Still, this accelerated progress in Essen is just one of its many faces. For many, the most amazing thing is the fact that this modern city celebrated its 1,150th birthday in 2002. Back in 852, a convent for ladies of nobility was founded on the site where the Burgplatz is set today. For the next 1,000 years, Essen was ruled by the abbesses, until the Industrial Revolution turned it into a miracle of progress in 19th Century Europe. The Cathedral of Essen, evoking the dark years of the Middle Ages and the grandeur of the Church, is one of the oldest and most beautiful in the country, competing with the Cathedrals of Cologne and Aachen. Among other fascinating buildings stands the Synagogue, reminding visitors of the years of terror during World War II. Today, it is a forum of commemoration.

Since the dawn of Essen's industrial background, the first factories and collieries were transformed into museums to tell the success story of a city that has fought for its own dream. The Zollverien Colliery was listed in 2001 as a UNESCO World Heritage site and welcomes tourists on a trip through the history of the coal industry. But as Essen has always been unique in its energetic liveliness and open-mindedness, it is not a museum-like site. The Colliery houses the Design Centre NRW, the Choreographic Centre NRW, workshops, studios and art studios that give the impression of a heart still beating with the vibes of the past heading into the future. Another former industry site, the Carl Colliery in Altenessen, has followed a fascinating faith. It represents today a meeting spot for young people and music fans, hosting many rock and pop concerts and art events.

Essen has traditions and fame in the universe of music. The Aalto Opera House is one of the best in Germany, with masterpiece performances and unique architecture. The town also hosts several music festivals, annually taking place in the concert halls or out in the open, in the midst of Essen's green parks. Art lovers should not miss the Folkwang Museum, with its impressive painting collections from the 19th and 20th Centuries, and also unique exhibitions, such as demonstrations the influence of painting masters on modern époque artists. The Villa Hugel is definitely a must for all visitors to the city. Exhaustive collections of Flemish paintings set in two separate exhibitions, reviving the paths of ideas evolving from generation to generation. The Villa Hugel, the former home of the famous Krupp family, will captivate you with its art, but will also charm you with fantastic landscapes if you take a tour of the beautiful gardens in the Hugelpark.