Nowhere can the essence and character of the Ruhr region be experienced as acutely as in Bochum. The visible industrial past, the sense of life of a vibrant city and its importance as a place of theatre and performance all combine to create a distinct profile.

The cultural life of the Ruhr metropolis is particularly exciting. Every year famous music and theatre events, such as the Ruhr Tent Festival, Bochum Total, Urbanatix, the Ruhr Triennial art festival and the Ruhr Piano Festival draw several hundred thousand visitors to the city. Regular shows at the Starlight Express Theatre and performances by the Bochum Symphony Orchestra (Bochumer Symphoniker) or Bochum Theater (Schauspielhaus Bochum) make for the best live entertainment. This city in Ruhr region has emerged as one of Europe's densest cultural landscapes. And it's certainly no coincidence that Germany's only circus variety show, Varieté et cetera, became a permanent fixture in Bochum in 1999 after seven years of touring.

The world-famous German Mining Museum, which has around 400,000 visitors each year, and the Bochum Centenary Hall (Jahrhunderthalle), a modern venue surrounded by walls dating back more than 100 years, are unrivalled in Germany. Bochum has much more to offer too - from the Bochum Museum of Art and the 'Situation Kunst' featuring exhibitions of art collections from Ruhr University and the new Museum unter Tage, through Bochum Zoo to the Zeiss Planetarium.

The Bermuda3Eck district, whose reputation extends far beyond the city walls, offers a world of gastronomy with more than 80 localities to eat or drink. The trendy district situated between Südring and Konrad-Adenauer-Platz offers more than 7,000 seats to eat and drink indoors and around a further 3,000 seats outdoors to accommodate the 3 million plus visitors each year.

UniverCity Bochum – The university city

With more than 56,000 students (winter semester 2014/2015) studying at eight different universities, Bochum is the second largest university city in North Rhine-Westphalia, and one of the top ten in Germany. Budding academics can choose from 250 courses. The universities employ nearly 10,000 people (including scientific and student support staff). Bochum, situated in North Rhine-Westphalia, is a regional centre, and with 369,000 residents (as at: 31/12/2015) it is the second largest city in Westphalia and the sixteenth largest city in Germany.

For further information: www.bochum-tourismus.de/en/index.php

Photo: Erzbahnschwinge, Stadt Bochum, Referat für Kommunikation, Lutz Leitmann