Essen is one of the largest cities in the Ruhr area and in the state of North Rhine-Westphalia. The city is located in the area between the rivers Emscher in the north and Ruhr in the south. Essen was founded in the mid-9th century, but remained relatively small until industrialization, which transformed Essen into one of Germany’s most important coal and steel cities. The population thus increased from around 5,000 in 1830 to more than 230,000 in 1905, and due to the enormous industry in the city, Essen was a major bombing target during World War II.
Central Essen is characterized by new buildings from the time after the war, when 90% of the center was destroyed. There are several streets and squares such as Kennedyplatz, Markt with the Marktkirche church and Burgplatz, where you can see the Essener Münster cathedral, which was consecrated in 1316. The Essener Domschatz museum is located next to the church, which belongs to Germany’s finest collections of religious art. Close to this is the beautiful Alte Synagoge from 1913, and at Essen’s main railway station you can see examples of newer buildings such as the Deutschlandhaus from 1929.
In Essen, there is also the opportunity to take a closer look at the industrial history of the city and the area. This can be seen at the museum Zeche Zollverein, which is located on a former mine where coal was mined from 1851 to 1986. Today, the site is set up as an interesting industrial museum, and Zeche Zollverein, together with the nearby coking plant, Kokerei Zollverein, is adopted on the UNESCO World Heritage List for the sites’ architecture and role in the development of heavy industry.
In the industrial buildings of the Zollverein, you can also visit the design museum Red Dot, which is interestingly furnished in the industrial setting. The same applies to the Ruhr Museum, which describes the cultural and natural history of the Ruhr area. There are also other museums in Essen, such as the art museum, Museum Folkwang, whose collections and exhibitions are concentrated on art from the 1800s and 1900s. Part of the museum is set up as the Deutsche Plakat Museum, which offers one of the world’s largest poster collections.
Zeche Zollverein was founded in 1847 and operated as a coal mine and coking plant until 1986. The facility is often called the world’s most beautiful coal mine, and it is especially Schacht XII, built in 1928–1932 in the Bauhaus style by architects Fritz Schupp and Martin Kremmer, that stands as an icon of industrial architecture. The clear geometric shapes, the red brick facades combined with steel and glass, and the striking double tower construction above the mine shaft make the complex an architectural masterpiece. It is precisely this combination of functionality and aesthetics that made the site famous, and it achieved a place on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2001.
After its closure, the facility was converted into a cultural center and is today one of the most important landmarks of the Ruhr area. The old industrial buildings now house the Ruhr Museum, which tells the industrial history of the area, and the Red Dot Design Museum, which exhibits modern design in a raw industrial setting. In addition, the Zollverein is used as a setting for concerts, art projects, sports events and Christmas markets.
For visitors, the Zollverein is both a monument to the Ruhr area’s industrial heyday and a vibrant cultural center. The impressive machine halls, conveyor belts and coke ovens can be experienced on guided tours, where you get an insight into the lives of the workers and the enormous production apparatus. At the same time, from the area you can experience exciting architecture, green recreational areas and the observation tower, which offers a panorama of the area and the whole of Essen.
The Ruhr Museum is a museum located in the old Zollverein coal mine, Schacht XII, and is itself a central part of the UNESCO World Heritage site around the former mine. The museum was inaugurated in 2010, when Essen was the European Capital of Culture, and it has since been the most important place for the dissemination of the natural and cultural history of the Ruhr area. The collections range from geology and archaeology to industrial history and contemporary culture.
The building, which previously housed the coal washing plant, is an architectural attraction in itself. It was rebuilt by the renowned office OMA under the leadership of Rem Koolhaas. The raw industrial structures such as conveyor belts, steel structures and concrete elements were preserved and supplemented with modern exhibition architecture. The most striking addition is a 58-meter-long orange staircase that serves as both an entrance and a landmark.
