Rehmanns Hof Casino

Kettwig: Get There by S-Bahn, Walk along the Lake

by Kathrin_E

Should have been a transportation tip but I want to keep the Kettwig tips together.

Plan enough time for Kettwig because it is quite a walk from the S-Bahn to the old town. There are buses but they do not run too frequently, so you will most likely walk. Kettwig has two S-Bahn stops. I recommend not getting off at "Kettwig" but staying on the train until "Kettwig Stausee", the stop beyond the Ruhr lake, which the train crosses on a bridge. Walk along Werdener Straße until the footpath to the lake shore turns to the right. Walk along the lake and then cross it on the big street bridge. From the bridge you have the best panoramic view of old Kettwig with its two churches on the ridge, the lake and the Ruhr river.

The lake is actually an artificial reservoir. The dam is hidden underneath the bridge, one does not even notice it at first sight. A small lock allows boats to pass.

Main railway station underpass

by yumyum

The railway station of Essen is connected by an underground shopping passage to the city’s pedestrianised shopping street which starts at Willy-Brandt-Platz which was reopened on 1st July 2009. This in itself is nothing special but on one side of the underpass they have this LED illuminated wall which changes constantly its colour and is more than 80 meters long. A most amazing feature. And the way it’s constructed, it’s actually graffiti proof.

Zollverein: Coal Mine in Bauhaus Architecture

by Kathrin_E

The flagship of the Ruhr District's industrial heritage with the status of UNESCO World Heritage: Zollverein coal mine.

The famous part is shaft XII, called "the world's most beautiful coal mine" - designed in pure Bauhaus style by the architects Martin Kremmer and Fritz Schupp in 1927. When it went in operation in 1932 it was also considered the most efficient and modern coal mine in the world.
All buildings consist of steel framework with brick fillings. The head frame has become the landmark and logo not only of the Zollverein site but the entire industrial heritage trail through the Ruhr district.

To learn more about the history and the architecture, join a guided tour. The tours take you into the mine building next to the shaft where the coal first arrived - these buildings cannot be entered on your own. Details about tours and a contact email are on the website.

How to get there: tram 107, the "culture line", to "Zollverein".

DomschatzkammerThe cathedral's...

by Bagillbaer

DomschatzkammerThe cathedral's treasure chamber
This is Essen's share of flashy golden, silver and jeweled historic treasuries - the samples are mostly ecclesiastical (huh? Well, I'm talking crosses, vessels for holy water and relics here), but there's also the crown from Otto III's childhood, his sword, some (open) books and a magnificent book cover! Man, people back then certainly invested more time in creating beauty in the things that surrounded them... like doors too... I keep wondering how and why doors were so much spiffier in days of old, when people had to work on them for days, weeks, maybe months... and nowadays you could just put a piece of wood in a machine, program it, let it run and there's your perfectly cool door (or whatever) in almost no time at all! But what do we see every day? Perfectly boring doors... metallic or made from plastics *sigh*...I'm rambling, am I not? Anyway, when you're in the treasure chamber, watch out for Clarence, the cross-eyes lion ;oP... you'll notice him when you see him... probably. And apart from that, just enjoy the truly fine works that are exposed, and don't forget to pay a visit to the Golden Madonna too! She's standing in the church, no entry fee there. She's the oldest, fully plastic sculpture of Maria (as in Mother of God) of the occidental world (oi, déja vu! Yes, same text in my description of Essen on my Germany page ;o)). There's also a seven armed candelabra, which is of some significance in the history of art, and the devil's column... it has a story around it which I might add later. Or you just go and ask some church employee.

VT meeting - 11. September 2004

by hundertmorgen

"Jen and Holger were here :-)"

Jen (jenniferchin) and Holger (chancay) came over to Essen to spend me a visit. We had lunch together at "Landhaus am Staadt".

I enjoyed the meeting very much. It is always nice to meet new people or see friends again :-)

After lunch we walked down to the river "Ruhr" which is located in the south of Essen.

Here you see: It is VT picture time :-) again

This sheep - very photogenic...

... both together, too! My boyfriend Arne side by side with the sheep at this nice location...

walking and picture time at the river...