Dusseldorf

Dusseldorf, a town in a district of the same name, in Rhenish Prussia, on the right bank of the Rhine at the influx of the Dussel, crossed by a bridge of boats, 24 miles N.W. of Cologne. It consists of the Altstadt, Carlstadt, and Neustadt, and was formerly surrounded by ramparts, which were converted into boulevards in 1802. It has good streets and squares, with gardens, flowers, and shrubs, and is adorned with statues and fountains. In the market place is a statue of the Elector John William, who in 1690 founded a picture gallery, most of whose former contents are now at Munich. Among the principal buildings are the Art Hall, the Gallery of Modern Paintings, the old electoral palace, the Governor's residence, the observatory, the town hall, the theatre, and the library. Of the 25 churches, that of St. Lambert (14th century) and that of St. Andrew (the Hofkirche) are the most notable. There is a fine hofgarten. Dusseldorf is an important railway junction, and there are manufactures of iron and cotton. It was united to Prussia in 1815. Heine was born there.