Rheinschlößchen

“A glass of Rhine wine, overlooking the Düsseldorf Schlossturm,” a jovial voice echoed from a time long past. It’s 1925, and we’re at the Rheinschlösschen. Imagine the clinking glasses and lively chatter within those whimsical walls. The Rheinschlösschen, a beloved wine tavern and a symbol of Düsseldorf’s charm, stood proudly on the Rhine embankment. Designed by city architect Johannes Radke, it was completed in 1902. Its playful design, reminiscent of a miniature castle, reflected a blend of Art Nouveau and Historicism styles. Radke cleverly integrated the three-story Rheinschlösschen into the embankment wall. This wall itself was part of a larger project to protect the city from flooding and expand the harbor. This was crucial for Düsseldorf’s booming industrial growth at the turn of the century. The Rheinschlösschen occupied a surprisingly small footprint. A tiny arcade allowed the higher-level street sidewalk to pass right over it. The architecture was a delightful mix of protruding and recessed elements. It was constructed using natural stone and industrial brick. Atop the Rheinschlösschen, a miniature roofscape featured a hipped roof, a small onion dome, battlements, decorative gables, and ornate wrought-iron details. A decorative beacon added a final touch of charm. For years, the renowned wine merchant Arthur Hauth, son of Eduard Hauth, ran the Rheinschlösschen. In 1931, restaurateur and football official Jacob Josef Manger took over. Later, it passed into the hands of the Engelbert Oxenfort family. The tavern’s name, “Rheinschlösschen” (little Rhine castle), evoked both the nearby Düssel River and the former Düsseldorf Schloss. The original castle, which once stood near the Rheinschlösschen’s location, had burned down in 1872, and its remaining south wing was demolished in 1896. The Rheinschlösschen, with its “Old German wine house” atmosphere, embodied Düsseldorf’s “Gemütlichkeit”. Alongside St. Lambertus Church’s leaning tower and the Schlossturm, it became one of the city’s three iconic landmarks, frequently appearing on postcards. Advertisements from the 1920s proudly proclaimed it a “first-class restaurant” hosting “mocha and evening concerts.” Sadly, the Rheinschlösschen was damaged during World War II bombing raids in August 1941. After the war, it was demolished, making way for a wider Rhine embankment street. Though lost to time, the memory of the Rheinschlösschen lives on, a testament to Düsseldorf’s rich history.