Explore the old town of Düsseldorf or take in a view of the city’s riverfront and you’ll have a hard time missing St. Lambertus Cathedral. But this Catholic church is more than a skyline feature—it’s the city’s oldest surviving building, holding a treasury with saintly relics and noteworthy religious artwork on display. The church’s elevated standing in the city means that even the shortest sightseeing tours of Düsseldorf make time to include a visit.
The church has a barrier-free entrance that is accessible for people using wheelchairs. However, the nearest disabled parking spot is on Burgplatz, a little distance away.
Free guided tours of the church and treasury are provided on the last Saturday of every month, while free tours of St. Joseph's Chapel are provided on the first Saturday of the month.
Fans of expressionist art should head around to the western portal of the church, as it was designed by German sculptor Ewald Mataré in the 1950s.
In the old town of Düsseldorf, visitors can reach St. Lambertus Cathedral by following the Rheinpromenade by the river until Stiftsplatz—the square the church is on—or taking the various pedestrian streets running north until Mühlenstraße. Tonhalle/Ehrenhof subway station is the nearest public transportation option, and is on multiple routes including the U74 and U77.
St. Lambertus Cathedral is open almost every day from morning to evening, except for Monday, when it’s closed from morning to mid-afternoon. Mass is held on Sunday mornings. It’s wise to avoid visiting during large seasonal festivals in Düsseldorf, such as the Largest Fair on the Rhine festival in the summer, and when the Christmas markets take place in December.
Within the narrow streets of the old town, visitors will find a variety of places to visit before or after the cathedral. Marktplatz is at the heart of the Altstadt, and a frequent stop for tourists, with its equestrian statue of Prince Jan Wellem and the Renaissance architecture of the Town Hall behind it. Nearby lies the city’s Maritime Museum, housed within the last remaining part of Düsseldorf’s former castle, the Schlossturm.
