Sightseeing in Dortmund - what to see. Complete travel guide

Dortmund is one of the largest cities of Germany. First mentions of it are referred to the 9th century. At that time the city was called Trotmani and that was a large trading center. In the 17th century Dortmund seriously suffered from the Thirteen Years’ War, but it recovered quickly and started playing leading positions in economic and political life of the country.

The city with its amazing history was traditionally attracting travellers. There are still many interesting monuments and ancient buildings here. In Dortmund you will also find large number of entertainment centers and comfortable hotel complexes. Old part of the city is the most interesting one as here you can walk on quarters built in 18-19 centuries, see ancient churches and cathedrals, have rest on one of the picturesque squares or try best dishes made by local chiefs.

Large number of buildings, which have survived until out time, have religious meaning. These are St. Ewald Church, Petrikirche and Reinoldikirche, which are considered the most beautiful old buildings in Dortmund. Tourists traditionally enjoy attending excursions to coke plant “Ganza” and Zollern mining. Today these industrial complexes, which have made Dortmund famous and have brought it to highest economic figures, are fully turned into museums. Copyright www.orangesmile.com

When it comes to describing peculiarities of Dortmund, we should definitely mention quite an unusual form of transport – large two-floor omnibuses that ride the streets of the city. The ride on such omnibus will bring you many positive memories and will allow enjoying the splendor of the city’s landscapes. There are several museums in Dortmund and each one of them keeps priceless historical collections. You should definitely visit Industrial Museums, walk in Old Market and attend Brewing Museum where you will find out much interesting about the traditional foamy drink.

A striking architectural monument of the late 19th century is the town hall. It is a spectacular five-storey building constructed in the best traditions of the Neo-Renaissance style. The very first town hall was built on this place more than 600 years ago. Over the years, it came to complete desolation and was partially destroyed. In the second half of the 19th century when it was decided to build a new town hall in its place, the surviving fragments of the old building were used in the works. During the Second World War, the construction was badly damaged, but was quickly restored by the efforts of local artisans.

Some elements of medieval fortifications are preserved in the city, among which the Eagle Tower is an excellent example. It was built in the 13th century and was part of the fortification complex. Until recently the tower was in a ruined condition. It was restored only recently, in 1992. During the work, the specialists used historical sketches, so the tower was restored in accordance with the original. Now in the walls of the tower, there is an interesting museum which houses a collection of ancient weapons and archaeological finds.

A very interesting and popular cultural institution is the Dortmunder U. It is located in a unique historical building, which used to be the largest brewery in the city. At the time of construction in 1926, this building was the highest in the city. The factory remained operational until 1994. Now the beautiful and large building is used to hold art exhibitions and other interesting events dedicated to contemporary art and design.

Fans of unusual attractions will be interested to visit the “city radio and television tower Florianturm”. Its height is 211 meters. At the top of the tower is a popular restaurant, which is considered to be one of the most romantic in the city. A chic view of the city opens from its hall. If you do not want to visit the expensive restaurant, you can go up to the observation deck. It is on one of the last floors of the tower.

In Dortmund, there is a beautiful botanical garden which is one of the largest in the world. Its area is 65 hectares. The garden was founded in the early 19th century and today presents visitors with a huge collection of exotic plants. In total, there are about 4,500 species of plants and flowers on its territory.