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Don't forget to include the city of Dortmund in your itinerary when you visit Germany. Known as the "Green Metropolis," this home of the world's renowned chess tournament (the annual Dortmund Chess Tournament) is rich in views and ambience of green living, courtesy of the many woodlands,waterways, parks and vast agricultural spaces, giving a refreshing break from the city's economic face: steel and coal industries.

Known as “Throtmanni” when it was just a small village and overseen directly by the German emperor, Dortmund today is considered the 7th largest city in unified Germany, part of the Rhine-Ruhr German metropolitan area, one of the 11 metropolitan divisions of the nation, which was used for political and economic planning purposes. Other cities of this metropolitan grouping include Bonn, Cologne, Düsseldorf, Essen and Duisburg.

Dortmund offers a kind of unique fascination to visitors, being the place for not-so-welcome Holocaust activities during the German Nazi era, the site of grand medieval architectural marvels such as churches, opera halls and towers, and today, the hub of modern high technology industries as well as home to the victorious football sports club Borussia Dortmund, the first European Cup Winner in Germany.

CITY ATTRACTIONS:

Reinoldikirche Church - Referred to as the "Miracle of Westphalia" after having survived so many natural and man-made disasters, this historical church lies at the heart of Dartmund and is synomimous to the city itself. The Reinoldikirche was originally built in the mid-1200s in honor of Saint Reinoldus. Subsequent restorations were made, and the present structure is now in Romanesque style with a touch of gothic appeal. The church tower and the bell tower are famous attractions in themselves.

The Signal Iduna Park - Located in the industrial area of Ruhrgebiet or Ruhrpott, the name of the field was taken from the insurance company Signal Iduna Group, which bought a sponsorship arrangement with the team that will last until 2011. This is the playing field of the Borussia Dartmund football team. Adjacent to this park is another place for visitors to wander about, the Westfalenhalle, which serves as an all-purpose convention, performance and trade fair center.

The RWE Tower - Standing at 120 meters, this tower which serves as headquarters for the Rheinisch-Westfälisches Elektrizitätswerk AG, a German electric and gas company, is the highest structure in the city of Dortmund and one of the tallest in all of Germany. It is now a famous landmark and showcases the ever-changing landscape of the city.

The Haus Dellwig Castle - Located in the Lütgendortmund quarter, this 13th century moated castle is surrounded by the Dellwiger brook, a protected area and provides a sanctuary for motorists with a lush motorway graced by ponds and forests. The Castle itself is a refreshing site to behold, offering a glimpse of 17th century restoration techniques. Its main atractions include a steep tower and buildings made of timbers.

Hellweg - The Shopping Mile - Shopaholics will surely have a field day in Dortmund, as the city is famous for miles and miles of shopping areas consisting of stores that sells everything from high-end clothes, jewelry, accessory and electronic gadgets to quaint little shops that sells trinkets, books, antiques, collectibles and what-have-you. The retail therapy stretches along the shopping area of Hellweg all the way to the Rheinoldi Church, where big shopping structures like the C&A, Kaufhof, Saturn and the new Limbecker Platz are located.

Dortmund Christmas Market - Opening every November, this is one of the largest bazaars in Germany. The largest christmas tree in the world is put up in the event for visitors to marvel at, as well as an extensive collection of other holiday trees.