Green city of Essen

Someone once sang about my neighbouring city, Bochum, saying it had a ‘heartbeat of steel’. That may well be true, but actually he must have been referring to me. Essen! Because when the Krupp family of entrepreneurs set up their first cast steel works here at the start of the 19th century, they laid the foundations for industrialisation across the whole of Germany right here in my town, of all places. So that’s that sorted. However, back then nobody could have imagined that I would one day become the European Green Capital 2017, where hiking is the new trend sport. Not even I did. Nor, I suspect, did Alfred Krupp, even though he had the family’s stately home set within a large English landscape garden high above Lake Baldeney. Villa Hügel still stands there today and, with its 269 rooms, never fails to amaze visitors. 

But let’s go back to the beginning. For my long history of mining began with industrialisation. For decades, coal and steel shaped me and my image, until it all suddenly came to an end with the last shift at the Zollverein colliery in 1986. I’m sure you can imagine what that meant to me. After all, at its peak, this industrial complex – with its striking twin winding towers – was the largest coal colliery in the world. Today, the colliery and the adjacent coking plant are UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Because we were clever! Instead of simply demolishing the site, we’ve created a special place of industrial heritage across the entire area, one that’s constantly evolving and – thanks to nature – constantly changing its appearance. Among other things, you can follow the ‘Coal Trail’ here. You can learn more about my history at the Ruhr Museum or admire high-gloss design treasures set against a rusty backdrop at the Red Dot Design Museum. There’s a works swimming pool, an ice rink in winter and a casino. You can discover rare species of flora and fauna in the ‘Industrial Forest’ or let a very special light installation work its magic on you as darkness falls. 

Or why not go for a walk with me today? I’m inviting you to join me on the ZollvereinSteig. It’s one of four newly created circular walks where you can get to know my green side. And I promise you: what you’ll experience and see along the way is guaranteed to be something you never expected. You’ll need to bring a bit of time, stamina and some food, though. Because I won’t settle for anything less than 27 kilometres.