The Botanical Garden of the Heinrich-Heine University is situated in the south of Düsseldorf at the Himmelgeister Rheinbogen (bend in the Rhine). As a research facility, it is not only dedicated to research and teaching, but also open to visitors throughout the year and offers a wide range of events including exhibitions, expert guided tours and lectures.

The Rhine tower, the North Rhine-Westphalia parliament, the Gehry Buildings, the city gate or Colorium – MedienHafen is a hotspot for creative architecture in Düsseldorf. Several international architects played a creative role in the reconstruction of the old Rhine port area. Frank O. Gehry, David Chipperfield, Joe Coenen, Steven Holl and Claude Vasconi were among those who made a creative contribution to make it what it is today. Those goods depots which were protected by a preservation order had to be renovated with hi-tech engineering and creative interior design. The ancient storerooms have been recreated with a new style and grace. However, you can still feel the old port atmosphere everywhere despite all the reconstruction. Just a decade ago the warehouses were nothing but immense empty spaces inside. Today, various television channels and radio stations, and advertising and media agencies, design bureaus and suchlike have all set up shop inside. So that’s where the name came from: MedienHafen, which means media harbour. The MedienHafen also plays in the premier league where hospitality is concerned. From the exquisite “Berens am Kai”, with a Michelin star, through the “most golden” curry sausage in Düsseldorf, to a cosy cocktail in the evening – the restaurateurs here have adapted to their heterogeneous clientele, which is composed of business customers during the day and the funky in-crowd in the evening, who all meet up to party at the stylish “Rudas Studios” advertising film venue or at the “Port Seven”.

Nowhere else in Düsseldorf can one feel the city’s heartbeat so clearly as in the Altstadt. Those who want to party, people in search of culture or history lovers will all be equally well catered for in this area between the Rhine and Heinrich-Heine Allee, that covers an area of less than half a square kilometre. This tiny space is crammed with around 260 eateries, pubs, bars, discos and restaurants, and one would be hard pressed to find the like in any other city. The Altstadt is also home to Altbier – a real Düsseldorf speciality.