In terms of content, the Ruhr Museum is more than a classic local history museum. It tells the entire history of the Ruhr district from the earliest settlements to the heyday of coal mining and the transition to a post-industrial cultural region. The museum thus functions both as a learning space, as an identity anchor for the local population and as a tourist attraction that conveys the transformation of the Ruhr area.
The Red Dot Design Museum is located in the former boiler buildings of the Zeche Zollverein and is today one of the world’s largest museums for contemporary design. It opened in 1997 and houses over 2,000 exhibited products, all of which are winners of the prestigious Red Dot Design Award. The museum displays a wide range of modern product design, from furniture and kitchenware to cars and high-tech equipment.
The architecture of the building itself is a central part of the experience. The old boiler house was converted by the British star architect Norman Foster, who, with great respect for the original industrial architecture, integrated exhibition spaces into the existing steel frame. The high, industrial spaces with steel structures and raw brick walls create a dramatic contrast to the smooth, modern design objects. The exhibition architecture thus becomes a dialogue between past and present.
The Zollverein Coal Plant is part of the enormous UNESCO World Heritage Site Zollverein and was built between 1958 and 1961 as the most modern coking plant in Europe. Here, coal was converted into coke, which was an indispensable raw material in steel production. The plant was in operation until 1993 and at its peak could produce up to 10,000 tons of coke per day. Kokerei Zollverein is therefore not just a technical facility, but a key element of the Ruhr area’s industrial heritage.
Architecturally, the plant was planned by the architectural firm Fritz Schupp and Martin Kremmer, who were also behind the Zollverein mine itself. The building follows the so-called Neue Sachlichkeit style, which is characterized by clear lines, functionalism and an almost monumental simplicity. The enormous coke ovens, conveyor belts and chimneys are positioned with mathematical precision, creating a tight and almost architectural rhythm. At the same time, the plant was built as an architectural monument to modernity.
Markt is Essen’s old market square. It dates back to the Middle Ages and was the heart of the city for centuries. This is where merchants, farmers and citizens met to sell goods, and the market square was closely linked to the city’s role as a trading town. As early as the 9th and 10th centuries, there was a monastery and buildings around the area, making it one of the oldest urban spaces in Essen.
Architecturally, the Markt was eventually surrounded by half-timbered houses, merchant’s houses and later stone houses, which became symbols of the prosperity of the citizens. The market square was the center of the city’s market law and therefore had a special legal and economic status. During industrialization, Essen grew rapidly, but the market square remained part of the city’s old identity. Unfortunately, many of the historic buildings were destroyed during the Allied bombings in World War II.
Today, the Markt is still part of the city center of Essen, although much changed as a result of the destruction caused by the bombs. It primarily functions as an open space for markets and events, and several modern buildings frame the area. The atmosphere is no longer medieval, but the memory of Essen’s roots as a market and trading town is still there.
The Marktkirche is the oldest Protestant church in Essen and a central monument to the Reformation in the Ruhr area. It was originally built in the 11th century as a Romanesque church, but was rebuilt in Gothic style in the 14th century. After the Reformation was introduced in Essen in 1563, the church was handed over to the Lutheran congregation, making it one of the most important Protestant churches in the region.
The building is architecturally characterized by Gothic features such as pointed windows, cross vaults and a tall, slender tower structure. The interior is more sober than in Catholic churches, reflecting the Protestant tradition. The church’s central location on the market square gave it an important role in the city’s public life. During World War II, the Marktkirche was heavily damaged, but in the 1950s it was rebuilt with respect for the historical forms.
Burgplatz is one of the most historically important places in Essen, as it was from here that the development of the city began. As early as the 9th century, a monastery was built, which later became the Essen Diocese. It was a rich and powerful monastic institution led by abbesses from noble families. Burgplatz was the center of this diocese and thus also the political and economic heart of medieval Essen.
