Landmark · Old Town

Burgplatz & Castle Tower

Burgplatz on the Rhine bank is regarded as the historic heart of Düsseldorf's Old Town and is one of the loveliest squares in the city. At its center stands the striking Castle Tower, the last surviving remnant of the Düsseldorf city palace that burned down in 1872. Today it houses the Maritime Museum, which tells the story of the Rhine as a lifeline. Around the square the Düsseldorf "cartwheelers" turn their wheels - the cheerful children's custom has become a symbol of the city. From Burgplatz the view opens wide across the river and over the lively Rhine promenade.

Remnant of the city palace

The Castle Tower is all that remains of the once magnificent Düsseldorf city palace. After a devastating fire destroyed the bulk of the residence in 1872, only the tower was left standing and has recalled ever since the era when the dukes and electors resided here. Today it stands as a squat, unmistakable structure on the Rhine, linking the city's eventful history with its modern riverside life.

Maritime Museum & cartwheelers

Inside the tower, the Maritime Museum tells the story of Rhine shipping over several floors and the importance of the river to Düsseldorf. On the square in front, the young "cartwheelers" turn their wheels - an old custom that has long become the city's endearing emblem. Small cartwheeler figures and motifs greet you everywhere in the cityscape and stand for Rhenish joie de vivre.

Tips for your visit

Burgplatz is an ideal starting point for a tour of the Old Town and lies right at the transition to the Rhine promenade. From the viewing platform of the Castle Tower you enjoy a fine view over the Rhine and the rooftops of the Old Town. Especially in the evening, when the sun sets over the river, the square unfolds all its charm and fills with people.

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Old Town

A lively historic heart with the "longest bar in the world", brewhouses, Burgplatz and the Rhine bank.

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Part of these travel planners

  • Düsseldorf in One Day

    The highlights in a nutshell: the Old Town and Burgplatz, the Rhine promenade, lunch in a brewpub, the Königsallee and the Koe-Bogen, the Media Harbour with the Rheinturm and an evening over Altbier.

  • Old Town & Altbier - A Weekend

    Two days of pure local feeling: brewpubs and Burgplatz, an evening in the longest bar in the world, plus the Carlsplatz market, great art and the Media Harbour.

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