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The History With nearly 581,000 inhabitants, Essen is one of Germanys ten biggest cities. In the last century, the city gained fame as thecentre of the coal and steel industries in Germany,but viewed historically, the period in which these industries held sway was only relatively short. In the year 2002, Essen celebrated the 1150th anniversary f the convent and of the city of Essen. For around 1000 years, Essen was an ecclesiastical principality and was governed by abbesses.Today, three-quarters of the working population of what was once the biggest coal mining city in Europe are employed in administration, the service industries and commerce. Some of the German companies with the highest turnovers have their administrative headquarters in Essen,including RWE AG, Evonik Industries (formerly RAG-Aktiengesellschaft), EON Ruhrgas AG,Karstadt-Quelle AG , newly operating under the name "Arcandor" - and Hochtief AG. Thyssen- Krupp AG is building its new headquarters on the historical site of the Krupp steel casting factory,including an academy which will welcome up to 2,500managers from all over the world. At international trade fairs and public shows and exhibitions,Essen Fairwelcomes over 10,000 exhibitors and up to two million visitors each year. Monuments of former industry stand as symbols or the citys successful structural transformation.Themost famous landmark of the Ruhr region, the Zollverein Colliery, along with the adjacent area of the coking plant, has been listed as a World Cultural Heritage Site by UNESCO. But the colliery and coking plant are not museum-like, forbidden and forbidding places. PACT Zollverein, with its emphasis on dance, the North Rhine-Westphalian Design Centre with its internationally renowned "red dot designmuseum", and the Zollverein School of Managementand Design have their offices at Zollverein XII. The Ruhr Museum will soon be moving into the historical coal washing plant. A further composing relic of the industrial era is the Colosseumat Berliner Platz. The historical factory building from around 1900, which formerly belonged to Krupp and where forgings and castings were once produced, is now one of Germany’s most impressive musical stages."Change through culture - culture through change": the theme that palpably characterises the entire region and the city of Essen has also convinced Brussels. Essen,along witht he Ruhr District,has been nominated by the European Commission as the European Capital of Culture of 2010. A title that acts as recognition of thework that has been done here over the years.The Aalto Opera House has a name that extends far beyond the region not only for its music, but also for the architecture of the building. The music theatre in Essen, under the leadership of its director and conductor-in-chief Stefan Soltesz, enjoys a reputation among critics that places it right among the leaders in the whole of Germany. As a concert hall with radiance - and resonance, even amongst internationalmusic stars - the philharmonia in historic Saalbau has quickly played itsway into the consciousness ofmusic lovers. The "aalto ballett theater" is the best in the region,and the "Essener Sprechtheater" has twice been distinguished as the North Rhine-Westphalian Theatre of theYear: artistic directorAnselmWeber convinces audienceswith productions of classics, new works, performances and projects.Acollection of international renown can be found in Essens Folkwang Museum. As the museum is constructing itself a new building for the future, parts of the collection can be seen in Villa Hügel from the end of May 2008. The former residence of the industrial Krupp family itself is a regular venue for world-class exhibitions of cultural history. And even apart from these special and exceptional exhibitions, the visit is worthwhile, for the beautiful park alone. And generally, people who come to Essen for the first time are nearly always surprised: over 50 percent of the area of the city is green! Favourite places for the Esseners and their guests to relax are the banks of the River Ruhr and Baldeney Lake or the "Gruga" one of Germanys biggest and most beautiful city gardens. For eveningentertainment, there isplenty to choose from: the various Essen theatres, the GOPVarieté or the cabaret - e.g. in Stratmann's Europahaus. The legendary Lichtburg movie palace and CinemaXX at Berliner Platz still Germanys biggest multiplex cinema not only show all the latest films, but with a variety of bars and bistros also offer their guests the ideal opportunity to conclude an enjoyable evening in style.
Aalto Theater Essen Brilliant - is the best way to describe the Aalto opera house which constantly tops the critics opinion polls. When it opened in 1988, it was only said to be the most beautiful German theatre construction that had been built since 1945. Today it belongs to the list of THE best theatres in Germany. The director Stefan Soltesz has been making sure that it will stay that way. This synthesis of the arts was constructed by the famous Finnish architect Alvar Aalto, whose modern, curved architectural design stimulates the imagination. The main hall is uncomplicated but elegant and seats 1,125 spectators. Opera singers of renown throughout the world appear to be performing in a frame of sky-blue and light wood. The Essen Philharmonic orchestra as well as the Aalto Ballet Theatre are certainly equal to the vocalists and are always ranked at the very top.
