Kaiserswerth Imperial Palace

The Kaiserpfalz Kaiserswerth (Imperial Palace of Kaiserswerth) is the ruin of a mighty medieval stronghold on the banks of the Rhine in northern Düsseldorf. Emperor Frederick Barbarossa turned an older royal palace into a near-impregnable fortress that collected tolls from Rhine shipping for centuries. Today you can wander freely among its massive walls of dark basalt and red brick, then stroll through Kaiserswerth's charming old village, one of the prettiest corners of Düsseldorf.

A Short History

"Werth" means island: around 700, the monk Suitbert founded a monastery on an island in the Rhine, and a royal estate later grew up beside it.

• In 1062, the site saw the famous Kidnapping of Kaiserswerth, when Archbishop Anno of Cologne lured the 12-year-old King Henry IV onto his ship and seized control of the regency.
• In 1174, Barbarossa moved the Rhine toll here from Tiel in the Netherlands and expanded the palace into a fortress.
• In 1702, during the War of the Spanish Succession, allied troops took the fortress after a heavy bombardment and blew up its keep. The ruin was then used as a stone quarry for many years.

What to See

• The west wall of the great hall: about 50 meters (164 feet) wide, 14 meters high, and up to 6 meters thick.
• The outline of the keep, marked in the paving. The tower is thought to have stood about 55 meters tall.
• Walkways and a cistern that lead you through the ruins, plus modern sculptures.

Allow 30 to 45 minutes for the ruin, or half a day with the old village.

Opening Hours and Tickets

As of October 2026, the grounds are open daily from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. from Good Friday through October 31 and closed in winter. Admission is free. Guided tours in German can be arranged through the support association, and Düsseldorf Tourism runs tours of historic Kaiserswerth.

How to Get There

Take the U79 light rail from Düsseldorf Hauptbahnhof (central station) toward Duisburg and get off at Klemensplatz or Kittelbachstraße, then walk about 10 minutes to the river. The trip is covered by the Deutschlandticket. In summer, excursion boats also sail between Düsseldorf's Old Town and Kaiserswerth. Düsseldorf Airport is close by, and a bus links it with Kaiserswerth. Drivers can use the large parking lot near the ferry, about 5 minutes on foot.

Is It Worth Visiting?

Yes, if you enjoy medieval history or want a quieter side of Düsseldorf. Combine the ruin with the Basilica of St. Suitbertus and its gilded shrine, the historic market street, and the Kaiserswerth Deaconess institution, founded in 1836, where Florence Nightingale studied nursing.