- Dusseldorf
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Germany
My favourite bar is the Uerige brew-pub in Dusseldorf Altstadt. In 2012 they will be celebrating the 150th anniversary of their wonderful top-fermented altbier - affectionately known as the 'delicious droplet'. The Uerige is a warren of lovely wood-panelled rooms, shining copper, scrubbed tables and quirky adornments. The beer is served straight from barrels, which are hoisted onto the bar by the blue-aproned kobes. When they're not rolling barrels around the pub, they are doing the rounds with endless trays of beer. And when you need something to soak it up, there is a tasty menu of traditional Rhenish fare, from black pudding and smoked sausages to raw minced pork on rolls (Mettbrötchen).
When you leave, be sure to call at the street counter of Et Kabüffke, opposite, for a warming shot of Killepitsch, the digestive licquor.
www.Uerige.de
Obergärige Hausbrauerei GmbH
Berger Strasse 1, D-40213 Düsseldorf
+49(0)211 866990
Google map: bit.ly/s7f45R
www.killepitsch.de
Likörfabrik Peter Busch GmbH & Co. KG
Holzstraße 4, 40221 Düsseldorf
+49(0)211 86 44 40
The Rheinuferpromenade is a leafy urban walk on the east riverbank that runs between Dusseldorf Aldstadt (Old Town) and the rejuvenated Media Harbour. The harbour is home to an eclectic mix of architecture, including the quirky Gehry Buildings, which are the city’s newest landmark, and a clutch of upmarket restaurants and bars. Zip up the 70’s TV tower, the Rheinturm, for a panoramic view of the city, and as you head back, stop for coffee (above ground) and culture (underground) at the Kunst im Tunnel contemporary art gallery.
Stroll along the avenue of sycamores back to the Aldstadt, where there are numerous small cafes and bars at the water’s edge. Or indulge in some utterly wonderful local beer (altbier) and a traditional German lunch at the Brauerei im Goldenen Ring, an atmospheric old brew pub.
Google map: bit.ly/prCgdZ
Brauerei Schuhmacher is a brewery beer hall selling its own Alt beer.
It's in an unassuming street away from the tourist hot spots, but less than ten minutes walk from the main train station.
The number of locals drinking and eating there testifies to the quality of both the beer and the food. While the food will win no awards for sophistication, it's hearty, tasty and served in big portions.
In short, it's a traditional beer hall (in this location since 1871), minus the tourists and at a very reasonable price.
Oststraße 123, 40210 Düsseldorf
+49(0)211 828902-0
www.schumacher-alt.de/index2.html
Google map: bit.ly/fjlm03
Dusseldorf is a great city that is often overlooked.
The city that gave us Kraftwerk also gave us some of the finest beer in the world. The Altstadt is crammed with traditional German beerhalls selling the renowned Altbier. This top-fermented ale is best sampled in the four brewpubs, each with their own distinctive tipple served from the barrel. The oldest is Schumacher, not far from the station, and the other three - the Füchschen, Schlüssel and Uerige - are in the Alststadt.
If you can escape the lure of the beerhalls, take a stroll down the Rheinufer (Rhine Promenade), where every July 4.5 million people visit the Größte Kirmes am Rhein funfair. The promenade leads to the modern dock area with its famous Gehry buildings and great restaurants. This is also where you’ll find the TV Tower, which gives you a panoramic view over the city and the river.
There are also swanky shops down Königsallee (The "Kö"), modern art galleries, and a wealth of museums to explore.
And if you get tired of schnitzel and sausages then you can explore the Japanese area, full of great sushi and noodle restaurants.
www.schumacher-alt.de/
Oststrase 123, 40210 Dusseldorf
+49(0)2118289020
Google map: bit.ly/dHu8Yo
Situated to the south-west of Düsseldorf in the small town of Neuss, this is quite simply a Garden of Eden here on Earth. Forget the uninviting title – Germans are masters at finding off-putting names – and put this on your list of “must-visits” immediately.
The idea for the museum – based on an original idea by the French 19th century artist Paul Cézanne of showing art in parallel with nature – came from a Düsseldorf collector by the name of Karl-Heinrich Müller. In 1982 he came across Hombroich Island, an uncultivated park on the banks of the River Erft, and called in a Düsseldorf sculptor by the name of Erwin Heerich to help him turn it into a park containing an orangery, a wonderful empty glass building overlooking a section of the river called the Graubner pavilion which I, and other visitors used an echo chamber (!), and an art gallery.
In 1984 Müller bought up a larger area of land, and had it specially landscaped to contain classical and modern sculptures, a cafe and various other exhibition buildings. Here you can see works by Arp, Calder, Cézanne, Chillida, Corinth, Fautrier, Klein, Matisse, Picabia, Rembrandt, Schwitters, as well as classical Asian works.
The Düsseldorf painter, Gotthard Graubner, helped Müller develop a special exhibition concept, whereby the exhibits are not chronologically ordered but presented according to styles. Almost the best feature of the concept is the refusal to provide any accompanying explanations to the works of art. At first this might prove irritating, but after a short while I found it remarkably liberating as it threw me into a direct confrontation with the work of art without the interpretational crutches of a so-called expert.
By placing traditional Asian art alongside modern European works without any commentary, the exhibition makers have succeeded in creating an exhilarating atmosphere which allows visitors to react to the works intuitively rather than on intellectual theories. The site also contains at least one contemporary artists’ workshop, placed in the midst of the wood like something out of a fairy-tale.
The day I was there the autumn sun was beaming down on a glittering dew-drenched golden landscape, and I wandered around in a trance of joy at the sheer beauty of it all. I was assured by other visitors that it’s an unalloyed pleasure at any time of the year, even and especially when it’s covered in snow. There are plenty of benches along the way enabling you to rest and enjoy the view; and the central café – with outside tables and chairs when the weather’s fine – serves up food and drink free of charge. Allow yourself at least two and a half hours because it’s a large site. To prevent you getting lost, all visitors are provided with a map, showing the gravel paths. Sturdy shoes are recommended, children under the age of 6 have free admission, but dogs are banned.
To protect the landscape, visitors are asked to keep to the gravel paths and picnicking is not allowed. Be warned: after you leave the box office area, you will come to a staircase with no less than 45 steps, so whatever you do don’t bring a pram!
Address: Minkel 2, 41472 Neuss-Holzheim. Tel: (02182) 2094. www.inselhombroich.de
Open: Daily, April to the end of September: 10.00 - 19.00; October 10.00 - 18.00; November to March 10.00 - 17.00. In summer you can stay in the park till 21.00. Minkel 2, 41472 Neuss-Holzheim. Tel: (02182) 2094. www.inselhombroich.de
Excellent modern restaurant in the 'MediaHafen'area.
AmazingDusseldorf.com is an English language internet city guide that provides detailed information about the city and getting along there. It eases newcomers into life in Dusseldorf and the German cultural environment.
I found very handy and relevant information concerning themes of everyday life and the living experience in the city. The listing of English speaking doctors and lawyers or English language schools provides a good feeling and tips on current events, news and comments to regional and national peculiarities are interesting to know.
Direct links to the current weather, the traffic situation in NRW and the arrival schedule of the airport Dusseldorf makes it also worth bookmarking this page.
The Altstadt is completely pedestrianised and the adjoining car parks can be very expensive. The rapid public transport system will drop you off at Heinrich-Heine Allee in the heart of the Altstadt.
Is this your business?Search Been there
