Rhine - Rhein, Düsseldorf

After the war, in 1946, Düsseldorf was granted the status as state capital of the newly created region of North Rhine-Westphalia. The state parliament would meet at the Ständehaus, on the other side of the Kniebrücke from the modern buildings that were built between 1982 and 1988 by architects Eller, Maier and Walter. I personally loved the curved and modern lines and parliament, and find its modern style fits in perfectly with the other buildings under the Rheinturm and in the Media Harbour.

In Düsseldorf, the Rheinuferpromenade (Rhine embankment promenade) is a wonderful place to go for a stroll. The weather was dreary on the day that I was there, and it was still very enjoyable. When the weather is nice, it must be awesome.

While there, there are plenty of places to stop for a drink or something to eat. Since many places have seats under tents, you can visit here even if it rains.

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Rhein is gorgeous river, I’m always amazed by the calmness it inspires – quiet water that never ends. I can sit and watch it with hours. There are alleys along the whole river in the city and it’s nice everywhere. The sunset must not be missed ;)

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The Rhine River Promenade in Dusseldorf:
One of Dusseldorf's famous features - the artistic and very European "Rheinufer Promenade". A stretch of bicycling, rollerblading, and walking concrete along the infamous Rhine River is a place for meetings, hanging out, relaxing, strolling, gazing, people watching, and exercising. It is the pivotal connecting point of the Old Town and the Rhine river bustling the area with river view restaurants, pubs, and sights. This amazing engineering masterpiece is houses a 1.4 km long tunnel carrying over 50,000 cars a day for Dusseldorf's rush hour traffic completely unseen to the relaxing and quiet river walk up top. It cost the city over a half-a-billion DM over seven years to construct with finalization in 1997 by Architect Niklaus Fritschi. The Rhine River is a historic and economically dependent river in Germany that offers harbours, shipping, tourism, deliveries, and economy to Dusseldorf's river cities. Some of the best views of the river are in Dusseldorf from either the Rheinkniebrücke and the Oberkassler bridges, as well as the Rheinturm, the Rheinuferpromenade, as well as other viewing points in the city of Dusseldorf. Rating: 5 stars out of 5.

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My first trips to Düsseldorf were set in gray dreary weather. I didn’t mind as on all of them I was pressed for time and my agenda quite frankly was to try the city’s renowned alt beers. But on my most recent visit I was blessed with some sunny if very cold weather. There still wasn’t time to properly capture the city in photos but I did manage a small walk along the Rhine and a few sunny blue photos. According to now local VTer Sabsi, heading to the Rhine is THE thing to do if the weather is nice. I guess I'd have to agree especially since the path leads to Uerige. ;)

On the banks of the river are cafes where you can enjoy a drink and a snack whilst watching the river traffic pass by. Some are even open during winter, and have heaters, so you can still enjoy some winter sun on your face.

The Rhine is one major river, and thousands and thousands of tons of various 'stuff' is transported along it's length during the year.

You normally can't talk about flat bottomed things with large hooters on VT, but here is the exception that proves the rule. A wander out to the extensive promenade by the river in Dusseldorf usually means you can view half a dozen river barges chugging up or down.

The size of these monsters is always impressive, but little boys seem to be delighted by seeing these Leviathans pass by. Even more so if a wave to the captain results a low loud groan on the ship's hooter.

Architect Niklaus Fritschi finally have his design built on 1990 - 1997. Its a new avenue in Düsseldorf, the Rhine embankment promenade. Those who know it like to think of it as the most beautiful promenade on the Rhine. The traffic that roars through the tunnel beneath its bluish, wave-patterned pavement remains unnoticed above.

The construction of the new Rhine embankment promenade along the inner city said fulfilled an old dream of the Düsseldorfers: the return of the city to the Rhine. This was made possible by putting the Rheinuferstraße under ground. This urban century project had been based right from the beginning on considerations for the improvement of the quality of life and the reduction in traffic for large parts of the city centre.

Over a length of 1,928 m, the most important north-south connection in the city was put under ground in a technical and financial tour de force. Reported, 570 million DM went into the project. The promenade was constructed on the cover of the tunnel, stretching over 1,5 km from Oberkassel bridge along the Altstadt to the parliament houses of North Rhine-Westphalia. Foot and bicycle paths, 600 plane trees and a lot of space for strolling and leisure characterize the new Rhine frontage of the North Rhine-Westphalian capital.

Actually, the wide steps on Burgplatz have by now become the ultimate meeting point, a chilling out place to watch the ships passing by and see the sun setting over Oberkassel on the lefthand side of the river.

There are plenty of bars, cafes and restaurants to choose from that line the Rhine. Anyone would be perfect for a summer day beer of coffee. This one has a moroccan theme. I can't remember the name of the bar (as usual) but you can smoke water pipes with flavoured tobacco there. Yummy!

The Rhine is a huge river and a particularly wide and spectacular stretch affords itself the city of Düsseldorf. Great views can be had of this famous river from either of the two central bridges, the Rheinkniebrücke (pictured here) and the Oberkassler bridge, as well as the Rheinturm, the Rheinuferpromenade and many other buildings, parks and locations about the city.