Düsseldorf I

Düsseldorf, Deutschland (Germany) is home to over a half million people and lies on the Rhine River. It's about an hour and a half from our house and we spent a Saturday there recently.

This is probably the most famous landmark in Düsseldorf - the Triton fountain.

This street is called Konigsallee. It's a really nice area with fancy stores like Louis Vuitton, Mont Blanc, Chanel, Armani, Cartier, Gucci, Prada - one right after the other. We decided to stay away from all that.

This is Germany's earliest high-rise building, Wilhelm-Marx-House built in 1922. Wilhelm Marx was the Lord Mayor from 1899 - 1910. That is one ugly building.

This is the Neander Protestant Church built in 1683. At that time (and since) the city was mostly Catholic so this church was built in the shadow of many other buildings. It's tucked in off the street - you might miss it if you aren't looking for it.

The Burgplatz (Castle Square) is where this promenade runs along the Rhine River. This clock is called Pegeluhr and also shows the water level of the Rhine.

In the background you see the tower of St. Lambertus Basilica. Legend says that 100 years ago a bride pretending to be a virgin came to altar. Being ashamed the tower turned aside. The legend continues that it will straighten again if a real virgin appears at the altar. As you can see it is still twisted. Even after it was destroyed in the war, it was reconstructed twisted as it was before.

This is the Schlossturm (Castle Tower). Once the castle of the Earls of Berg, it burned in 1872 and only this tower was left. Apparently there's a coffee shop at the top which provides great views - unfortunately I discovered this information only after our visit :(

This is St. Andreas, a baroque Jesuit church, founded in 1629.

This is the City Hall dating to the 16th century. The statue in front is Johann Wilhelms II, known to the locals as Jan Wellem. He was instrumental in the development of Düsseldorf through his connection to European dynasties.

This area is called Carlstadt and has this really nice market open every day but Sundays. There's more to Düsseldorf so hope you will stop back by for Düsseldorf II.