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”.

Deutsches Museum is the world’s largest museum of technology and science on the Isar River in Munich. You can find everything here from mining techniques to astronomy, with lots of original historic artefacts such as the first diesel engine. Additionally, the museum offers workshops and tours for children. There are two annexes: one in Schleissheim to the north of Munich devoted to aeroplanes, and one at the Theresienhöhe exhibiting all kinds of land transportation. The latest addition to the main museum is the ZNT, Centre for New Technologies featuring Nano and Biotechnologies.

The area around Grand Bay (=Grand Baie) was the first one to develop mass tourism, and up to this very day, it still remains the centre of tourist attraction. The small town in the North is bustling with locals and tourists alike, as it boasts many leisure activities and charming boutiques, as well as a vibrant nightlife and – of course – the famous beach La Cuvette.