4521 - Düren, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany

This is a portrait of Frida Kahlo, the famous Mexican painter. It was painted by Atelierschulze (that's what written on the card). 

This postcard comes from Düren, a city in western Germany with a history stretching back more than two thousand years. Long before the Romans arrived, the region was home to the Eburones, a Celtic tribe that lived between the Meuse and Rhine rivers. They are perhaps best known for their leader, Ambiorix, who led a successful revolt against Julius Caesar's Roman legions in 54 BC.

Following the Roman conquest, Düren developed as a settlement along an important Roman road linking Cologne with the city of Tongeren in present-day Belgium. Its location helped it grow into a centre for trade and travel, laying the foundations for the city that exists today.

Over the centuries, Düren became known for its paper and textile industries, taking advantage of the clean water provided by the River Rur. Although much of the city was destroyed during the Second World War, it was rebuilt, and today it combines modern development with reminders of its long and varied past.

I enjoy receiving postcards from places like Düren because they often reveal layers of history that stretch far beyond what first meets the eye. It's fascinating to think that a modern German city stands on land once inhabited by a Celtic tribe that challenged one of history's greatest empires.