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Dortmund

Make the most of your time in Dortmund, use the information provided on this web site by clicking on the links to plan your visit.

Known as the ‘Green Metropolis’ Dortmund is the largest city in the state of North Rhine-Westphalia and is known for its extensive open outdoor spaces. Despite its former prominence in the coal and steel industries, the city is now full of green areas with parks, woodland, agriculture and waterways in abundance. Located in the western industrial heartland of Germany, the city is near to other well-known cities such as Dusseldorf, Cologne and former capital Bonn.

With a population approaching 600,000 Dortmund is the country’s seventh largest city having started out life as a small village in the 9th century. The River Ruhr flows just to the south of the city, while the Emscher also runs through. Further, the Dortmund-Ems Canal links Dortmund to the sea and terminates at Dortmund Port. As well as waterways, the city also has some attractive parks and gardens; among them are the Westfalenpark and the Rombergpark, while there is also a zoo and Lake Phoenix, and so the total amount of green area takes up 140 square kilometres, approximately half of the city.

Even with its reputation as a particularly green city Dortmund has experienced much change in recent years. It has become a modern and cosmopolitan area with a focus on technological development. Interestingly, it is to be found alongside the ancient Hellweg trading route and is now home to the likes of IT, micro systems, logistics and communications bases. Further, in the year 2000 the Dortmund Project was launched which has sought to help with the growth and expansion of the city.

Dortmund is home to various theatres which are ideal for those hoping to enjoy an opera, a musical or a ballet. There is also the Dortmund Concert Hall which hosts a range of music events. The new and stylish City and State Library is housed in Dortmund and features an impressive total of around 1.2 million items. If it is shops you are after there are also plenty of these dotted around the city. Westenhellweg and Ostenhellweg are among the top places to shop, while others include Hansastrasse with its luxury clothes and leather, as well as Brückstrasse.
The city is known for its four medieval churches, included in this figure are the Reinoldikirche, the Marienkirche and the Petrikirche. There are several other impressive sights and attractions in the city; for example, the Florianturm is a TV tower which features a revolving restaurant, while there are also some moated castles in and around the region. Two of Dortmund’s museums are the Museum of Ostwall and the Museum for Art and Cultural History.
The region of the Ruhr has been nominated European Capital City of Culture for 2010 and this factor has implications for the Ruhr’s major cities such as Dortmund. Indeed, Dortmund’s culture and heritage will play a lead role in the areas of music, art and new lifestyles.
 

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