Königsallee

The Königsallee (nicknamed "Kö" by the locals) is a boulevard in Düsseldorf, Germany noted for both the canal that runs along the boulevard's center, as well as for the luxury retail shopping venues located along its length.

The Königsallee stretches from Karl-Theodor-Str. to the Landskrone. A variety of exclusive and expensive shops can be found on both sides of the waterway, as well as huge department stores and shopping complexes. The products available range from luxury fur coats to high-end electronics for audiophiles, and the gamut in between. Some of the most reputed jewelry shops, designer labels and galleries have their stores here, such as Cartier, Aigner, Lacoste, Eickhoff, Jil Sander, Benetton, Gucci, Esprit, Laurel, Armani, Chanel, Escada, Hugo Boss, Joop, Kookaï, Prada and many more.

History

The boulevard was designed by Caspar Anton Huschberger when the area was redeveloped in 1802, and built to replace pre-existing fortifications. It was completed in 1804. The canal which runs through the center of the boulevard is 31m (102 ft) wide and 5m (16 ft) deep. The canal is fed by the Düssel, which was diverted to provide the nececessary water. Two wooden bridges cross the canal. On the suggestion of the landscape architect Maximilian Friedrich Weyhe, trees were planted along the boulevard and the boulevard was given the name "Kastanienallee" ("Chestnut Avenue"). After an incident in 1848, when horse manure was thrown at King Friedrich Wilhelm IV, the road was renamed "Königsallee" ("King's Avenue") as a gesture of goodwill.

References in Popular Culture

It is mentioned in Herbert Grönemeyer's 1984 hit "Bochum".

ee also

*List of leading shopping streets and districts by city

External links

* [http://www.cinema-bleu.com/Duesseldorf/Koe/koe.html Königsallee]