Basilika St. Lambertus

The Basilika St. Lambertus rises at Stiftsplatz 7 in the Düsseldorf Altstadt, North Rhine-Westphalia, a few steps from the Rhine and Burgplatz. A collegiate foundation (Stift) was established here in the late 13th century, linked to the Counts of Berg and the town charter of 1288, and the present Gothic hall church was built in the 14th century. It is a brick-and-tuff building of the Rhenish Gothic type, with three naves of equal height and slender piers. The most recognisable feature is the tall slate-clad spire, which twists around its axis; it was erected after a fire in the early 19th century, and the helical shape is commonly attributed to the use of unseasoned timber. Inside, visitors find the shrine of St. Apollinaris, the patron saint of Düsseldorf, whose relics were brought to the city in the 14th century and are still honoured in an annual pilgrimage tradition. The church also contains the Renaissance tomb of Duke Wilhelm the Rich of Jülich-Kleve-Berg, a sandstone and marble monument of the 16th century, as well as a late Gothic sacrament house and a series of altarpieces and sculptures from the 14th to 16th centuries. The building was heavily damaged during the Second World War and was restored in the following decades, with the vaulting and furnishings repaired and returned. The Roman Catholic Church raised it to the rank of basilica minor in 1974. Visiting is free outside services. The interior is plainly lit and calm, in contrast to the busy Altstadt outside, and information leaflets are available in several languages. The church works as both an active parish and an essential stop on a walk from the Schlossturm to the Rathaus, and visitors should dress modestly and keep quiet during worship.