"Essen, Cultural Capital 2010" Top 5 Page for this destination Essen by Kathrin_E

Villa Hügel

A long weekend in Essen? Huh?? Yes I did, and I thoroughly enjoyed it and can't wait to go back. The Ruhr District is, to me, the most underrated region in Germany. Since the end of coal mining in the 1980s the region underwent a profound change. The old image of a dirty industrial zone simply isn't true any more.

Essen is not exactly what I'd call a beautiful city, at least the city centre isn't. However, Essen is what I call an interesting, fascinating city with a rich cultural heritage and a long history back to the foundation of the convent in 852. It is a surprisingly green city.

Zollverein Mine

Zollverein mine is the flagship since it was promoted to the status of UNESCO World Heritage. But there is more, much more to see. Museums, worker settlements from the early industrialization, church treasures from the early middle ages, museums, art collections and theatre, the landscapes along the Ruhr river and the lakes - and 52 other cities in close vicinity, connected by a dense public transportation network.