Dusseldorf

The Rhine City is a popular destination for city-dwellers, especially among young people. During the summer time, Düsseldorf captivates with its beautiful Rhine river promenade and in winter with the Christmas markets. Among the following popular attractions in Dusseldorf you will find other attractions that give the special charm to the city.

The Rhine Tower: Dusseldorf's landmark is the Rhine Tower, which can be seen from both sides of the Rhine and from afar. With 240.50 meters it is the tallest building in the city and the tenth television tower in the Federal Republic. Built from 1978 to 1982, the Rhine Tower is now the carrier of radio and VHF antennas and serves as a viewing platform at the same time. The largest digital clock in the world is located on its side facing the old town. Another special feature are the panoramic windows of the tower, which allow the direct view of the tower.

The Rhine promenade: On the weekend, the promenade on the banks of the river Rhine becomes a pedestrian mile. In numerous restaurants you can taste the Rhinish cuisine and watch the hustle and bustle on the Uferstraße. The Freitreppe on the Burgplatz is also a place to relax. The Rhine promenade became popular in 1990. The design of the promenade has already received numerous awards, among others in the year 1998 with the Deutsche Städtebaupreis. The lakeside promenade is also the venue for some annual events such as the Dusseldorf Marathon, or the large fireworks on the occasion of the Dusseldorf fairgrounds. Only a few steps away is the Old Town of Dusseldorf, also a popular attraction for locals and visitors to Düsseldorf.

The Königsallee: The Königsallee in Dusseldorf's inner city is one of the most famous luxury shopping destinations in Europe. The numerous cafes, shopping malls, shops and jeweleries are the main attraction of Dusseldorf and visitors from all over the world come here. Located directly on the river Düssel, you can stroll and relax here. Already built in 1804 as a promenade on the eastern city wall, the Königsallee was already a favorite boulevard and celebrated its 210th anniversary last year. Today, Kö, as it is also called, is also a popular venue. Every year there are literary festivals, running events and a place where some carnival walks take place.

The Media Harbour: The Rhine determines the cityscape and cultural life of the city. At Düsseldorf Media Harbour, over the past twenty years, an architecturally attractive area has been created. Used as a commercial and inland port before 1990, the harbour is now the home of many renowned media companies, which earned it the name Media Harbour. Renowned tenants are Antenne Düsseldorf, the WDR and the film and media foundation NRW. Since the 2000s there are also some shops and around 40 restaurants, cafés and clubs. Despite the 600 companies located here, Media Harbour is the most sparsely populated area in Düsseldorf, with just under 100 inhabitants. However, a planned residential development is intended to change this fact. Also worth seeing is the Landtag building as well as already-mentioned the Rhine tower, which is located in the eastern part of the harbor.

The Old Town: Although the second smallest district of Dusseldorf, the old city is one of the most popular places in the city. During the day, attractions such as the Hofgarten, the town hall and the adjacent Rhine river invite visitors wander through the old town. In the evening it becomes a party of celebrations. More than 300 pubs, restaurants and clubs can be found on half a square kilometer. The many festivals gave the old town the nickname "the longest bar in the world". A must for a short visit to Dusseldorf  is the visit of the house brewery "Zum Uerige" near the Rhine. Also in the historical district are the market square and the castle tower.

The Benrath Castle: The castle of Benrath was commissioned in 1773 by the Elector Karl Theodor of the Palatinate as a widow's seat of the Electress. The leading architect was Nicolas de Pigage, the architect of numerous Baroque buildings and castles. In addition to the pleasure castle, the castle grounds also include the hunting park, some ponds and a canal system. The castle now houses the Museum of European Gardening, a Natural History Museum and the Stiftung Castle und Park Benrath. Tickets are available for 9 euros, with an ocassional discount 6 euros.