Architecturally, Burgplatz today is a mixture of new and old. Here stands the Essen Cathedral, formally called Dom Sankt Paulus, and the museum Domschatzkammer. You can also see remains of the old monastery walls and foundations. The area is protected as a cultural heritage and gives an impression of how Essen functioned in the Middle Ages as a mixture of religious and secular center.
Essen Cathedral, officially called Dom Sankt Paulus, is the oldest church in the city. It dates back to a nunnery founded around 850 by Altfrid, who was bishop of Hildesheim. In the Middle Ages, the church was the center of one of the most powerful monastic principalities in the Holy Roman Empire. The current building dates mainly from the 13th century, when it was built in the Gothic style, but it also contains Romanesque elements from earlier churches on the site.
One of the cathedral’s most famous works of art is the Golden Madonna, Goldene Madonna, a wooden sculpture from around 980 covered with gilded copper and enamel. It is considered the oldest surviving Madonna sculpture in Europe and one of the most important examples of art during the Ottonian dynasty. Other highlights are the shrines with the relics of saints, medieval altarpieces and the beautiful stained glass windows. These can be seen in the Essener Domschatz.
During World War II, the cathedral was heavily damaged, but rebuilt in the 1950s. The restoration respected the historical styles, but also integrated modern elements. Today, the cathedral serves as both the parish church and the cathedral of the Diocese of Essen, which was established in 1958. It is an important pilgrimage site and a symbol of the city’s thousand-year-old religious tradition.
Essen Cathedral Treasure is one of the most valuable church treasures in Germany. It contains unique works of art from the Ottonian period in the 10th and 11th centuries. The treasure was created in connection with the Essen Diocese, where powerful abbesses collected and commissioned works of art of the highest quality. Many of the objects are unique and represent Christian art from early medieval Germany.
Among the highlights are the Golden Madonna, Goldene Madonna, from around 980 and thus Europe’s oldest surviving Madonna sculpture, as well as several magnificent reliquaries and altar crosses. In addition, the treasure contains textiles, gospel books with precious stone covers, and jewelry. Many of these works testify to the role of the Essen Abbey as one of the most important nunneries in the Holy Roman Empire.
The Cathedral Treasury is now a museum next to the Essen Cathedral and is open to the public. The exhibition is modernly staged with a focus on both art history and religious significance. For art and history enthusiasts, the Essen Cathedral Treasury offers a unique opportunity to experience some of the finest preserved objects from Germany’s Middle Ages.
Villa Hügel was built in 1870–1873 by the industrial dynasty Krupp and was the family’s headquarters for more than 70 years. The villa has 269 rooms and is located in a 28-hectare park overlooking the Baldeneysee. Architecturally, the villa is a combination of a classicist-inspired mansion and a technological marvel of its time. It was built with its own power plant, central heating, ventilation system and an early form of electrical installations, all to demonstrate the Krupp family’s wealth and technical ability.
Inside, the rooms are characterized by sumptuous halls with stucco, wood panels and large collections of paintings. The impressive Große Saal was used for representative purposes, while the rest of the villa served as a residence, office and guest house for politicians and royalty. Villa Hügel was not only a private home, but also a symbol of the power and influence of the Krupp family. The Krupp family thus played a crucial role in Germany’s industrialization and later in the arms industry.
Today the villa is open to the public and functions as a museum. The exhibitions tell partly about the history and influence of the Krupp family, partly about the importance of industrialization for the Ruhr area. In addition, the large hall is used for concerts and cultural events.
The Museum Folkwang is one of Germany’s most famous art museums. It was founded in 1902 by the collector Karl Ernst Osthaus in Hagen, but moved to Essen in 1922. The museum quickly gained a reputation as a pioneer in modern art, and was one of the first in the world to systematically collect impressionists and expressionists.
Today the museum contains works by, among others, van Gogh, Cézanne, Gauguin, Monet, Matisse, Kandinsky and Picasso. The collection covers the period from the 19th century to the present day and includes paintings, sculptures, photography and posters. During the Nazi era, many works were confiscated as so-called degenerate art, but after 1945 the collection was rebuilt and expanded.
