A day in the park - Essen never fails to surprise with its beautiful Grugapark
Essen is truly vibrant city that never rests. The rapid change from bastion of industry to electrifying major city with a wealth of culture, art, flair and a surprising amount of green spaces is truly impressive. Whoever thinks of a beautiful park should think of Essen. Above all the Grugapark. Without doubt, this park ranks as one of the most beautiful and also the largest city parks in Germany. As a consequence, leisure and relaxation are held very dear here. Therefore it is also of no great surprise that the Sheraton Essen Hotel is located directly at the peaceful park.
Essen stands for many things: Shopping, musicals, industry - the metropolis of the Ruhr region, Essen, has something in store to suit every visitor. In the city centre and on the shopping streets, Kettwiger Straße and Limbecker Straße, you can spend your money in the most relaxing atmosphere possible. Art and culture lovers are bound to find just what they are looking for at the many musicals, award-winning theatres and famous museums. The Essener Musiktheater is located in the city park and is lovingly known by the locals as the "Aalto", named after its Finnish architect, Alvar Aalto. It ranks among the best opera houses in the whole of Germany. The Grillo Theater will have fans of contemporary productions experiencing their pulse racing.
The Buddy Holly Story, the world-famous musical about the life of rock'n'roll legend Buddy Holly, is sheer entertainment for fans of musicals. Buddy Holly's hits such as "Peggy Sue", "That'll Be The Day", "Oh Boy" and "Not Fade Away", as well as Ritchie Valens' "La Bamba" and "Chantilly Lace" by The Big Bopper are just some of the musical's highlights, which is being performed at the Colosseum Theater in Essen.
And last but not least, more than 150 years of industrial history has come to define the city: Essen offers a deep insight into the evolution of 19th and 20th century industrialisation and the story of the legendary Krupp steel dynasty. A must for all visitors to Essen is a visit to the location of the former Zollverein Coal Mine Industrial Complex. The former Zollverein Coal Mine Industrial Complex became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2001. Nowadays, this industrial legacy of disused mines, assembly plants and factories is often used for exhibitions, museums and dance events or concerts. These innovative new interpretations of the former complex make Essen even more appealing.
The city also plays an important role regarding trade fairs. Essen's trade fair grounds are visited by up to two million people a year. This includes about 12,500 exhibitors who display everything from modern trends to traditional wares.
A particular honour not just for the city itself but also for the entire Ruhr region, as well as a special experience for visitors is the nomination of Essen as the European Capital of Culture for 2010. The flexibility, which Essen has displayed during its transformation in the last few decades, was enough to convince the commission of experts from the EU.
Distances to sights in the city
- Zollverein Coal Mine Industrial Complex: 8.5 km
- Villa Hügel residence: 15.0 km
- Philharmonic Hall: 20 m
- Coloseum theatre: 2.5 km
- Volkwang Museum: 1.0 km
- Grugahalle (indoor sports arena): 2.0 km
- German Mining Museum: 17.0 km