Home to over 500,000 people, the German city of Dortmund is the largest in the Ruhr Valley. With history dating back to the Holy Roman Empire of the ninth century, Dortmund gained early recognition as a Free Imperial City during the Middle Ages. However, it wasn’t until the Industrial Revolution of the 19th century that the region gained notoriety as being a working-class hotbed built on coal and steel. Since World War ll and the neoliberalism of the Cold War, much of Dortmund’s industry fell by the wayside. Today, Dortmund exists as a creative space for students and hi-tech industry owing to its superb transport links to other nearby European cities.
There’re many things to see and do in Dortmund but it’s the city’s football team, Borussia Dortmund that attracts visitors year on year. As one of Germany and Europe’s most successful teams, it’s worth heading to the Westfalen Stadium to experience the ‘Yellow Wall’ during a Champions League tie or learn about the deep-rooted connection between football and class at the German Football Museum. If football’s not your thing, the Florianterm is where you’ll be able to see exquisite views of the city, including St. Reinold's Church, Rombergpark Botanical Garden and Westfalenpark. Elsewhere, the pedestrianised streets of Alter Markt and Westenhellweg are filled with shopping streets and restaurants, as well as the Museum of Industry and the Museum Ostwall, the home of Germany’s best modern art.