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Home Page > Travelogues > Germany > Nordrhein-Westfalen (North Rhine and Westphalia) Quick Access for this Page -- [ Introduction ] [ Travelogues ] [ Links ]
Click on the colored areas of the map to access a travelogue. The colors indicate different regions of Nordrhein-Westfalen -- scroll down for explanation and introduction for each location. (Original map comes from the CIA World Factbook, inset map comes from www.entry.de) Introduction. Nordrhein-Westfalen is the heart of the German industrial base,
Th other two locations posted are all repeat-visit spots. I've done Aachen twice and Bonn twice, although my first visit to Bonn in 1997 to correct a visa problem really doesn't count. I also featured this region extensively in my feature series on Christmas Markets, where I had the chance to visit Düsseldorf (but not long enough to give it a proper story). My "list" of desired places to visit in the province are many. For a long time, I've wanted to get up to the Roman city of Xanten about an hour north of Cologne. Like Trier in Rheinland-Pfalz, Xanten has a number of ancient ruins in an archaeological park. I also want to get back to Düsseldorf and explore it more thoroughly. In Westphalia, my number one target is Münster with its completely-renovated medieval downtown, but Paderborn and the Teutonic forest have been highly recommended to me.
Links. The below links connect you to external sites in a new window. All links are official sites sanctioned by the national, state, or local governments unless otherwise indicated. These links will open to the German-language home page, which will offer an icon or link to an English-language section (normally limited content). Most of these pages use a British or US flag icon as the link to English content, while others will use the word "English". Otherwise, look for "tourismus" which should link you to English-language content. Links updated 15 January 2006.
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centered around the growing metropolis along the Ruhr Valley connecting a
half-dozen major cities from Düsseldorf to Dortmund. As the name might
suggest, the state is the combination of former states (or kingdoms) of North
Rhine and Westphalia. I've been to the North Rhein part a number of times but
yet to get to Westphalia. Also, my visits have been mostly to visit one
location -- Cologne and its world reknowned massive Cathedral 
and
climbed the 560 or so steps to the very top. Then, for a while, Cologne
became one of my primary destinations to take visiting family and friends.
As of late July, I've climbed the Cathedral fo
ur
times, and my knees remind me of that fact for days afterwards. Cologne
would be the second travelogue I would post on this site when I launched it back
in May of 2001 (after my original page on Heidelberg, in fact).
he Rhein River.
Three travelogues are offered here. First and foremost is 
rn-day 
