Essen | ||
Coat of arms and flag | ||
State | Germany | |
---|---|---|
Federated state | North Rhine-Westphalia | |
Region | Ruhr region | |
Altitude | 116 m a.s.l. | |
Surface | 210 km² | |
Inhabitants | 582.624 (2015 census) | |
Prefix tel | 49 201/2054 | |
POSTAL CODE | 45001–45359 | |
Time zone | UTC 1 | |
Patron | Saints Cosma and Damiano | |
Position
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Tourism site | ||
Institutional website | ||
Essen is a city of North Rhine-Westphalia in Ruhr region.
To know
Second city of Ruhr basin after Dortmund and fourth city of Land, after Colony, Düsseldorf is Dortmund, Essen has linked its name to the family's steel mills Krupp, who managed them for about a century and a half, from 1811 to 1960. Still Essen is home to one of the two headquarters of ThyssenKrupp, the main European steel company, founded in 1999 by the merger between Thyssen of the nearby Duisburg and Krupp of the homonymous family.
In 2010 Essen was the European capital of culture. Three years later, the second European edition of the Star Wars convention was held in the city, the "Star Wars Celebration Europe II", which in three days marked an influx of 20,000 visitors.
How to orient yourself
Neighborhoods
Essen is divided into 9 urban districts (Stadtbezirk), each comprising several districts (StadtteiL). The most interesting ones for visitors are, in addition to the center, three others listed below:
- Rüttenscheid a trendy district with various restaurants, bars, night clubs and various possibilities shopping.
- Kettwig a historic district with 17th and 18th century houses that escaped the bombings of World War II.
- Werden an old village now incorporated into the city of Essen. There is a historic Benedictine abbey.
How to get
How to get around
What see
- 1 Coal mines of the Zollverein (Zeche Zollverein), Arendahls Wiese, ☎ 49 201 246810, @[email protected]. Museum special exhibits € 10. Grounds 6 AM-4PM; Visitor Center / Museum 10 AM-6PM. . An industrial site of historical importance included in the 2001 list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites. The mines and industrial plants were closed in 1993, following the steel and coal mining crisis that hit the European continent. The structures were transformed into museums. Some of these are interesting examples of Bauhaus architecture, others, such as well n. 10, which became a symbol of Zeche Zollverein, are daring industrial constructions of the 60s of the twentieth century.
- 2 Red Dot Design Museum, Gelsenkirchener Straße 181 (next to the Zeche Zollverein), ☎ 49 201 3010460. Set up in a four-storey building where the boilers were located, the museum was inaugurated on April 29, 1997 after renovations carried out and designed by the Norman Foster architecture studio in London. In an area of 4,000 square meters, more than 2,000 objects are exhibited covering 60 years of design history, from car models of the most famous German brands to bathtubs with an unusual shape.
- 3 Folkwang Museum, Goethestraße 41, ☎ 49 201-8845000. Museum of modern and contemporary art inaugurated in 1902 in the city of Hagen whose collections were acquired twenty years later by the Folkwang foundation and then moved to their current location. Most of its collections were hidden or destroyed by the Nazis as part of their campaign against "degenerate art". They were partly found after the war and in the following decades the administration of the museum was able, thanks to funding from the Krupp family, to purchase new works that replaced the lost ones. Today you can admire several masterpieces, mostly of Impressionist and Expressionist art such as Claude Monet's Rouen Cathedral (1892-1894), Paul Cézanne's Bibemus Quarry (1898) and Paul Gauguin's Woman with a Fan (1902).
- 4 Villa Hügel, Hügel 15, ☎ 49 201 616 290, fax: 49 201-6162911, @[email protected]. The magnificent mansion of the Krupp family built in 1870 in a neoclassical style. In 1945 the British control commission was established there, confining Alfried Krupp to a nearby dependence das kleines Haus (the little house). Villa Hügel is now open to the public. There are special exhibitions and concerts by the Folkwang chamber orchestra.
- 5 Cathedral (Essener Münster). Raised in 845 A.D. as an abbey church and rebuilt several times in the following centuries, Essen Cathedral was almost completely destroyed during the Second World War. The current appearance is due to a reconstruction in 1958. The crypt remains of the previous church, modeled on the example of the Palatine Aachen. Inside there are several works of art such as the sculptural group depicting the burial of Christ. There is also the funeral monument of Bishop Altfrid (9th century) considered as the founder of Essen. In the treasury of the cathedral various sacred works of art are exhibited such as the so-called Golden Madonna, the oldest Marian reproduction as an all-round sculpture north of the Alps. Among the works of secular art, the crown of Otto III of Saxony, emperor of Holy Roman Empire from 996 to 1002 and the Burgundian fibulae, a 14th century orificeria masterpiece studded with 16 precious gems.
