Düsseldorf French Festival

Petit Paris in Düsseldorf — 24 Years of the French Festival

The Düsseldorf French Festival is Germany's largest festival of French culture — and an established hallmark of the state capital of North Rhine-Westphalia. Since 2002, Wellfairs GmbH from Dormagen has organized the festival annually at the beginning of July. With nearly 100,000 visitors per edition and over 120 exhibitors from France, it is one of the state capital's most important international cultural festivals — alongside the Schützenfest, Carnival, and Japan Day.

Venues — Burgplatz, Town Hall, and Rhine Promenade

The festival takes place in three central Düsseldorf locations and areas:

• Burgplatz — the historic square with the Schloßturm on the Rhine, a traditional Düsseldorf festival site
• Town Hall Inner Courtyard — the courtyard, which requires a ticket and offers a sophisticated program (concerts, star-rated catering)
• Rhine Promenade — the famous Düsseldorf Rhine promenade along the Old Town, one of Germany's best walking destinations

French Offerings — 120+ Exhibitors

The stalls offer a cross-section of French product culture:

• Wines from all growing regions (Bordeaux, Burgundy, Rhône, Loire, Languedoc, Champagne)
• Champagnes from producer houses
• Delicacies: Foie gras, truffles, confit, regional saucissons, pâtés
• Cheeses from all regions (Camembert, Roquefort, Comté, Reblochon, Brie, and hundreds more)
• Bread and baked goods: Baguettes, croissants, macarons, pâtisserie
• Textiles and ceramics: Provençal fabrics, arts and crafts from Aix, Marseille, Annecy
• Bookstores with French literature
• Perfume and cosmetics (often directly from Grasse)

Music Program — French Bands

Several stages will feature French music throughout the weekend — from chanson classics (in the spirit of Édith Piaf, Charles Aznavour) to contemporary French pop, jazz manouche (Django Reinhardt heritage), and musette classics. The bands mostly come from France itself, supplemented by German artists with French affinities.

Tour de Düsseldorf — French Classic Cars

A special attraction: the Tour de Düsseldorf — a parade of classic French cars from the 1950s, 60s, and 70s. Citroën DS, 2 CV, Peugeot 504, Renault 4, Alpine A110, Bugatti, Facel-Vega — the classic cars will drive through the Old Town and be exhibited at Burgplatz. A nostalgic homage to French automotive culture.

Düsseldorf and France — Historical Relations

Düsseldorf has a special relationship with France: in the 1810s, the city was a French department (Département Roer in Napoleonic France), and since the 1980s, there has been a town twinning with Reims, France. The French Festival builds on these cultural ties — and is ideologically supported by the Club des Affaires Franco-Allemand NRW.

Admission Model

The outdoor area (Burgplatz, Rhine promenade) is freely accessible. The Town Hall Inner Courtyard requires a ticket — sophisticated concerts, tastings with star chefs, and special events take place here. This division allows the festival to be experienced both as an accessible city festival and as a premium experience.

Opening Hours

Inner Courtyard: Friday 5 PM-10 PM, Saturday 1 PM-10 PM, Sunday 12 PM-6 PM. Burgplatz/Rhine Promenade: Friday 4 PM-10 PM, Saturday 12 PM-10 PM, Sunday 12 PM-6 PM.

Location and Travel

Burgplatz, the Rhine promenade, and the Town Hall are located in the heart of Düsseldorf's Old Town. Public transport: Tram lines U70/74/75/76/77 to Heinrich-Heine-Allee, then a short walk. S-Bahn trains from the Rhine-Ruhr region to Düsseldorf Hbf, then a 10-minute walk. Düsseldorf Airport 12 minutes by S-Bahn S 11 to Hbf. By car: A 46 or A 52 to the city center — parking garages in the city center, but scarce during the festival.