Kaiserpfalz Kaiserswerth (Barbarossa's Imperial Palace Ruins)

The Kaiserpfalz Kaiserswerth is a ruin on the Rhine bank in Kaiserswerth, the northernmost district of Düsseldorf, North Rhine-Westphalia, near Kaiserswerther Markt. The site grew from an island monastery founded around 700 by the Anglo-Saxon missionary Suitbert, and in the 11th century the place passed to the Empire and a royal palace developed there. Emperor Frederick I Barbarossa had the site rebuilt from 1174 as a strong imperial palace (Pfalz) in stone, linked to a toll station on the Rhine that brought revenue to the Empire. In the late Middle Ages the castle lost its importance as the toll rights were pledged to the Archbishops of Cologne. During the War of the Spanish Succession it was besieged, and in 1702 its fortifications were blown up, leaving the ruins that stand today. What remains are sections of the palace walls built from basalt and tuff, parts of a large hall, and sections of the curtain wall with window openings facing the river. The ruin is partly preserved and partly stabilised, with conservation work by the city and information panels explaining the layout of the former palace. The setting is a grassed area of lawn beside the Rhine with views across the river and a walkway nearby, so the site works as a short stop. Admission is free and the ruins are accessible during daylight hours. Visitors can easily combine the stop with the nearby Basilika St. Suitbertus, and with the historic centre of Kaiserswerth with its half-timbered houses and cafés. A half day in the district makes a good contrast to the Altstadt. Walking shoes are advisable since the lawn can be damp.