|
Dusseldorf grew from an insignificant farming settlement on the
banks of the Dussel into a fast moving cosmopolitan metropolis full
of life and culture, fashion and shopping, and has turned into a
real success story.
A few German tribes still held out here when the Romans were busy
building roads and buildings. This marshy spot on the side where
the Dussel flows into the Rhine was first mentioned in 1137, where
under Kaiser Friederich Barbarossa had the little town of Kaiserswerth
fortified. From the palace of Barbarossa, the castle was built later
and helped to keep a watchful eye over the Rhine. Kaiserswerth became
an official district of Dusseldorf in 1929.
In 1288 the Mayor, Count Adolf V von Berg granted this village on
the banks of the Dussel city status. And before this a power struggle
between the Archbishop of Cologne and the Berg nobility had started
which ended up in the battle of Worringen. The Archbishops army
was slaughtered and his ambitions were dashed. The Monument (Stadt
Erhebungs monument) on Burgplatz is a reminder of this epic time.
A market square was built on the banks of the Rhine over a tiny
area of about 4 hectares. It had city walls for protection, and
the city was granted a new honour of regional capital of the Duchy
of Berg. Building works accelerated rapidly with the building of
St. Lambertus church and also in the 16th century an imposing castle
was built by Duke Wilhelm. The well preserved Town Hall was also
built in 1573 and is in an architectural style of the lower Rhine
Renaissance.
Copyright @ Global Travel Solutions
|
