"In the heart of the Ruhr area" a Essen Travel Page by hundertmorgen

The Ruhr area (German das Ruhrgebiet or, colloquially, der Ruhrpott) is a metropolitan area in Germany consisting of a number of large industrial cities bordered by the rivers Ruhr (to the south), Rhine (west) and Lippe (north). In the east, it borders the Bergisches Land.

The area includes the cities of (from the west to the east) Duisburg, Oberhausen, Bottrop, Mülheim, Essen, Gelsenkirchen, Bochum, Herne and Dortmund. The cities of the areas have grown into one large complex forming an industrial landscape of unique size. The area is often mistakenly perceived as one city because the borderlines between the individual cities are not drawn on many maps. The area first grew during the Industrial Revolution, mainly basing its economy on mining coal.<br>

Today Essen is the sixth largest city of Germany. Population: 608,700 (1999).

Despite its largeness the city is not as well-known as other cities of comparable size. This is due to the lack of historical tradition. Essen was an insignificant agricultural place until the 19th century, although founded as early as about 850. The mining of coal and ore led to the growth of the city and the entire Ruhr area. Essen is the home of the Krupp family; the family established steel production in Essen in 1811.

<blockquote>SIGHTS IN ESSEN:

Cathedral (Münster): 14th century, enlarged and rebuilt in 1958; not spectacular in appearance, but the interior is famous (many artworks from around 1000 AD, crown of emperor Otto III).

Old Synagogue (Alte Synagoge): Largest synagogue north of the Alps; built in 1913, it was burnt out in the Nazi pogroms of 1938, but the framework survived the fascistic terror; restored after the war.

Meteorit: A subterranean adventure park designed by the Austrian artist Andre Heller, mainly featuring light effects.

Zeche Zollverein: Coal mine built in 1932, closed in 1986. The huge mine shafts are now open for visitors. They are listed in the UNESCO World Heritage.

Lichtburg: This cinema has with 1250 seats the largest (and the most beautiful) cinema hall in Germany, build 1928.

Werden: Once a city of its own, it became a borough of Essen in 1929; there is still a medieval townscape with many pubs and restaurants along the car-free streets.<blockquote>