Basilika St. Lambertus

The Basilika St. Lambertus is the main historic church of the Düsseldorf Altstadt, standing at Stiftsplatz 7 beside the Marktplatz in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. The building is a Gothic hall church whose origins reach back to the Middle Ages, and its most famous feature is the tower, topped with a twisted spire that leans and spirals in a way that makes it one of the most recognisable silhouettes on the city skyline. Inside, the tall interior is divided by slender pillars into three naves lit by narrow windows. Among the works visitors can see are a Gothic sacrament house and the shrine of Saint Apollinaris, the patron saint of Düsseldorf, whose relics are associated with the church. Local legend explains the twisted spire with stories of a devil or of unseasoned timber, and guides often repeat both. A visit is short, usually 20 to 30 minutes, which makes the church an easy stop on an Altstadt walk between the Marktplatz, the Burgplatz and the Rhine promenade. Photographers get the best exterior view of the spire from Stiftsplatz and from the lanes approaching the square, while interior photographs work best in morning light through the side windows. The church is normally open daily during daytime hours, outside services, and entry is free. Visitors should dress respectfully and keep quiet during masses. Crowds are light on weekday mornings, while weekends and busy Altstadt evenings bring more tourists and passers-by. The church is a few minutes on foot from the U-Bahn stop Heinrich-Heine-Allee, and sits steps from the Marktplatz, the town hall and the Schlossturm.