Die alte Synagoge The Old Synagogue, near the city centre, is an impressive architectural structure built of shell limestone. An imposing copper dome, reminiscent of the Jewish Kippa headdress, spans the building. The Old Synagogue was opened in 1913 and, similar to other Jewish places of worship, was set ablaze in the so called Reichspogromnacht, Night of Broken Glass in 1938. The interior suffered extensive damage. In 1959, the city of Essen acquired the former synagogue and renovation began. Over the course of the restoration many mosaics were painted over, the Torah shrine was destroyed and the dome which covered the main prayer hall, where once 1,400 people worshipped, was removed. Up until 1979 the sombre building was used for industrial design exhibits. A fire destroyed a part ofthe exhibition and the building was once again renovated. The original room structure was reconstructed but without the original details. Since 1988, the Old Synagogue has become a place of remembrance and is used for political and historical discussions and forums and as a cultural meeting place.
Synogoge (Old Synagogue) BÜRGERMEISTERHAUS WERDEN (MAYORS RESIDENCE IN WERDEN)The Mayors residence in Werden is a theatre with a very personal touch. The classical villa was constructed by the industrialist Friedrich Vogelsang in 1833 and was given his name as the home of the last mayor of Werden. This building has become a cultural meeting point for the town since 1985 and is now a listed building. Known jazz musicians and new classical talent now perform in the surroundings of baroque style covered walls and noble style. Elegant chamber music evenings, readings and exhibitions fill the residence with life. The audience have the opportunity to meet the artists following the performances. www.buergermeisterhaus.de
COLOSSEUM THEATER ESSEN (COLOSSEUM THEATRE IN ESSEN)The Colosseum Theatre is a former mechanical workshop which belonged to the company Krupp and is a prime example of the areas industrial culture and the transition that has taken place in the region. The building, which is one of the most interesting theatres in Germany, formerly marked the boundary between Essen’s city centre and Krupp City. The mine and steel-producing industries ruled from here and steel set the tone. The atmosphere in this musical theatre is one of a kind due to a mix of history and modernity. Today popular musicals, such as Elisabeth, Aida, Phantom of the Opera and MAMMA MIA! add to this atmosphere. This listed building with its industrial relics is now dressed up in noble design and modern art.
DOMSCHATZKAMMER (Cathedral Treasure Chamber )The glamorous history of the city is revealed in this cathedral treasure chamber. Priceless ecclesiastical exhibits are shown here and attest to the power and the affluence of ruling abbesses, who governed the monastery as well as the City of Essen from the 9to the 19th century . The Golden Madonna. There are only six of these masterpi Madonna is recognized as the oldest known sculpture of the Virgin Mary in the Western world. In the 9th century Bishop Atfrie founded a fee and secular ladies convent specifically for the ladies of the nobility with eventually became the city of Essen. They were not lacking in wealth or strong political influence due the close family ties that the ladis had to the Ottonian ruling house. An indician of their affluence is found in the childs crown of Otto III, the Essen abbess Mathilde was his godmother. In contrast, the four crucifixes dating back to the Ottonic times represent pieses left in the world.
GRILLO THEATER (GRILLO THEATRE)The play house repertoire begins with classic drama plays, through to the works of present day play wrights up to the point of experimental forms of theatre. Anselm Weber is the new director since the 2005/2006 season. Modern classic productions from Shakespeare through to Schiller and Ibsen to contemporary works form the focus of the repertoire. The Grillotheatre is a synonym for young, unpretentious acting. The neoclassical building is named after the industrialist Friedrich Grillo who financed the construction in 1887. The Casa studio chooses to host performances of works that address young people and whose attitude to life provides the fundamental themes.
KOKEREI ZOLLVEREIN (ZOLLVEREIN COKING PLANT)This coking plant, which was only decommissioned in 1993, opined Shaft XII and 1/2/8 to form the third important section of the World Cultural Heritage Site the Zollverein. It isnt only the birch trees on the roof of the coking plant that have been growing since 1999 but also a solar power plant. Visitors can expect an impressive work of art as the whole facilities spectacularly illuminated when the sun has gone down. In summer visitors can splash around in the art project Works Swimming Pool, in winter they can discover the industrial monument by skating on one of the most bizarre skating rinks in Europe. www.industriedenkmal-stiftung.de
ALTER BAHNHOF KETTWIG (OLD TRAIN STATION KETTWIG) 130 years after its opening and 25 years after its closure this example of classicist architecture has been woken from its beauty sleep. It has developed into a social meeting place and is now a civic centre as well as a sport and cultural centre. During the week it offers a large variety of creative and exercise courses. At weekends one can enjoy a variety f excellent concerts, cabarets, lectures or dance evenings. A highlight in Kettwigs event calendar are the annual cabaret days when famous cabaret artists, newcomers and the local heroes "Die Kettwichte" perform.