The building itself is an architectural highlight. In 2010, a new museum building designed by David Chipperfield Architects opened. It combines modern minimalism with openness, large glass areas and flexible exhibition spaces.
The Deutsche Plakat Museum in Essen is a unique institution that was founded in 1974 and is now part of the Museum Folkwang. The museum has a collection of more than 350,000 posters, making it the largest of its kind in the world. The collection covers everything from advertising and propaganda to artistic posters and posters for political campaigns, and it extends from the 19th century to the present day.
Architecturally, the museum does not have its own independent building, but is integrated into the modern building complex of the Museum Folkwang. The posters are thus exhibited in flexible, changing galleries, where graphic design and imagery are allowed to unfold in an artistic framework. By being part of the Folkwang context, poster art is given an equal place with painting, sculpture and photography, which underlines the institution’s recognition of graphic design as an art form.
The museum is of great importance for research into visual culture. Posters are not only advertising images, but also documents of the time that reflect political, social and aesthetic trends.
Grugapark, a short version of Große Ruhrländische Gartenbau-Ausstellung, was created in 1929 in connection with a large garden exhibition. The park covers more than 70 hectares and is one of Germany’s largest city parks. It combines botanical gardens, theme gardens, sculpture parks, recreational areas and playgrounds, making it a popular green heart of Essen.
Architecturally and in terms of landscape, Grugapark is interesting because it combines functionalist park design from the 1920s with later expansions in the post-war period. There are large flower gardens, greenhouses with exotic plants and a rose garden with more than 40,000 plants. In addition, sculptures by various artists such as Henry Moore have been preserved.
The Alte Synagoge Essen is a synagogue in Essen, which was built between 1911 and 1913 in monumental Art Nouveau style. It was one of the largest synagogues in Germany, with a capacity of around 1,400 people. The building was built of light sandstone with a mighty dome and a facade characterized by clear lines and geometric patterns. It represents a mixture of oriental and modernist styles, which was typical of synagogue buildings at the beginning of the 20th century.
During Kristallnacht in 1938, the synagogue was set on fire, but the building’s masonry survived. After World War II, the ruins stood as a memorial, and in the 1980s, extensive restoration began. Today, the Alte Synagoge no longer functions as a religious center, but as a cultural and documentation center for Jewish history in the Ruhr area.
Inside, you can experience exhibitions about Jewish religion, culture and history. The synagogue is also a memorial to the Jewish victims of the Holocaust. The architecture with its domed space and high windows creates a monumental, almost cathedral-like atmosphere, emphasizing the building’s importance as both a cultural heritage site and a memorial.
Kennedyplatz is today one of Essen’s central squares. It is also an important meeting point for city life, but the square has a dramatic history. Originally, the area was densely built up and part of the medieval city quarters. During World War II, large parts of the city center, including this part of the city, were destroyed by air bombing, and after the war, the square was converted into an open space as part of the reconstruction. In 1963, it was given its current name in honor of American President John F. Kennedy. This happened shortly after his death.
Architecturally, Kennedyplatz is not characterized by historical buildings, but by modern post-war architecture. Around the square are office buildings, hotels and commercial properties from the 1950s to the 1970s, where functionalism and austere building styles dominated. The large open area was deliberately created to function as the city’s living room, which was to be a gathering place for events in contrast to the narrow medieval streets that previously characterized Essen. Today, Kennedyplatz is known as the city’s event space. It hosts Christmas markets, open-air concerts, festivals and sporting events.
The Deutschlandhaus in Essen is a building from the interwar period, where it was built in the 1920s as a multifunctional office and commercial building. It represents the sober neoclassicism of the time with a monumental facade, regular rows of windows and the use of sandstone and concrete. The building quickly became a landmark in modern Essen, which at that time was growing rapidly due to the coal and steel industry.
