Dortmund

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Dortmund Travel Guide

City Map

City Introduction

Dortmund is one of the largest cities in the state of North Rhine-Westphalia and in the Ruhr area, Germany’s most populous region. The city was founded in 882, and it got its current name from the 13th century, when forms of Dortmund appeared. In more recent times, Dortmund became the center of coal and steel production in Prussia, and due to the extensive industrial production, the city was a major bombing target during World War II.

Today, Dortmund’s streetscape is very colorful due to the mixture of renovation works and new development after the end of the war and the reconstruction of selected buildings. An example of the architectural contrasts can be seen at Friedensplatz, where the Altes Stadthaus from 1899 stands opposite Dortmund’s modern town hall. Close to this are the squares Alter Markt and Hansaplatz, which also feature modern buildings.

You can also see some old buildings in Dortmund. The best examples are the churches Petrikirche, Propsteikirche, Marienkirche and Reinoldikirche. The two latter churches are today next to each other, and indeed it was the Marienkirche from the end of the 12th century that inspired the construction of Reinoldikirche. If you want to explore more of old Dortmund, you can take a walk in the Kreuzviertel district with Wilhelminian architecture.

With Dortmund’s industrial history, there is also a lot of industrial architecture. At the historic Zeche Zollern coal mine, you can visit the regional industrial history museum and learn more about this part of the town’s heritage. You can also see the landmark Dortmunder U house, which belonged to the brewery Dortmunder Union. Today, the place is set up as a center for art and creativity. There are also several other interesting museums, and you can enjoy the view of the whole city from the observation deck of the Florianturm.

Other Attractions

Day Trips

Duisburg, Germany

Duisburg

Duisburg is one of the bigger cities of the Ruhr area. It is located in the state of North Rhine-Westphalia at the point where the river Ruhr flows into the Rhine. The strategically good location has brought trade and a membership of the Hanseatic League and later and development into a significant industrial city with a large river port, which still is the case. With industrialization, e.g. the significant iron and steel industry, Duisburg became a major target for bombing during World War II.

Today, Duisburg is therefore a city where you can explore streets and squares from the latter half of the 20th century to today, but there are also places where you can see some of the old Duisburg. This goes for the squares Alter Markt and Burgplatz, which formed the historic center. Here you can see the city’s town hall, which was built in historicist style 1897-1902, and Salvatorkirche church, which was built in Gothic style from the 14th century. There are also completely new landmarks such as the Tiger & Turtle Magic Mountain roller coaster south of the centre.

More about Duisburg

 

Essen, Germany

Essen

Essen is one of the largest cities in the Ruhr area and in the state of North Rhine-Westphalia. The city is located in the area between the rivers Emscher in the north and Ruhr in the south. Essen was founded in the mid-9th century, but remained relatively small until industrialization, which transformed Essen into one of Germany’s most important coal and steel cities. The population thus increased from around 5,000 in 1830 to more than 230,000 in 1905, and due to the enormous industry in the city, Essen was a major bombing target during World War II.

Central Essen is characterized by new buildings from the time after the war, when 90% of the center was destroyed. There are several streets and squares such as Kennedyplatz, Markt with the Marktkirche church and Burgplatz, where you can see the Essener Münster cathedral, which was consecrated in 1316. The Essener Domschatz museum is located next to the church, which belongs to Germany’s finest collections of religious art. Close to this is the beautiful Alte Synagoge from 1913, and at Essen’s main railway station you can see examples of newer buildings such as the Deutschlandhaus from 1929.

More about Essen

 

Wuppertal, Germany

Wuppertal

Wuppertal is a large city in the Ruhr area. It is located on the banks of the river Wupper and is formally a fairly new town, having been formed by merging Barmen and Elberfeld in 1929. The following year, the town name Barmen-Elberfeld was changed to Wuppertal after a vote among the citizens. The town of Elberfeld dates back to the 12th century, while Barmen is mostly known as an important industrial town.

The area around Wupper was one of Germany’s first industrial areas, and Wuppertal’s background as a large industrial city is undeniable. The most famous sight in the city is the Wuppertaler Schwebebahn, an electric elevated railway with hanging trains from the years 1897-1903. The line is an interesting feature of engineering, connecting the towns of Vohwinkel, Elberfeld and Barmen over a stretch of 13.3 km, most of which is over the river Wupper.

More about Wuppertal

Geolocation

In short

U Tower, Dortmund

U Tower, Dortmund

Overview of Dortmund

Dortmund is one of the largest cities in the state of North Rhine-Westphalia and in the Ruhr area, Germany’s most populous region. The city was founded in 882, and it got its current name from the 13th century, when forms of Dortmund appeared. In more recent times, Dortmund became the center of coal and steel production in Prussia, and due to the extensive industrial production, the city was a major bombing target during World War II.

Today, Dortmund’s streetscape is very colorful due to the mixture of renovation works and new development after the end of the war and the reconstruction of selected buildings. An example of the architectural contrasts can be seen at Friedensplatz, where the Altes Stadthaus from 1899 stands opposite Dortmund’s modern town hall. Close to this are the squares Alter Markt and Hansaplatz, which also feature modern buildings.

You can also see some old buildings in Dortmund. The best examples are the churches Petrikirche, Propsteikirche, Marienkirche and Reinoldikirche. The two latter churches are today next to each other, and indeed it was the Marienkirche from the end of the 12th century that inspired the construction of Reinoldikirche. If you want to explore more of old Dortmund, you can take a walk in the Kreuzviertel district with Wilhelminian architecture.

About the Dortmund travel guide

Contents: Tours in the city + tours in the surrounding area
Published: Released soon
Author: Stig Albeck
Publisher: Vamados.com
Language: English

About the travel guide

The Dortmund travel guide gives you an overview of the sights and activities of the German city. Read about top sights and other sights, and get a tour guide with tour suggestions and detailed descriptions of all the city’s most important churches, monuments, mansions, museums, etc.

Dortmund is waiting for you, and at vamados.com you can also find cheap flights and great deals on hotels for your trip. You just select your travel dates and then you get flight and accommodation suggestions in and around the city.

Read more about Dortmund and Germany

France Travel Guide: vamados.com/germany
City tourism: visitdort-mund.de

Main Page: https://www.vamados.com/

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When you buy the travel guide to Dortmund you get the book online so you can have it on your phone, tablet or computer – and of course you can choose to print it. Use the maps and tour suggestions and you will have a good and content-rich journey.

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