Dortmund is a city in Germany, located in the Bundesland of North Rhine-Westphalia, in the Ruhr area. Its population of 587,830 makes it the largest city in the region, 7th-largest in Germany, and 34th-largest in the European Union.
The Ruhr river flows south of the city, and the small river Emscher flows through the municipal area. The Dortmund-Ems Canal also terminates in the Dortmund Port, which is the largest European canal port, and links Dortmund to the North Sea.
Dortmund is known as Westphalia's "green metropolis". Nearly half the municipal territory consists of waterways, woodland, agriculture and green spaces with spacious parks such as Westfalenpark and the Rombergpark. Historically seen, after nearly a hundred years of extensive coal mining, coking, and steel milling within the city limits, this is quite a contrast.

Attractions

The centre of Dormund still retains the outline of the medieval city. A ring road traverses the former site of the city wall, and West/Ostenhellweg, is still the major street bisecting the city centre.

• Reinoldikirche , built around 800 AD. The currente edifice is from 1250-1270. Restored since World War II, it has a 112 m Gothic tower once known as the "Wonder of Westphalia". The church was largely rebuilt after an earthquake in 1661.
• Petrikirche , a Protestant church dating from the 14th century. It is famous for the huge carved altar (known as "Golde Miracle of Dortmund"), from 1521. It consists of 633 gilt carved oak figures depicting 30 scenes about Easter.
• Marienkirche, a Protestant church originally built in 1170-1200 but rebuitl after World War II. The altar is from 1420.
• Florianturm (TV Tower Dortmund): One of the first TV towers built in Germany has a revolving restaurant — one of the first in the world. It offered an opportunity to bungee jump from a height of nearly 140 m. This however was discontinued after a tragic accident which resulted in a fatality.
• Signal Iduna Park: Soccer Ground of Borussia Dortmund, formerly known as the Westfalenstadion. Close to it is the Westfalenhalle, a large convention center, the site of several major conventions, trade fairs, ice-skating competitions, and other major events since the 1950s.
• Haus Bodelschwingh (13th century), a moated castle.
• Haus Dellwig (13th century), a moated castle partly rebuilt in the 17th century. Tha façade and the step tower, and two half-timbered buildings, are original.
• Haus Rodenberg (13th century), a moated castle.
• Wasserschloss Bodelschwingh.
• Romberg Park Gatehouse (17th century), once a gatehouse to a moated castle. Now it houses an art gallery.
• Opera House, built in 1966 over the old Synanogue destroyed by Nazis in 1938.