Duisburg-a city on the Rhine.

Duisburg is a city in western Germany, in the Ruhr region, in the state of North Rhine-Westphalia. It lies at the confluence of the Ruhr and Rhine rivers and has the world's largest river port, at about 740 hectares.

Duisburg was granted city rights in 1279. In the Middle Ages it belonged to the Hanseatic League, an association of trading cities in Europe, so it was already developing significantly. Even more rapid development occurred in the 19th century, with the establishment of steel mills, factories and the Inner Harbor. Today, in addition to being the industrial and economic hub of the country, Duisburg also offers a rich cultural and tourist offer, as well as numerous recreational areas that have been developed on former industrial sites.

Attractions of Duisburg

Are there any sights and attractions in this industrial city? We write about what to see in Duisburg below.

Alte Markt

Duisburg's market square boasts beautiful buildings, with the richly decorated town hall and historic churches at the forefront. In particular, the 14th-century Gothic Church of the Savior is worth seeing. During World War II, this temple suffered and required reconstruction. Today, few sacred monuments remain there, such as the 15th-century baptismal font and the 17th-century pulpit. The current city hall dates from 1902, but nearby you can see an archeological zone with fragments of the 16th-century old city hall and a model of the city from the Renaissance.

Duisburg Inner Harbor

This port covers an area of nearly 90 hectares. For more than 100 years it was the city's central port and trading post and the main granary of the Ruhr region. Since the mid-1960s, however, it began to decline significantly. Today, the former industrial buildings have been transformed into a district that combines housing with employment and culture. It is home to many bars, restaurants and numerous art galleries, making the area eagerly visited by locals and tourists alike.

Museum of City Culture and History

This museum takes a look at the history of the city from the Middle Ages to the present day. It also features an exhibition of globes and maps by Gerhard Mercator, the inventor of the atlas.

Inland Navigation Museum

The museum is located in the world's largest inland port in Europe and presents the history and present of inland shipping. Its attraction is the opportunity to climb aboard some of the ships on display there.

Explorado Children's Museum

This museum is dedicated to children between the ages of 4 and 12. Its tour is really a mix of active fun and learning about interesting facts from various fields, such as construction, shipping or archaeology. Younger children should enjoy the pirate-themed section.

Duisburg-Nord Landscape Park

This park was established in the second half of the 20th century as part of the International Building Exhibition on land belonging to the former Thyssen steelworks. Today, the old steel mill buildings surround the gardens, and visitors can use footbridges and steps to reach higher platforms and viewpoints. There are numerous climbing walls, bicycle paths or a diving training center set up in a former gas tank. It also hosts cloud cinema screenings in the summer.

Kaiserberg Botanical Garden

The botanical garden in Duisburg was established in the late 19th century. It has themed zones - including an alpine or heather zone, and the plantings are mainly native plants, but also exotic plants. In addition to it, there is another botanical garden in the city - Hamborn.

Rheinpark

This is a popular place for active and slightly more lazy recreation. It is located on post-industrial land along the Rhine River. There you will find a restaurant, an artificial beach, benches, picnic areas, playgrounds or a skatepark.