- 6 St. Ludgerus, Brückstraße 77 (Werden district), ☎ 49 201 490050. Neo-Romanesque church from 1890. Inside there is a huge organ with 2000 pipes.
- 7 Ancient Synagogue (Alte Synagoge), Edmund-Körner-Platz 1, ☎ 49 201 8845218.
- 8 Grugapark, Virchowstraße 167, ☎ 49 201 8883106. Mon-Sun 09: 00-22: 00. The vast central park. Inside are the exhibition spaces, the music pavilion and the botanical garden with several greenhouses and artificial waterfalls.
Events and parties
- Week of lights (Essener Lichtwochen).
What to do
- 1 Alte Badeanstalt, Altenessener Str. 393, ☎ 49 201 8331196. Sauna, swimming pool and fitness center.
Shopping
How to have fun
Shows
- 1 Aalto-Theater, Opernplatz. 10, ☎ 49 201 81220. Home to the Essen opera since 1988, the theater is the work of the architect Finnish Alvar Aalto whose project won the tender for its realization in 1959. The shows are of high quality and in 2008 it was awarded the title of best opera house of the year.
- 2 Colosseum-Theater, Altendorfer Straße 1, ☎ 49 180-5114113.
- 3 Philharmonie Saalbau, Huyssenallee 53, ☎ 49 201 812 28801. Classical music concerts held by Essener Philharmoniker.
- 4 Grugahalle, Norbertstraße 2, ☎ 49 201 72440. Concert hall where international music stars perform. Sports meetings of various kinds are also held there.
- 5 Zeche Carl, Wilhelm-Nieswandt-Allee 100, ☎ 49 201 8344410. A former coal mine now used for cabaret shows, rock music concerts, extra-temporary exhibitions and various cultural events.
Cinemas
- 6 Cinemaxx, Berliner Pl. 4/5, (Close to the Limbecker Platz shopping center), ☎ 49 40 80806969. Germany's largest multiplex cinema with a capacity of 5,370 seats.
- 7 Lichtburg, Kettwiger Str. 36, ☎ 49 201 231023. The first cinema opened in Essen. The hall is huge and has a capacity of 1,250 seats.
- Essener Filmkunsttheater. An association of 4 small cinemas, the filmstudio, the Eulenspiegel, the Astra-Theater and the Galerie Cinema, all dedicated to essay cinema.
Night clubs
- 8 electronic music club Hotel Shanghai K. e., Steeler Straße 33, ☎ 49 201 871 84100. Dance club.
- 9 GoetheBunker, Goethestraße 67, ☎ 49 201 7709431. night bar.
- 10 Essence, Viehofer Straße 38-52, ☎ 49 201 43759550.
- 11 tuRock, Viehofer Straße 3, ☎ 49 201 4903780. Discotheque Metal / Rock informal clothing.
- 12 Discothek Delta-Musik-Park, Frohnhauser Straße 75, ☎ 49 201 235028.
- 13 Musikpalette, Kettwiger Straße 20, ☎ 49 201 2437978. Disco, informal clothing.
- 14 Sailor's Pub, Alfredstraße 118, ☎ 49 201 779095.
- 15 [link not working]The Clou Club (Gayles), Maxstraße 62. Gay dance club.
- 16 Gentle M, Kettwiger Str. 60, ☎ 49 201 8217333. Gay bar.
- 17 Man Moviethek, Vereinstraße 22, ☎ 49 201 239193. Gay bar.
Where to eat
Moderate prices
- 1 Fährmann am See, Lanfermannfähre 118, ☎ 49 201 811 7750, 49 201 846 080, fax: 49 201-8460819. Wed-Mon 11: 30-22: 00. Family-run restaurant with regional cuisine.
- 2 Wohnraum im Unperfekthaus, Friedrich-Ebert-Str. 20, ☎ 49 201 8473597, fax: 49 201-8536605, @[email protected]. 10:00-22:30. Mediterranean and vegetarian cuisine.
- 3 Tablo, Huyssenallee 5, ☎ 49 201 8119585. Turkish restaurant.
Average prices
- 4 Mintrops Stadthotel Margarethenhöhe - Restaurant M, Steile Str. 46 (Laubenweg station on the U-17 metro line), ☎ 49 201-43860, fax: 49 201-4386100. Mon-Sun 12: 00-14: 30 and 18: 00-22: 30. Asian cuisine.
