"Geschichte(n) der Königsallee" and the illustration book "Auf der Königsallee" by Christoph Baum

"Geschichte(n) der Königsallee" and the illustration book "Auf der Königsallee" by Christoph Baum.

Düsseldorf - 14 December 2021- By C. Mauer

"Geschichte(n) der Königsallee"

and the illustration book

"Auf der Königsallee"

by Christoph Baum

The Königsallee around 1900

©Christoph Baum

The Königsallee in Düsseldorf is the urban center and a treasure trove of stories. The author and illustrator Christoph Baum has discovered and drawn them in his two books the large-format illustration book "Auf der Königsallee" - a "Wimmelbuch" and "Geschichte(n) der Königsallee". The history of the "Kö" is told and illustrated from 1790 to the present day.

In 1795, the French overcame the fortifications of Düsseldorf and occupied the city. When they left again in 1801 after the peace treaty of Lunéville - the area on the left bank of the Rhine now belonged to France - they ordered these fortifications to be demolished. In 1811 the French were back and the people of Düsseldorf received Emperor Napoleon with all honors in front of the inn "Zum Luftballon" in Pempelfort. The street on which Napoleon was escorted into the city is today called Kaiserstrasse. The people of Düsseldorf liked the elegant French way of life very much and so the court architect Caspar Anton Huschberger was commissioned to lay out a magnificent avenue on the site of the former fortifications. A moat over thirty meters wide was laid out - supplied by the river Düssel and decorated with bridges and fountains. Chestnut trees were planted and the avenue was named Chestnut Avenue.

In 1846 the Prussian King Friedrich Wilhelm IV drove over the chestnut avenue when he visited Prince Friedrich. Unfortunately, the king was pelted with horse droppings. Prince Friedrich went back to Berlin and the city of Düsseldorf was henceforth considered a hotbed of anarchy.

The mayor of Düsseldorf, Ludwig Hammers, finally traveled to Berlin in 1851 to reconcile the king with Düsseldorf. In his honor, the Kastanienallee was to be called Königsallee in the future. The king accepted and Düsseldorf's reputation was restored.

"Auf der Königsallee"

Düsseldorf 1848 - the Prussian King Friedrich Wilhelm IV arriving on the Königsallee. In a detail you can see the upcoming attack with the horse droppings.

©Christoph Baum

Extract from Geschichte(n) der Königsallee - The Bergischer Löwe, which stands on the Kö and became

the godfather for the world-famous Düsseldorfer Löwensenf (lion- mustard).

©Christoph Baum

Christoph Baum's books contain everything you need to know about Königsalle. Historically correct and researched over centuries, one learns facts and secrets - all humorously illustrated and narrated.

His books are probably the most comprehensive books about Königsallee and its history. Each picture is lovingly drawn and every time you read you can discover a new detail.

The books "Auf der Königsalle" and "Geschichte(n) der Königsallee" are both published by Greven Verlag. published.

About the author

Christoph Baum, born in 1951, is a trained typesetter, and painter. He was art director for animated films such as "Käpt'n Blaubär," "Pippi Langstrumpf," "Das Doppelte Lottchen," and the cartoons awarded Erich Kästner Award-winning television series "Max und Moritz." He lives and works in Cologne.