The basilica of St. Ludgerus The basilica of St. Ludgerus has its origins around 800 A.D. This was when the Frisian missionary Liudger, who became the first Bishop of Münster, founded a Benedictine monastery here. The abbey church was constructed in 1256 in the architectural style that still exists today. It is especially note worthy as it is one of the last testimonies to the Romanesque architectural period in the Rhineland area with its cruciform, three naves galleried Basilica. The precious monastery treasures of this ruling imperial abbey were mostly spared of fires and pillages; however a large part of the treasures were vandalized during the secularisation of 1802/1803. This is why the important Werdener manuscripts of the monastery library can only be seen today as facsimiles. The treasure rooms have been preserved including a late Antic period ivory pyxis, a Franconian relic box and the 9 thcentury Liudger-Chalice.
Das kleine Theater Forty years ago Helmut Gahmann, a Folkwang scholar, established the -Little Theatre-. He had a passion for acting and established an ensemble with friends. The core ensemble is frequently complemented by professional actors and talented amateurs. 30 years ago the ensemble moved to a new permanent home at the -Gänsemarkt-, where today classic works, comedies and modern plays are still performed with a lot of the idealism of the late Helmut Gahmann.
Deutsch Französisches Kulturzentrum (GERMAN-FRENCH CULTURAL CENTRE) The German-French cultural centre is the official cultural representative of France and focuses on the promotion of French culture. They publish French cultural events calendar three times a year which is packed full of information and times for the numerous French lectures, readings by French authors, theatre guest performances, chanson evenings, exhibitions and French films and concerts. There is also a French library which is a local branch of the Essen City library. It has 20,000 books, comics and newspapers, CDs, Videos and DVDs available. sseum Theater Essen (Colosseum Theatre in Essen) DEUTSCHES PLAKAT MUSEUM (DPM) (GERMAN POSTER MUSEUM)The Deutsches Plakat Museum (German Poster Museum), with around 40,000 posters from the fields of politics, business and culture, has the largest collection of its kind in Europe. Founded in 1968 as a charitable association and in 1974 as a museum, over 150 poster exhibitions have taken place since 1983 in the Theaterpassage in the centre of Essen. In 2002 the DPM gallery was closed, and in 2005 the collection was moved to a new depot. The DPM will reach its final venue in the new building of the Folkwang Museum, to be finished in 2010. Until that time, exhibitions will take place at various venues around Essen.
FOLKWANG HOCHSCHULE (FOLKWANG COLLEGE)The Folkwang College is known for its interdisciplinary learning and outstanding artistic standard. The college has developed the Folkwang idea which stems from the industrialist Karl Ernst Osthaus. His idea was to combine all artistic branches. The special lesson form has become well established and the alumni enjoy an excellent worldwide reputation. The Essen College branch is located in the baroque living quarters of he former imperial abbey in Werden. Concerts, theatre performances, exhibitions and dance events of the scholars are a permanent fixture of cultural life in Essen.
GRUGAPARK (GRUGA PARK)A waterfall gushes in a bizarre mountainous landscape, shallow waves play around the long red legs of the flamingos and three cheeky pelicans toddle comfortably over the soft green meadow. The Gruga has been one of the most popular recreational parks since 1929. It covers 70 hectare and is one of the largest recreational city parks in Germany. The large Ruhr area garden exhibition (Gruga) not only offers a variety of garden ideas, a wellness area and numerous cultural events but also artistic enjoyment. Gruga Park is also a sculpture park. Noteworthy amongst others are the works of Auguste Rodin, Henry Moore and Alfred Hrdlicka. KULTURLINIE 107 (CULTURAL LINE 107)structural change of Essen with the Cultural Line 107. Line 107 goes from the green south side of the city to the industrial north and on to Gelsenkirchen passing approximately 60 cultural highlights. The tram line 107 is unique in the Ruhr area as it connects two opera houses, a philharmonic hall, two large museums and completely crosses through the World Heritage site Zollverein. It is easy to follow using sign posts at the tram stops and in the tram. A detailed description can be found in the Cultural Time-table which can be picked up free of charge at the Customer Centre of the EVAG and at the central tourist office of the Essen Marketing GmbH.See and experience the |
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