Rheintreppe, Dusseldorf, Ghid vizitatori și ce de văzut în apropiere

The Rheintreppe is a broad flight of steps in Düsseldorf's Altstadt that connects the old town's upper level with the Rhine promenade below. It is a favourite spot to sit by the river, and it also carries a quiet memorial to people who died of the consequences of AIDS.

The story behind it

The steps work as a gateway between the old town and the water, so for visitors they are both a practical shortcut and a place to pause. Today they are a popular place for locals and travellers to sit, watch the river and take in the view of the Rhine, and the riverside around them often hosts events.

The steps also have a more serious side. In 2000 the German AIDS Foundation, working with the artist Tom Fecht, created the memorial project "Thought Space: Names and Stones" above the Rheintreppe. It remembers people who died of the consequences of AIDS, with their names inscribed on paving stones. Since then the place has been both somewhere to enjoy the river and a site of remembrance.

What to look for

• The wide steps themselves, where the old town's upper level drops down to the water and people gather to sit and watch the river.
• The view over the Rhine, with boats and barges passing along the river.
• The paving stones of the "Thought Space: Names and Stones" memorial above the steps, with names inscribed on them.
• The Schlossturm close by near the Burgplatz, a landmark tower of the old castle that shapes the riverside skyline.

Tips for your visit

• Allow 15 to 30 minutes to sit, look at the river and walk down to the promenade. Add more time if you want to stroll along the water.
• Late afternoon and early evening are pleasant, when the light is soft on the river and the steps fill with people.
• The steps are an open outdoor space, so there is no door to go through. Check current information if a event is planned, as it may change how busy the area is.
• The Burgplatz, the Schlossturm and the lanes of the Altstadt are only a short walk away, so combine the steps with a wider stroll.

See it on a quest

The Rheintreppe sits in the middle of the old town, which makes it a natural stop on a walk. The Ghost of Düsseldorf’s Old Town: Walking Tour & Escape Game is a self-guided walk with a ghostly theme. You reach the place on foot as one stop of a longer route through the area, the app tells you about each place as you arrive, and you solve a puzzle on the spot. You start whenever you like, with no guide and no group to join, and one ticket covers the whole group.