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Düsseldorf in January 2017 Palaces and castles in Düsseldorf and the surrounding area For many years, palaces and castles with their “enchanted” parks have stimulated the imagination of visitors, transporting them back in time to the fairytale age of counts and knights. Within a radius of 80km, Düsseldorf’s surrounding area provides plenty of options for visitors to travel back in time to different eras. Be it the most important moated castle in the lower Rhine region, a fortress dating from Emperor Barbarossa’s times, or a playful palace ensemble from the late baroque period – the region is a revelation to anyone interested in history or who simply wants to experience an authentically historic setting. Schloss Benrath (Benrath Palace) in the south of Düsseldorf was built on the banks of the Rhine over 200 years ago as a summer residence and hunting lodge for Elector Carl Theodor. Created by Nicolas de Pigage, it is one of the most beautiful garden palaces of the 18th century. In its artistic entirety comprising structures, interior furnishings and the 60-hectare park, the ensemble is today a late rococo work of art that in its completeness has become rare in Europe. The east wing houses the “Museum für Europäische Gartenkunst” (“Museum of European Garden History”) and the west wing is home to the “Museum für Naturkunde” (“Museum for Natural History”). Rising up from the banks of the Rhine, the mighty ruins of the medieval Kaiserpfalz (royal palace) built by the legendary Friedrich I Barbarossa – once one of the most important castles of the Hohenstaufen dynasty on the Rhine – may be found on the outskirts of the picturesque centre of Kaiserswerth to the north of Düsseldorf. The palace was extended by Emperor Barbarossa after he relocated the Rhine toll from the Netherlands to Kaiserswerth and therefore needed a fort to control the Rhine. Mighty blocks of trachyte were shipped from the Drachenfels in the Siebengebirge mountain range to Kaiserswerth. Today, the walls of these impressive ruins of the once much larger royal palace and imperial fort are still more than 50 metres long and up to 4.5 metres thick. With its uniquely preserved fortifications from the 14th century, Zons is one of the best maintained examples of a fortified town on the Rhine. The historic centre and the completely intact town wall with its numerous towers and merlons make the "Rothenburg on the Rhine" one of the main tourist attractions in the direct vicinity of Düsseldorf. The impressive Wasserschloss Dyck (moated Dyck Palace) near Jüchen is regarded as one of the most significant cultural monuments in the lower Rhine region and is able to look back on almost 1,000 years of history. Since it was first mentioned in documents in 1094, Dyck Palace has always been owned by the zu Salm-Reifferscheidt-Dyck family. The complex built on four islands is a centrepiece located within the generous parks and gardens that surround it, “Zentrum für Gartenkunst und Landschaftskultur“ (“Centre for Garden Art and Landscape Design”). Water areas, paths and the remarkable collection of rare and magnificent species of trees established by the royal owners create a magnificent ensemble which, particularly when the rhododendron and azaleas flower in spring, is a popular destination for excursions. The moated castle of Linn, one of the oldest castle complexes in the region, is located on the outskirts of Krefeld. Today’s castle dates in the main from the 13th century. The south wing and the low outer defence wall were among other things built in the 15th century. With towers, battlements, keep, dungeon, hall and chapel as well as an entirely intact outer bailey all surrounded by a broad moat, it presents a true image of a medieval castle. The hunting lodge is home to several furnished burgher rooms dating from the 18th and 19th centuries, a fully equipped farmer’s kitchen typical of the lower Rhine region and a collection of historic mechanical musical instruments. The Museum Schloss Rheydt (Rheydt Palace museum) in Mönchengladbach is a complex of buildings whose origins date back to the 12th century. The ensemble’s present- day appearance is the result of conversion measures carried out during the middle of the 16th century. The museum presents itself as the only completely preserved renaissance complex in the lower Rhine region. Hearths, ceilings and wall paintings along with floor coverings have survived from the original building furnishings. Today, the palace is home to the Städtische Museum Schloss Rheydt (Municipal Museum Schloss Rheydt), which focuses on such aspects as art of the renaissance and baroque periods and on urban and industrial history. Schloss Burg (Burg Palace) on the River Wupper, a fortified castle located above the River Wupper near Solingen and dating from the 12th century, was once home to the Counts of Berg. Fortifications, great hall, armoury, dungeon, castle chapel and ancestral portrait gallery provide an insight into the history and culture of the Middle Ages. The castle settlement, a picturesque ensemble of small buildings, is similar to historic artisan settlements. A chair lift carries visitors up the steep slope from the lower citadel and rewards with a beautiful view from the castle keep onto the Bergische Land and with cafés inviting to a “Bergische Kaffeetafel”, a traditional afternoon coffee spread. Schloss Moyland (Moyland Palace) near Bedburg-Hau – in its origins one of the most important medieval castles of the Rhine region – was converted in the 19th century into one of the most significant neo-gothic structures in North Rhine-Westphalia. The conversion created an overall work of art of high artistic and cultural-historic value because the complex was also given a magnificent park to go with today’s unmistakable romantic appearance. www.duesseldorf-tourismus.de www.visitduesseldorf.de .

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