The iconic Kiessling, pastry shop, established in 1901 at the heart of the German Concession.

The German Concession was established in 1899 and lasted a mere 18 years till 1917, the end of World War I. That said, the Germans invested their territory with a distinctly Teutonic identity.

Sitting to the Southeast of the British Concession along the White River, the German Concession was almost as big as the former. The Road that begins as Rue de France, becomes Victoria Street and at times Woodrow Wilson Street, morphs into Kaiser-Wilhelmstrasse here.

Along and around Kaiser-Wilhelmstrasse sit some of the German Concessions most important buildings – many of which still stand today. The Concordia Club is one of the most important buildings here, as are the German Concert Hall, and the iconic Kiessling pastry shop, established in 1901 and still in operation today.

Further down Kaiser-Wilhelmstrasse – past rows of spanking new skyscrapers sits another cluster of German-era buildings straight out of a Grimms fairy tale. This cluster of low-rise villas have been restored and now the entire block constitutes a new Hotel Indigo establishment.

Finally, along the waterfront sit a few remaining examples of German-style villas from the colonial era.

The Concert Hall

Along Kaiser Wilhelmstrasse sit many buildings, restored or otherwise, from the Concession Era…

The German Concordia Club

Across from the Concordia sits a fairytale castle

Beside it….another palace

The black building…

Accommodations of a more modest kind, along Kaiser-Wilhelmstrasse.

Villa that is part of a block of restored villas forming Hotel Indigo.

Another villa from the Hotel Indigo cluster – note the mediaeval domed turret.

Villa with a mediaeval roof.

Yet another vllla.

The main event – this is the present reception of the Hotel Indigo. It was probably the former residence of the German Governor.

German apartments…

Villa along the waterfront.

And finally…