Essen is a city in the center of the Ruhr Area in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. Located on the Ruhr River, its population of approximately 584,295 (as of December 31, 2005) makes it the 7th- or 8th-largest city in Germany. The city was recently appointed European capital of Culture for 2010 and is both member of and seat to several regional development organizations, most importantly the Regionalverband Ruhrgebiet.

Attractions in Essen

• Zeche und Kokerei Zollverein: Coal mine (built in 1932, closed in 1986) and coking plant (built in 1961, closed in 1993). Visitors now have access to the precincts, which frequently house temporary art exhibitions. Once the largest coal mine in the world, it has been awarded World Cultural Heritage status by UNESCO.
• Villa Hügel: Built at the end of the 19th century by industrial magnate Alfred Krupp, the real estate register used to define the 269-room mansion (8100 m²) as a single-family home. Today it often houses temporary art exhibitions and music concerts.
• Essener Münster: 14th-century cathedral with a westwork and crypt from the 10th century, rebuilt in 1958; not spectacular in appearance, but having some exquisite objects on display in the attached treasure house: Artworks from around 1000 AD, a crown of Emperor Otto III), the oldest preserved sculpture of the Virgin Mary in the world (Goldene Madonna, vernacularly referred to Essen sein Schatz, or in English, Essen's Treasure).
• Alte Synagoge: The Jewish community inaugurated the synagogue in 1913. Destroyed by fire in the Nazi pogroms of 1938, it was restored after World War II. It stands as the largest synagogue north of the Alps.
• Essen city hall: Germany's highest city hall (106 metres), built from 1971 to 1979. Free guided tours offer a view from the 22nd floor, overlooking the city from 100 m above ground.
• RWE tower: One of the largest skyscrapers in the Ruhr Area and corporate headquarters of the second largest electric power company in Germany (after E.ON) RWE AG, situated across the street from the Aalto theatre (Opernplatz 1).
• Aalto Theater: Popular theatre designed by Finnish architect Alvar Aalto, opened in 1988.
• Essen-Werden: Once a town of its own, it became a borough of Essen in 1929; the center of the town has partly retained its medieval townscape with many pubs and restaurants. It stands near the Lake Baldeney and hosts the Folkwang College of Music and Performing Arts.
• Kettwig: Located south of the Ruhr river, and also once a town of its own, it was incorporated in 1975. Until today, residents of Kettwig can only be called using an area code different from that of the rest of Essen. Additionally (allegedly because of relatively high church tax incomes), the Archbishop of Cologne managed to keep Kettwig part of the Archbishopric of Cologne, whereas all other parts of Essen and some neighbouring cities constitute the Diocese of Essen (Ruhrbistum).
• Baldeneysee: The big lake in the south of the city, a popular recreation area. It dates from 1931 - 1933, when 10,000 unemployed coal miners dredged it in exchange for bread and beer.
• The Essen fair grounds (Messe Essen) often host large exhibitions, such as the Spiel game fair (October, also occasion of the presentation of the Essen Feather and of the Deutscher Spiele Preis), YOU (the largest European youth fair), Equitana (equitation) and Essen Motor Show.