by Lorry Patton

Established 700 years ago, Dusseldorf is one of the Magic Cities on the Rhine located just north of Cologne and only an hour away by air from Paris or London.

Dusseldorfers (a little over half a million of them) love their city madly, proudly maintaining historic districts, developing new and innovative projects and supporting a cultural scene that dates back to the 17th century. Clean, with tree-lined streets, more than 19 museums and 100 art galleries exist in this upscale attractive city.

Advertising, art, fashion, and designing firms have invested up to 368 Euro dollars in the Media Harbor district, producing up to 3000 new jobs. Future plans include investing another 157 million Euro dollars in the 11.3 hectares on the opposite strip of land. Blueprints include restaurants, hotels and residential areas.

The architecture of the city shines - literally. Several buildings are constructed out of stainless steel and aluminum, creating a most unusual landscape and skyline. These modern edifices are bold statements to what's in store for Dusseldorf.