Architecturally, the Deutschlandhaus is characterized by strict symmetry and an expression that signals solidity and functionality. The large, striking facade facing the street emphasizes the building’s status as an office complex for important companies. At the same time, the style reflects a transition from decorative Art Nouveau to a more functional and different representative architecture.
Today, the Deutschlandhaus is still used for business and administration, but the building is also recognized as an important example of Essen’s urban development in the 20th century. Its preservation and maintenance are part of the efforts to maintain the city’s architectural diversity, where medieval times, industrialization and modern times can be experienced side by side.
The Aalto-Theater is Essen’s modern opera house and one of the most striking examples of 20th-century theater architecture in Germany. The building is named after the Finnish architect Alvar Aalto, who won the design competition in 1959. However, Aalto died before construction began, and it was not until 1983-1988 that the project was realized according to his plans. The opera house was officially inaugurated in September 1988 and has since been the home of the Aalto-Musiktheater and the Aalto Ballett Essen.
The architecture is characterized by Aalto’s organic form, where curved lines and harmonious proportions create an almost sculptural building. The facade in white stone and glass breaks with the classical opera tradition, which usually leans towards pompous historicism. Inside, a blue and white colour scheme dominates, which Aalto deliberately chose to create calm and elegance. The large hall seats around 1,100 spectators and is renowned for its excellent acoustics, which are considered among the best in Europe.
Today, the Aalto-Theater is internationally recognised as a leading opera house and has received awards for both its artistic programme and its architecture. It marks Essen as a high-level cultural city and is an important landmark in the Ruhr area’s transformation from an industrial city to a cultural metropolis. The combination of Aalto’s visionary architecture and a dynamic repertoire has made the house one of the city’s most visited attractions.
The Philharmonie Essen is one of Germany’s oldest and most traditional concert halls. The original building, the Saalbau, was built in 1904 as a cultural and community centre for the citizens of Essen, and was originally intended as a centre for the city’s musical life. The building was damaged during World War II, but was rebuilt in a simplified form and served as the city’s concert hall for decades.
In 1999–2004, the Philharmonie Essen underwent extensive renovation and modernization. The project included a complete reconstruction of the historic Saalbau and the creation of modern concert facilities. The architects succeeded in combining the classical exterior with an interior hall of state-of-the-art design and acoustics. The large Alfried Krupp-Saal can accommodate around 1,900 spectators and is today considered one of the best concert halls in the world, on a par with Vienna and Amsterdam.
Architecturally, the Philharmonie Essen combines the historical setting from the beginning of the 20th century with contemporary elegance and functionality. The hall’s warm wood paneling, bright colors and flexible stage equipment create an atmosphere that is both intimate and monumental. The Philharmonie Essen is home to the Essen Philharmonic and is also one of the most important concert venues in Germany for classical music, jazz and world music.
The Westenergie-Turm, also known as the RWE-Turm, is one of the most striking skyscrapers in Essen. The office tower was built in 1994–1996 as the headquarters of the energy group RWE, which has historically been one of the largest companies in the Ruhr area. The building was designed by the architectural firm Ingenhoven, Overdiek und Partner and was the tallest building in Essen when it was inaugurated.
Architecturally, the Westenergie-Turm is a modern high-rise building of 127 meters with 30 floors. The cylindrical design and the extensive glass facades give the tower a light and transparent expression, which was deliberately intended to signal openness and modernity in contrast to the heavy industrial architecture for which the Ruhr area was known. The building was also equipped with innovative energy solutions and sustainable technologies, which was unusual for high-rise buildings in the 1990s.
The Westenergie-Turm is still a distinctive profile in the Essen skyline and is visible from a long distance. It has not always functioned only as an office building, but also as a landmark with a viewing terrace at a height of 120 meters. It is still one that can be visited on special occasions.
Duisburg is one of the bigger cities of the Ruhr area. It is located in the state of North Rhine-Westphalia at the point where the river Ruhr flows into the Rhine. The strategically good location has brought trade and a membership of the Hanseatic League and later and development into a significant industrial city with a large river port, which still is the case. With industrialization, e.g. the significant iron and steel industry, Duisburg became a major target for bombing during World War II.
