11am-6pm. Entry € 8. Houses changing exhibitions of classical modern art and works by the old masters as well as an internationally renowned graphics collection, glass museum and important sketches from the Italian baroque era.
www.museum-kunst-palast.de
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Sport: Düsseldorf is one of Germany's sports capitals with over 400 clubs, many of which are world famous. A “sports master plan” with millions invested in sporting infrastructure every year, underpins an excellent basis for amateur and professional sports. The range of facilities and venues for top sporting events is unique in Germany. Newly constructed or extensively redeveloped top arenas and multifunctional halls provide perfect general conditions all year round. Sporting highlights are the Metro Group Marathon, the Arag World Team Cup. The FIS Ski Cross Country World Cup in autumn has become as much part of Düsseldorf as snow is a part of winter sports.
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Düsseldorf argues with Hamburg and Stuttgart as to which is Germany’s richest city. But there is no doubt that this is a wealthy town. Düsseldorf is the country’s leading centre for foreign trade and home to 5,000 branch offices of international companies.It’s the most popular state for investment and the North Rhine-Westphalia generates one fifth of the gross national product. The region also has Europe’s highest concentration of research and higher educational institutes, not least Düsseldorf’s Henrich-Heine Unisität.
The Media Harbour is home to numerous newspaper publishing houses, advertising agencies, public relations consultancies and architect firms, while the city also has over 170 banks and 45 insurance companies. More than 40 international trade fairs take place at Messe Düsseldorf.
Contact Düsseldorf Chamber of Commerce, +49 (0) 211 355 7381 if you’re looking at investment opportunities.
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If you are considering making Düsseldorf your home, a three-bed modern semi close to the centre costs €185,000 (£127,462), and there are plenty of English-speaking solicitors and estate agents, try www.allgrund.com, to guide you through the buying process. The website www.duesseldorf.de has a list of these and comprehensive information on business in the area. Back to top
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One of Düsseldorf’s most bizarre annual events is the Cartwheel Tournament, a competition held every June on the Königsallee. The practice of mass cart-wheeling by children has different legends. One folklore has it that the tradition goes back to the Middle Ages. On hearing the news that Düsseldorf had been granted town rights after the Battle of Worringen in 1288, the city’s children were so enraptured, they cart-wheeled for joy and so began the start of the present event.The alternative version claims the tournament takes place in honour of an urchin who saved the day when a wheel came loose on the popular Elextor Palatine Jan Wellem’s wedding coach.A third, more cynical viewpoint, suggests it’s a simple way for children to extort money from tourists.
Either way, 500 children cart-wheeling down the Kö competing on speed and style makes for quite a spectacle. It also explains why you’ll see cart-wheel images on marzipan sweets and the town’s fountains.
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