Stadterhebungsmonument (1288 City Charter Monument)

The Stadterhebungsmonument stands on Burgplatz in the Düsseldorf Altstadt, North Rhine-Westphalia, beside the Rhine and the Schlossturm. It was created by the Düsseldorf sculptor Bert Gerresheim and unveiled in 1988 for the 700th anniversary of the city. It commemorates two linked events of 1288: the Battle of Worringen on 5 June, in which Count Adolf V of Berg and allied townspeople defeated the Archbishop of Cologne, and the grant of town rights to Düsseldorf on 14 August of the same year. The bronze monument is built as a column-like relief with figures and symbols from the story, including the Count, citizens and the Düssel stream, and is meant to be read at close range. Gerresheim, known for his portrait reliefs and figure groups across the city, used the sculptural language of medieval narrative panels to tell the story to the public. The monument sits on the open stone square that was once the courtyard of the ducal castle, so it also helps visitors to picture the lost residence next to it. Preservation is good, as the bronze is cleaned and maintained by the city, and the monument stands in the open air with no entry fee and no opening hours. It is a short stop, often combined with a walk along the Rhine promenade and a visit to St. Lambertus. Visitors with an interest in medieval history will find the relationship between Worringen, the Berg dynasty and the rise of Düsseldorf easy to follow here, and the monument is a good starting point before heading to the Stadtmuseum for the fuller account of the city's development. Information boards in the area explain the lost castle and the town charter.