Essen is a city in the middle of the Ruhr area and is considered to be the seventh or the eighth largest of all German Cities. It is also designated as the European Capital of Culture for the year 2010. It is one of the central industrial hubs, especially with the abundance of coal and steel.
The city displays a healthy mixture of art, culture and architecture. When there are numerous factories and industries in some part of the city, the others exhibit beautiful churches, cathedrals and museums, tracing the cultural and the architectural lineage of the Essen. The numerous theaters also provide the overture to the class and the elegance of the city. The beautiful synagogues stand in solemn remembrance of the German-Jew history.
Places to See
Some of the best places to see in the city of Essen are:- Zeche und Kokerei Zollverein: This coal mine and coking plant was once one of the largest of its kind in the world. It is now open to the tourists in Essen and has been honored the UNESCO World Cultural Heritage status. Housing some of the most interesting and precious artifacts, this site holds many art exhibitions.
- Villa Hugel, a mansion owned by corporate magnate Alfred Krupp. The mansion has a total of 296 rooms and is now home to some of the most fantastic exhibitions.
- Essen Cathedral: It is the home to some of the oldest artifacts of the world, like the crown of Emperor Otto III, the ancient scriptures of Virgin Mary and artifacts tracing back to around 1000 A.D.
The city of Essen is the cultural hub of Germany and it is the true heir to its history too.
