Dortmund, NW

City of Dortmund, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany

Germany Time: Central European Time (CET)

Clock showing current time now in Central European Time Zone

View Larger Map

City of Dortmund, Germany

Dortmund is a city in Germany, located in the Bundesland of North Rhine-Westphalia. The Ruhr river flows south of the city, and the small river Emscher flows through the municipal area. The Dortmund-Ems Canal also terminates in the Dortmund Port, which is the largest European canal port, and links Dortmund to the North Sea. Dortmund is known as Westphalia's "green metropolis." Nearly half the municipal territory consists of waterways, woodland, agriculture and green spaces with spacious parks such as Westfalenpark and the Rombergpark. This contrasts with nearly a hundred years of extensive coal mining and steel milling within the city limits. Dortmund Airport is a medium-sized, but quickly growing airport 13 km east of the city centre.

Cultural history tones are set by the churches in the city centre whose towers characterise the skyline of Dortmund. The Reinoldikirche and the Marienkirche are gems of medieval architecture. The city centre of Dortmund still retains the outline of the medieval city. A ring road marks the former city wall, and the Westen-/Ostenhellweg, part of a medieval salt trading route, is still the major street bisecting the city centre. Petrikirche, a Protestant church, the building of which dates from the 14th century, is famous for the huge carved altar (known as "Golden Miracle of Dortmund"). It consists of 633 gilt carved oak figures depicting 30 scenes about Easter.

City of Dortmund, Germany official website: city.dortmund.de