- 5 Gummersbach, Fürstenbergstraße 2 (Tram 105: Heißener Straße stop), ☎ 49 201 676464. French restaurant.
- 6 Capobianco, Rottstraße. 7, ☎ 49 201 226603. Mon-Sat 12: 00-15: 00 and 17: 30-24: 00, Sun 12: 00-24: 00. Italian pizzeria / restaurant with vegetarian options.
- 7 Hülsmannshof, Lehnsgrund 14 in (: Laubenweg station on metro line U 17), ☎ 49 201 871 250. Mon-Sun 11: 30-14: 30 and 17: 30-22: 00. Family run restaurant. Local dishes.
- 8 Stop-Club vis à vis, Schmiedestraße 5, ☎ 49 201 235 453. Mon-Sat 17: 00-23: 30. International / vegetarian cuisine.
- 9 Lukas, Prinz-Friedrich-Str. 1,, ☎ 49 201-848353. Mon-Sun 18: 00-23: 00. Indian restaurant.
- 10 Ange d'Or Junior, Ruhrtalstr. 326 (S6: Kettwig stop), ☎ 49 2054 2307. Italian restaurant.
- The Opera, Theaterpassage / Hirschlandplatz (U11 / 17/18: Hirschlandplatz stop), ☎ 49 201-239124. Mon-Sun 12: 00-23: 00. Italian restaurant.
- 11 Mintrops Stadthotel Margarethenhöhe - Restaurant M, Steile Str. 46 (U 17: Laubenweg), ☎ 49 201-43860. Mon-Sun 12: 00-14: 30, 18: 00-22: 30. Italian restaurant.
- Oase Due, Rüttenscheider Str. 189 (U11, Tram 101/107: Martinstr), ☎ 49 201-790640. Mon-Sat 12: 00-14: 30. Italian restaurant.
- Cavallino Rosso, Velberter Str. 126, ☎ 49 201-404977. Mon-Sun 12: 00-02: 30. Mediterranean cuisine.
- 12 Gummersbach, Fürstenbergstr. 2 (Tram 105: Heißener Straße stop), ☎ 49 201-676464. They accept Eurocheque card. Mediterranean cuisine
- 13 Hannappel, Dahlhauser Straße 173, ☎ 49 201-534506. They accept Eurocheque card. Mediterranean cuisine.
- 14 Jagdhaus Schellenberg, Heisinger Str.170a, ☎ 49 201-437870. Mediterranean cuisine.
- 15 Casino Zollverein, Gelsenkirchener Str. 181 (Tram 107: Zollverein stop), ☎ 49 201-830240. Nouvelle cuisine.
- 16 Mintrops Landhotel - Mumm, Schwarzensteinweg 81 (SB 15: Burgaltendorf Burgruine), ☎ 49 201-571710. 12:00-14:00, 18:00-23:00. International and vegetarian cuisine.
- 17 Parkhaus Hügel, Freiherr-vom-Stein-Str. 209 (S6: Essen-Hügel), ☎ 49 201-471091. 11:30–22:30. International cuisine.
- raum.eins, Rüttenscheider Str. 154, ☎ 49 201-4553747. Mon-Thu 12: 00-14: 30, 18: 00-22: 30, Fri 12: 00-14: 30, 18: 00-23: 00, Sat 18: 00-23: 00. International cuisine.
- Résidence - Püree, Auf der Forst 1, ☎ 49 2054-95590. Tue-Fri 18: 30-22: 00. International cuisine.
- 18 Schloss Hugenpoet - Hugenpöttchen, August-Thyssen-Str. 51, ☎ 49 2054-12040. 12:00-21:30. International cuisine and nouvelle cuisine.
- 19 Kockshusen, Pilgrimsteig 51, ☎ 49 201-3601166. They accept Eurocheque card. Wed-Mon 11: 30-22: 00. Regional cuisine.
- Kölner Hof, Duisburger Str. 20, ☎ 49 201-763430. They accept Eurocheque card. Wed-Sun 12: 00-14: 00, 18: 00-22: 00. Regional cuisine.
- Landhaus-Knappmann - Frankenheim-Brauhaus, Ringstraße 198, ☎ 49 2054 7809. Mon-Fri 16: 00-24: 00, Sat-Sun 11: 00-24: 00. Regional cuisine.
- Schote, Emmastr. 25 (U11, Tram 101/107: Martinstr), ☎ 49 201-780107. Tue-Sun 18: 00-23: 00. Regional cuisine.
- Landhaus Schnitzler, Nöckersberg 65, ☎ 49 201-848140.
- 20 [link previously not working]Der Löwe, Kopstadtplatz, 13. Regional cuisine.