Monuments to visit North Rhine-Westphalia

The Rheinturm was built from 1979 to 1982 by architect H. Deilmann. This monument marks the landscape of Düsseldorf. It is located on the outskirts of the south city center, at the entrance to the medienhafen, right next to the parliament building of North Rhine-Westphalia. It is more than 240 meters high, with a 180-seat glass restaurant located 172.5 meters above sea level and around its axis every hour. The M 168 Bar & Lounge is located under the restaurant at 168 m and on the observation platform at 164 m with breathtaking views of the Rhine metropolis. In fine weather, you can see up to Cologne Cathedral. The Rheinturm lighters have a unique function: spread over three different levels along the tower, 39 of these 62 porns form a decimal clock, the largest in the world. The two public elevators bring visitors to the different levels at a rate of 4 meters per second.

In Bad Honnef, the adjacent small town, you can visit Konrad Adenauer's house (1876-1967), the first Chancellor of Germany (from 1949 to 1963). A great European, initiator with de Gaulle of Franco-German reconciliation, this great man lived in this 1937 house on his death. Nearby, a museum is rich in archives, tracing through a chancellor the history of a country, and a continent.

Further afield in the valley, discover the little town Linz, much more charming than Königswinter, with its «colourful» semi-timbered houses.

Book lovers should not miss the monumental Mittellandkanal canal bridge in the north of the city. It was built in 1914 to bring a canal to cross another and is 341 m long; it is one of the largest carrefours in the world. It is a very impressive spectacle to see the barges passing over others.