Germany’s first pedestrian zone
The prior ‘European Capital of Culture’ town has many things to offer. The Zollverein Coal Mine Industrial Complex is not only the landmark of Essen but also that of the whole region. Its architecture is of particular importance because it is regarded as an example of modern industrial construction.
Listed as UNESCO World Heritage the complex accommodates today the Ruhr Museum, in which the natural and cultural history of the region can be explored. Also the ‘red dot design museum’ is located here, in which design icons can be admired.
In the city centre are numerous sights to see as well. Here is the colosseum, a historical factory hall, that used to be a forging press but is today one of the most beautiful musical theatres in Germany. Then there is the cathedral, whose treasury contains artworks from around 1000 AD. Another sight worth visiting is the Museum Folkwang which houses an exceptional art collection of 19th and 20th century famous painters.
Shopping in Essen is outstanding too: the pedestrian zone was set up in the 1920s and was the first of its kind in Germany.
More information: http://www.essen.de/aktuell/PortalAktuell_E.en.jsp
Photo: Zeche Zollverein, Guenter Purin/Shutterstock
