Page 400 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Germany

398  WESTERN GERM AN Y NOR TH RHINE-WESTPHALIA  399

0 Neuss the church without a tower. The In the 18th and 19th centuries, The house where Israel Berr
interior has Gothic works of art Aachen gained great Josaphat Reuter established the
Road map B4. * 150,000. £ @
n Rathausarkaden, Büchel 6 (02131- and stunningly beautiful stained- importance as a spa. Many first-ever news agency in 1850
403 77 95). glass windows, the altar of the buildings from this era have (transferred to London a year
Coronation of the Blessed Virgin long since vanished. Further later) now houses the Inter­
The history of Neuss goes back Mary (late 15th century), a destruction was inflicted by nationales Zeitungs museum,
to Roman days. It developed beautiful 14th-century World War II, yet some historic devoted to the history of
around a Bernhardine Annunciation and a sacrarium monuments have survived. the press, with over 200,000
monastery, which became a (1490). After the dissolution of the The most important of news-papers from the
girls’ boarding school in the Order in 1803, the cathedral these is the Pfalz (see 16th century to today.
12th century. The magnificent suffered a turbulent history. It pp400–401), a complex There has been
13th-century Romanesque now serves as a church for both of buildings belonging an extensive
Münster St Quirinus is the Catholics and Protestants. to Charle-magne’s renovation to house
most famous building. After a Children enjoy Altenberg for its former palace. They a temporary exhibition
fire in 1741, a Baroque dome Märchenwald (fairy-tale wood), include a cathedral with space and lecture halls.
with a statue of St Quirin, the an enchanted forest, with a palace chapel and a It is also worth visiting
patron saint, was added to the interactive scenes and statues hall which was rebuilt the Suermondt­
eastern tower. Also worth seeing representing popular fairy tales. as the Rathaus. Ludwig­Museum, not
is the Obertor (upper gate), built In the old town, near far beyond the town
in 1200, one of the mightiest the cathedral complex, centre, which has a
gates in the Rhineland. r Köln (Cologne) is the church of St great collection of art
Folian, where a Gothic from the Middle Ages
See pp402–9. Madonna dating from until the present
q Dormagen 1411 has survived. A Statue of David day, including some
short distance south Hansemann sculptures and
Road map B4. * 62,000. £ @ t Aachen
n Dormagen, Schloßstraße 2–4 from here stands the paintings from the 17th
(02133-276 28 15). _ Freilichtspiele Road map A4. * 247,000. £ @ Elisenbrunnen (fountain of century. To the north-east of the
in Zons (Jun–Sep). n Friedrich-Wilhelm-Platz (0241- Elizabeth), an exceptionally old town is the spa district of
180 29 60). _ Frühjahrsbend (Apr), beautiful building where Aachen. Here, visitors can stroll
This medium-sized town, which horse-riding competitions CHIO mineral water can be taken. through the park or spend an
principally relies on its chemical The Gothic post-Cistercian Bergischer Dom in Altenberg (Jul), Europamarkt der Kunsthand- It was built in 1822–7 according evening at the casino. Lovers
industry, would not be found in werker (Sep). to designs by Johann Peter of modern art will enjoy
a guide book were it not for two Equally interesting is Knecht- Environs Cremer and Karl Friedrich the Ludwig-Forum für
remarkable historic monuments steden, west of Dormagen, Remscheid, 7 km (4 miles) east Aachen owes its fame to its hot Schinkel. Internationale Kunst, which
within the city limits. On the where an amazing monastery of Solingen, has the Röntgen- springs, whose healing powers After admiring the attractive hosts interesting exhibitions.
banks of the Rhine lies the was built for the Norbertines in Museum, dedicated to Nobel were already highly rated by the houses around the central
fortified customs town of Zons, the 12th century. Amid orchards, Prize winner Wilhelm Röntgen, Romans when they established market square visitors can enjoy E Internationales
established around 1373–1400 the twin-choired basilica has who was born here and baths here in the 1st–2nd the Couven­Museum. Based in Zeitungsmuseum
at the instigation of archbishop mighty towers and attractive discovered the X-ray. One of the centuries AD. The name of the an historic middle-class town Pontstraße 13. Tel (0241) 432 49 10.
Friedrich von Saarwerden. This cloisters. Impressive murals most beautiful buildings is the town, aquae grani or Aquisgrani, house, it has an interesting Open 10am–5pm Tue–Sun. ∑ izm.de
small, four-sided fortress has include a 12th-century depiction Heimatmuseum with displays of also relates to the source. collection dedicated to the life E Suermondt­Ludwig­Museum
survived in excellent con dition. of Christ in the western apsis. typical regional interiors. The settlement grew in the of the bourgeoisie in the 18th Wilhelmstraße 18. Tel (0241) 47 98 00.
The buildings are mainly from a Schloß Burg, on the Wupper 8th century, when Charlemagne and 19th centuries. There is also Open 10am–5pm Tue–Sun. & -
later time, but the walls, gates and river, is the 12th-century chose it as his principal resi- a collection of ceramic tiles 8 =
ruined castle Schloß Friede strom w Solingen fortress of the von Berg family. dence in 768. He built a huge from the 16th–19th centuries. E Couven­Museum
are among the most fascinating Road map B4. * 165,000. £ @ n Many times rebuilt, it now palace complex with Hühnermarkt 17. Tel (0241) 432 44 21.
examples of medieval for- Clemens-Galerien Mummstr. 10 (0212- houses a museum. chapel, cloistered court- Open 10am–5pm Tue–Sun.
tifications in the Rhine Valley. 290 36 01). _ Frühjahrskirmes (Mar). yard and hall for himself. Closed public hols. &
When Charlemagne
Solingen is synonymous with its e Altenberg was crowned emperor Environs
famous factory, where scissors Road map B4. * 5,745. £ @ in 800, Aachen became Kornelimünster, 6 km (4 miles)
and knives are made. The main n Eugen Heinen Platz 2, Odenthal the capital of the southeast of the centre, is a
attraction in town is the Kling- (02174-41 99 50). ∑ altenberg- Holy Roman Empire. beautifully preserved old town
enmuseum, showing cutting info.de Although the town with several churches. The most
tools from the Stone Age to the soon lost this title, it important is the Propsteikirche
present. The Kunstmuseum Altenberg near Odenthal has remained an important St Kornelius, a former
Solingen (Centre for Persecuted preserved its Bergischer Dom, destination for pilgrims Benedictine monastery dating
Arts), featuring works banned by a former Cistercian cathedral and because of the valuable from the early 9th century.
the Nazi regime, is worth a visit. one of the most important relics brought here by The surviving building is a
destinations for pilgrims. Built in Charlemagne. From 14th-century Gothic basilica,
E Kunstmuseum Solingen 1259–1379, it is also one of the the 10th to the 16th extended by the early 16th
Wuppertaler Straße 160. Tel (0212) 258 most beautiful Gothic buildings centuries, all German century to a five-nave structure.
Wupper River in Solingen-Unterburg near 120. Open 10am–5pm Tue–Sun. in Germany. In accordance with kings were crowned in The Neo-Classical building which houses the casino in The chapel of St Kornelius
Wuppertal in Bergisches Land ∑ verfolgte-kuenste.de their rules, the Cistercians built the palace chapel. Aachen’s spa park was added in the 18th century.
For hotels and restaurants in this area see pp500–501 and pp526–9

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