Sign in with FacebookFlarastrasse 15b, 45131, Essen, North Rhine-Westphalia, 45131, Germany
Day ticket for Essen with validator stamp
Church of St Johann
The blue chapel
Market square and restaurant
Unfortunately (well not really we had seen a lot of other things during the day) we arrived just as the house was closing. Still we made the excuse of needing the toilets and had a quick sneaky look at some of the rooms on the way! Pretty impressivre staircase and ground floor with cosy library on the back. Definitely a place worth seeing more of another time.
i like the treasure room more.
the entrance for the dom (church) is free.
more info
http://www.bistum-essen.de/info_eng.htm
guide tours sunday 11.45 a.m.
4 Euro/Person, childern 2,50 Euro
Margarethenhöhe is a social housing project of the early 20th century, influenced by the garden city movement. The idea was providing healthy housing with fresh air and light and a patch of garden to grow some vegetables and fruit.
Again, the mighty Krupp family are behind it. Margarethe Krupp, the widow of Friedrich Alfred Krupp, took a large sum from her personal property and started a houseing foundation for poor families in 1906. She intended a settlement for 12,000 people, in the end it turned out about half the size. Construction works started in 1909. The last houses were only finished in 1938. Unlike other Krupp settlements (Altenhof, Brandenbusch) the Margarethenhöhe was not meant for Krupp workers only but open to all citizens of Essen.
In World War II 44% of the houses were destroyed but rebuilt in the following decade. After the war the settlement was extended, again on real estate donated by the Krupps.
The settlement covers a hill soutwest of the city centre. It is almost a small town of its own. There is a school, a catholic church, a market square and so on. The houses are built in a somehow uniform style and appearance but shapes and decorations differ. Each street and alley looks different. New street views open up round every corner. Walking Margarethenhöhe is pleasant. Zigzag the side streets and alleys. Spot the little paradises people have created for themselves: a cosy garden, a bench at the front door surrounded by flower pots... The dark grey colour of the walls is very "Ruhrpott", though.
Remember what the early industrial cities used to look like. Think about the working conditions in a mine or a factory. The architecture of Margarethenhöhe has been critizised as being too romantic. On the other hand, a pretty home can also be understood as a comfort and reward for an otherwise grim life.
How to get there: U 17 in direction - foolproof - "Margarethenhöhe". Three options:
1. Get off at "Halbe Höhe". Follow the street along the tram line across the big bridge over the valley to approach the settlement from the bottom. This is the most impressive approach via the gatehouse and into the oldest part. Disadvantage: you have to walk uphill the whole way.
2. Get off at "Laubenweg" and you are in the middle of the settlement close to the church.
3. My recommendation: Stay on the tram until "Margarethenhöhe", impossible to miss as it is the terminus of the line, and explore in downhill direction. The tram passes through the main street of the settlement, so you will already have an idea of the style. Make sure you leave the main street and venture into the side alleys. No worries about losing your way. A general downhill direction will almost inevitably take you to the gatehouse in the end. The nearest tram stop for the return is "Halbe Höhe" at the far end of the big bridge.
Visit the Carnival of the Cultures.
The concept is to adapt the ideas of Notting Hill Carnival and similar events all over the world.
The Carnival includes a flea market or bazar or whatever you want to call it, some stages and dancefloors (open air as well as under roof), diverse multicultural happenings (such as Chinese morning gymnastics, Jewish and Moslem worships and concerts and performances of bands and groups of various nationalities).
On the last day there's a big procession through the city.
See my Carnival-Travelogue for pictures!
This city has far more potential than is obvious - it's the sixth biggest city of Germany and over 1100 years old, yet nobody ever heard of it. How can that be???
I do have some theories, but... hmmmmm, however, I'll do my best to change Essen's embarrassing situation of being superunknown ;0).
And by the way, if you're visiting Essen, you find yourself in close reach of several other more or less interesting cities - the Ruhrpott is the urban area if ever (that not meaning that it's all concrete, it's just a big heap of cities in a small space), so check out my Germany page too, to see what comes along with Essen...
1. September 02
The new VT is still a chaos - so are my pages. Bear with me and give me time, there`s loads to do when you return from a one month trip abroad! C ya's soon!
Here's a list and now go and have fun! ;0)
30.08.-01.09.02: Essen. Original - the annual city festival. Open air concerts all over the place, all styles too: rock, pop, hip hop, jazz, classic and also comedy, literature and dance. This year's open air rock bands: Subway to Sally and Suit yourself.
20.09.-22.09.02: Carnival of the Cultures - see Must See Activities on this page.
17.10.-20.10.02: SPIEL - the board games, toys and fantasy roleplays trade show. Supercool!
2003
08.03.-16.03.03: EQUITANA - the world's fair of equestrian sports. Really big.
By the way, from June till September Essen will be celebrating its 1150 years jubilee with loads of activities and parties and all that jazz. Here's the link to give you all the information you need: www.essen.de/stadtjubilaeum2002
Essen's official homepage: www.essen.de
Trade show events: www.messe-essen.de
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