Essen, lying between the rivers Emscher and Ruhr, is the largest city on the Ruhr. It owes its importance as the metropolis of the Ruhr and the headquarters of many large industrial organizations (including Ruhrkohle AG, the largest German mining company, and Rheinisch-Westfälische Elektrizitäts AG) to its situation in the middle of the Rhineland-Westphalia industrial area. In addition to its heavy industry (associated particularly with the name of Krupp) it has a variety of other industries (electrical engineering, chemicals, etc.).
Factory tours
Many industrial plants in Essen can be visited on conducted tours. For details consult the local tourist information office.
To the south of the railroad station (Hauptbahnhof) in Essen is the busy square known as the Freiheit, from which Huyssenallee leads southwest to the beautiful Stadtgarten (Municipal Park), with the Saalbau (1949-54) and the new Theater (opened 1988) which was designed by the Finnish architect Alvar Aalto (1898-1976).
On the north side of the Baldeneysee near Essen, set in a large park, is the Villa Hügel, a grandiose mansion built by the Krupp family. There is a historical collection in the Kleines Haus, and periodic special exhibitions are held in the villa.
Address: Villa Hügel, D-45133 Essen-Bredenay, Germany
Southwest of the Museum Center in Essen lies the beautiful Grugapark (70 hectares/175 acres), laid out in 1929 for the Great Ruhrland Garden Show and enlarged in 1952 and 1965, with the Grugahalle (1958), an outlook tower, exhibition halls, a botanic garden, animal enclosures, an aquarium, an amusement park, fountains and several restaurants. A narrow-gauge railroad, the Grugabahn (3.5km/2mi), runs through the park.
In the Burgplatz in Essen stands the Minster (R.C.), one of Germany's oldest churches (ninth-14th C.). The most notable features of the interior are a seven-branched bronze candelabrum (c. 1000) and the "Golden Madonna" (c. 1000; the oldest figure of the Virgin in the round in western Europe). The rich church treasury can be seen in the Bishop's Palace (1955-56).
South of the Stadtwald near Essen lies the Baldeneysee, an artificial lake 8km/5mi long formed by the construction of a dam in 1933. The open country around the lake is a popular recreation area. On its north side is the little Schloss Baldeney (13th, 17th and 19th C.).
The Design Centre in Essen is the world's largest design centre. There are more than 900 exhibitors in a modern architectural building with an area of more than 4000 square meters. The products on display at Red Dot have won the red dot design award.
Address: Design Centre, Gelsenkirchenerstrasse 181, D-45309 Essen, Germany
Hours:
January 1 to December 31: 11am-6pm; Closed: Mon
Always closed on: New Year's Day (January 1), New Year's Eve (December 31), Christmas - Christian (December 25), Christmas Eve - Christian (December 24)
Herne is the site of an annual four-day festival, Days of Old Music, which was founded in 1975 and takes place in November or December. There are usually about 10 performances, including chamber concerts, piano and organ recitals and musical instrument exhibitions. While the repertoire focuses on pre-baroque music, the theme changes every year. The events take place in the local cultural center and the Strunkede Palace.
Address: Tage Alter Musik in Herne, Postfach 18 20, D-44629 Herne, Germany
Essen's principal shopping streets (pedestrian zone) are Kettwiger Strasse and Limbecker Strasse, which run northwest from the Markt. In the square is the little Marktkirche (Market Church; Protestant), which is thought to date from the 11th century (renovated 1952).
The Werden abbey church (13th C.), to the south of the Baldeneysee near Essen, which belonged to a Benedictine abbey founded by St Ludger, is one of the finest Late Romanesque churches in the Rhineland (Late Baroque interior; treasury, with a bronze crucifix of 1060 and St Ludger's Chalice, c. 900).
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Herne - Days of Old Music, Germany
Essen