The Wildpark Düsseldorf: There is a number green areas in Dusseldorf, but the most popular of all of them is the Wildpark in the Grafenberger Wald. The entrance to the Wildpark is free of charge all year round. The enclosure, already built in 1927, now covers 40 hectares, with around 100 animals. In addition to wild boars, visitors can admire red-breasted and muffled deer in the naturally-arranged enclosures. Other inhabitants are pheasants, partridges and raccoons. Additional attractions in the Düsseldorfer Wildpark are the Waldlehrpfad and the many hiking trails around the large area.

Prizren, often reffered to as Czar’s City - a name that has its origin in the very founding of the city, is the second largest city in now independent Kosovo after Pristina due to its population numbering 180000 citizens. Nevertheless, no other town on Kosovo and wider can surpass Prizren and its rich history, combined with the beautiful nature of the Shar Mountains and nearby ski resort Brezovica, which leave a lasting impression on every visitor and the yearning to come back.

Prizren flourished in the Illyrian times, when it was of great importance due to its position at the crossroads of the Balkan peninsula, which became a perfect settling ground for numerous empires throughout the history, such as Byzantine and Ottoman empire, whose cultural and architectural influence is still evident in the cityscape, particularly around the Shadervan Square, the most distinctive part of the city.

Despite being the center of conquest of many, Prizren is regarded as the best preserved town when it comes to its cultural heritage. During the Kosovo War in 1998/1999, the bombing attacks haven’t done much damage, but the ethnical structure, which up to the war consisted of the communion of Serbs and Albanians, changed significantly as the aftermath of the war, when local Serbs migrated to the surrounding countries, leaving behind their charred houses of the Serbian Quarter.

Today, Prizren is praised for its diversity and valuable remnants of its history which attract tourist from all over the world.

The starting point for those visiting Prizren should be Shadervan Square, a historical cobbled square featuring the fountain in the middle which is as old as the square itself. It is separated from the rest of the city by the Old Stone Bridge above river Bistrica, which dates from the 16th century and is considered to be an entrance to the Shadervan. The square is always swarming with people thanks to its countless pubs, restaurants, cafes, etc., and is the favorite gathering point for both locals and visitors.

The most important sightseeing attraction in Prizren is the Church of Our Lady of Ljeviš, which, like all other orthodox churches in Prizren, is closed to the public, unless one gets approval to visit in the Church of St. George. The church was placed under UNESCO’s World Heritage in Danger list in the aftermath of the unrest in 2004 caused by the Albanian population. While the process of getting the approval can prove to be a daunting task, it will be worth doing, as the church hides some magnificent wall paintings and the frescos which are currently being restored.

The best place to have a panoramic view over Prizren would be the Church of the Holy Savior in the Potkaljaja region, which during the peacefull times was under the care of Šemić family. It was built in the 14th century by Mladen Vladojević, and due to its significance it was declared a Monument of Culture of Exceptional Importance in 1990. This terracota church was left unfinished in the 19th century as the church has suffered a sigificant damage in the fire in the same century. Today, it has two domed towers.  The church was also damaged during the unrest in March 2004, when it was placed under the protection of KFOR.

The Gazi Mehmet Pasha Hammam, primarily used as a public bath, is an exceptional building with two large and nine smaller domes, divied into men's and women's section, Buing built in th 16th century, this building is of great cultural, as well as historical and architectural importance, for which is highly praised as the most valuable hammams in Europe. Nowadays, it hosts numerous art exibitions.

The largest mosque in the city, the Mosque of Sinan Pasha, was built during the time of Ottoman Empire. The interior of the mosque fascinates visitors with its floral decorations and numerous ornaments of flora and fauna on its 2-meters thick walls, which are reminiscent of the baroque style. The mosque also has a spacious library containt books from different periods and interesting contents.

Apart from its cultural diversiry, Prizren has a lot to offer for those who would like to explore the gastronomy of this ancient city. For those who have a sweet tooth, traditional desserts like tullumba and baklava, similar in taste, are a must-try, while does who have more sophisticated palate can enjoy in the subtle taste of the Shar cheese combined with grilled meat and a glass of wine.