Essen

The Ruhr defines the setting of Essen — its valley and coal seams helped shape a city that became a central force in Germany’s industrial age. The Zollverein Coal Mine Industrial Complex, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, preserves the monumental architecture of a former colliery and coking plant and now hosts museums, design institutions and events. Essen was long associated with the Krupp industrial dynasty; Villa Hügel, the family’s 19th-century residence above the Ruhr, recalls that legacy. In the centre, Museum Folkwang is known for its major collections of 19th- and 20th-century art. View additional webcams nearby to better understand how Essen and the Ruhr region relate to their surroundings.

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