The Düssel flows silently. Its valley whispers secrets. This is Düsseltal.
Welcome to Düsseltal a charming quarter nestled within Düsseldorf’s Borough 2. Its story is one of transformation from a sparsely populated area to one of Düsseldorf’s most exclusive neighborhoods. The Düssel River itself gives the area its name. The word Düsseltal means Düssel valley in German.
Initially a collection of small farms and fishing villages the area’s population remained low until the late 19th century. The oldest buildings in Düsseltal date back to the 14th century. These include the historic Speckerhöfe and the Buscher Mühle. The Speckerhöfe a significant complex was gifted to Cistercian monks by Jan Wellem Elector Palatine. These monks established a priory in 1701 becoming known as the Specker monks. The monastery later lent its name to the entire borough Düsseltal.
Count Adalbert von Recke-Volmerstein a pivotal figure established an orphanage in 1822 in Düsseltal. Legend says its funding partly stemmed from the sale of Eau de Cologne made with water from the Düssel River. In 1835 he also founded Düsseldorf’s first deaconess institute here.
The Industrial Revolution spurred remarkable growth. The Haniel & Lueg factory was built in Düsseltal. The area even hosted a major international industrial exhibition in 1880 attracting over 3000 companies. Emperor William II himself opened the exhibition.
Düsseltal boasted a zoo from 1876 until its destruction in 1943 during World War II. The zoo was a project championed by the renowned zoologist Alfred Brehm. After the war Düsseltal’s development continued. It became a more affluent and exclusive residential area.
Today Düsseltal is known for its upscale atmosphere and its strong Japanese community though not as large as in Oberkassel. The Rethelstraße serves as a popular shopping destination. The Düsseldorfer EG ice hockey club now known as the DEG Metro Stars has deep roots in Düsseltal. Their former home was near the Zoopark at the ice stadium on Brehmstraße. The Paulus Church a neoclassicist structure stands as another prominent landmark.
Düsseltal’s history is a fascinating blend of monastic life industrial progress and modern prosperity. The valley of the Düssel has truly seen its share of transformations. But through it all Düsseltal remains a unique and captivating part of Düsseldorf’s rich tapestry.