Today, Duisburg is therefore a city where you can explore streets and squares from the latter half of the 20th century to today, but there are also places where you can see some of the old Duisburg. This goes for the squares Alter Markt and Burgplatz, which formed the historic center. Here you can see the city’s town hall, which was built in historicist style 1897-1902, and Salvatorkirche church, which was built in Gothic style from the 14th century. There are also completely new landmarks such as the Tiger & Turtle Magic Mountain roller coaster south of the centre.
Wuppertal is a large city in the Ruhr area. It is located on the banks of the river Wupper and is formally a fairly new town, having been formed by merging Barmen and Elberfeld in 1929. The following year, the town name Barmen-Elberfeld was changed to Wuppertal after a vote among the citizens. The town of Elberfeld dates back to the 12th century, while Barmen is mostly known as an important industrial town.
The area around Wupper was one of Germany’s first industrial areas, and Wuppertal’s background as a large industrial city is undeniable. The most famous sight in the city is the Wuppertaler Schwebebahn, an electric elevated railway with hanging trains from the years 1897-1903. The line is an interesting feature of engineering, connecting the towns of Vohwinkel, Elberfeld and Barmen over a stretch of 13.3 km, most of which is over the river Wupper.
Dortmund is one of the largest cities in the state of North Rhine-Westphalia and in the Ruhr area, Germany’s most populous region. The city was founded in 882, and it got its current name from the 13th century, when forms of Dortmund appeared. In more recent times, Dortmund became the center of coal and steel production in Prussia, and due to the extensive industrial production, the city was a major bombing target during World War II.
Today, Dortmund’s streetscape is very colorful due to the mixture of renovation works and new development after the end of the war and the reconstruction of selected buildings. An example of the architectural contrasts can be seen at Friedensplatz, where the Altes Stadthaus from 1899 stands opposite Dortmund’s modern town hall. Close to this are the squares Alter Markt and Hansaplatz, which also feature modern buildings.
Zollverein, Essen
Overview of Essen
Essen is one of the largest cities in the Ruhr area and in the state of North Rhine-Westphalia. The city is located in the area between the rivers Emscher in the north and Ruhr in the south. Essen was founded in the mid-9th century, but remained relatively small until industrialization, which transformed Essen into one of Germany’s most important coal and steel cities. The population thus increased from around 5,000 in 1830 to more than 230,000 in 1905, and due to the enormous industry in the city, Essen was a major bombing target during World War II.
Central Essen is characterized by new buildings from the time after the war, when 90% of the center was destroyed. There are several streets and squares such as Kennedyplatz, Markt with the Marktkirche church and Burgplatz, where you can see the Essener Münster cathedral, which was consecrated in 1316. The Essener Domschatz museum is located next to the church, which belongs to Germany’s finest collections of religious art. Close to this is the beautiful Alte Synagoge from 1913, and at Essen’s main railway station you can see examples of newer buildings such as the Deutschlandhaus from 1929.
In Essen, there is also the opportunity to take a closer look at the industrial history of the city and the area. This can be seen at the museum Zeche Zollverein, which is located on a former mine where coal was mined from 1851 to 1986. Today, the site is set up as an interesting industrial museum, and Zeche Zollverein, together with the nearby coking plant, Kokerei Zollverein, is adopted on the UNESCO World Heritage List for the sites’ architecture and role in the development of heavy industry.
About the Essen travel guide
Contents: Tours in the city + tours in the surrounding area
Published: Released soon
Author: Stig Albeck
Publisher: Vamados.com
Language: English
About the travel guide
The Essen travel guide gives you an overview of the sights and activities of the German city. Read about top sights and other sights, and get a tour guide with tour suggestions and detailed descriptions of all the city’s most important churches, monuments, mansions, museums, etc.
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