Düsseldorf

Düsseldorf is beautifully located on the Rhine and is the capital of the state of North Rhine-Westphalia. The city’s name means the village on the river Düssel, but the village has grown over the centuries to be one of Germany’s largest cities and one of the culturally and economically important cities. Today, there are many things to see and do such as interesting museums, the Deutsche Oper am Rhein, the city’s playhouse and several attractions.

Altstadt is the name of Düsseldorf’s old town, and here the squares Marktplatz, Burgplatz and Stiftsplatz are lined up, each with their own sights. You can e.g. see the city’s old Renaissance town hall and the preserved castle tower from the 13th century, which is the only thing left of Düsseldorf Castle. Close to this stands the church of St. Lambertus, which is the oldest building in the Altstadt.

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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.

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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.

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