Essen
A Small Imperial State Rebuilt in Modern Style
Essen is loosely considered as
one of Germany's greenest cities. The name of Essen city kept on changing through times.
Asnithi is the oldest known form, and it later became Essen over other names including
Assinde,
Astnidum,
Esnede and
Essendia.
Although it wasn’t sure why Asnithi is referred to a place of ash trees; the translations are still subject to debates by historians. The relationship between name and the word “
Esse,” in German means
“fireplace” in medieval German must have been correlated to the history of the place with respect to industries; however, questionable due to the fact that old name forms came into being before ever the industrialization happened here.
The first documented mention of Essen dates back to 898, when
Zwentibold, King of Lotharingia, bequeathed territory on the Western bank of the Rhine River to the monastery. Essen, however, had been called a city since 1003, although its not for the literal meaning it is called so.
History
Essen is very rich in history, from
archeological finds down to
industrialization. The city has been a part of some settlement including several German-speaking areas of
Bructeri,
Chatti and
Marsi, although, there is no clear demarcation amongst them. The first documented mention of Essen was in 898.
Between 8th and 12th centuries, sometime around 845 BC
Saint Altfrid founded
coenobium Astnide, a place for women at the heart of today’s Essen. Few kilometers south
Saint Liudger founded an Abbey that supported noble women. As part of Liudger’s monastery work, a collegiate church was constructed around 852 and it took about 18 years for completion. The fire devastated the church as well as the settlements when it broke in 946. However, it was rebuilt and it is now the foundation of what we see, the
Essen Cathedral.
Historical development continued from 14th century onwards. The political system of Essen underwent several transformations, most importantly; there had been introduction of
Protestant Reformation in the year 1563, the annexation by Prussia, and there was subsequent secularization of the principality during 1803. Essen was made part of the Prussian Province of
Jülich-Cleves-Berg from 1815 to 1822 and part of the Prussian Rhine Province until it became dissolved in 1946.
It was during the
Nazis time between 1933 and 1945, that the Lord Mayors were installed. After WW II, a municipal constitution was laid out sampling from cities of Britain, and the administration was led by a full-time Oberstadtdirektor. Essen is now; however, governed by an organization of Reiniger’s CDU and the Greens.
Geography and Demography
Essen is the
largest city in the Ruhrgebiet that lies between the rivers Emscher and Ruhr. The city is in the heart of Ruhr area, with about 11 independent cities and four districts with 5.4 million inhabitants. It is situated in one of the largest urban areas in Europe with 11 cities and 4 districts and with 10 bordering cities. Essen is surprisingly the third largest metropolitan area after London and Paris. Ruhr River forms the
Lake Baldeney in the areas of
Heisingen,
Werden and
Kupferdreh.
Essen is further divided into 9 suburban districts called
Stadtbezirke and each of the suburban districts has a local body of 19 members that have limited authority. Stadtbezirke are given Roman numerals and the names are derived from the boroughs they belong to. There are a total of 50 boroughs that were independent municipalities incorporated between 1901 and 1975.
Kettwig is a borough that is situated to the south of the Ruhr River that was not, however, incorporated until 1975 and it has its own area code.
The mean annual temperature of Essen is 9.6°C and the mean annual precipitation is 829 millimeters. The coldest month of the year is January, when the average temperature is 1.5C and July is the warmest month with mean temperature being 17.5C. Most of the precipitation is received in the month of August with about 90 mm.
Major Attractions you cannot afford to miss
Zollverein Coal Mine Industrial Complex
It was the biggest and most modern coal mine in the world. The mine was closed in 1986 and till that year more than 12,000 tones of coal were digging out every day. It got the world heritage status in the year 2001 and in Europe this coal mine is one of the important industrial monuments that are surrounded by awesome architecture, towering blast furnaces and chimneys.
Ruhrland Museum
The museum was opened in the year 1904 and the oldest museums in the Ruhr area. The museum became nationally important because of its natural and cultural history with its permanent and special exhibitions. The museum consists of sections about geology, archaeology, history and photography.
Red dot Design Museum
The museum is located in the buildings of former Zollverein mine and was started in 1997. More than 1000 contemporary design pieces are exhibited in the museum and all the display items have won the red dot award from the worlds prestigious design competitions. Whatever display items are present in the museum, they are all of outstanding designs.
Folkwang Museum
This is one of the oldest and most important museums with 19th and 20th century art collection which covers the history of French paintings. These French paintings are of the works by expressionists, cubists, impressionists, the modernists and the Bauhaus artists and also the contemporary artists. You will find the great works of Braque, Monet, Renoir, Picasso, Van Gogh, Cezanne, Gauguin and many more. There is also a photographic collection that expresses the photographic history with over 50,000 displays from 1920s.
Aalto-Theater
Finnish architect Alvar Aalto built this theater in the green meadows of the Essen city garden that enthralls the tourist with its modern and harmonious lines. The building has an aesthetic concept and the elegant foyer of the theater is a favorite location for piano matinees and song evenings. The theater is even popular in neighboring countries for its Essen Philharmonc and the excellent ensemble. The opera performances and ballet evenings are enjoyable because of its stage scenery, lighting and costumes.
Alte Synagogue
This is a Jewish synagogue that was consecrated by the Jewish community in 1913 and the monumental dome building was designed by Edmund Korner, an architect. The building has rooms for about 1,400 persons. In 1938 the synagogue caught fire and the building at present is restored in 1980 and from that time onwards the synagogue is a place of remembrance with permanent and changing exhibitions.
Essen Exhibition Center
The exhibition center is located in the middle of the Rhine or Ruhr region. The center has 18 directly interconnected exhibition halls and it consists of a naturally lit Hall 3, the longest column free hall in Europe and the Galeria are the impressive features of the center. In the center, however, there are 4 areas with 20,000 meter square of total exhibition area and also has three conservatories function rooms.
Villa Hugel
This mansion was built in the 19th century by an industrial magnet Alfred Krupp for his family with 269 rooms. The mansion is a single-family house surrounded by a park of 69.2 acres. Now the mansion is used for exhibitions and music concerts.
Essen Cathedral
The cathedral of 14th century and crypt from the 10th century and is rebuilt in 1958. It displays some artworks from around 1000AD in the attached treasure house and the oldest preserved sculpture of the Virgin Mary in the World.
Limbecker Platz
This is one of the largest shopping malls in Germany and the shopping center is still constructing and the first part was opened with 100 shops.
Activities you can indulge when in Essen
Hiking
There are numerous green areas mainly in the Baldeneysee lake region and the beautifully landscaped
Grugapark. Stadtwald forest offers hiking and outdoor recreation and you can take time to hike and explore.
Cycling
You can rent a bicycle that is inexpensive as there is a large bicycle station in the main train station. Essen has sign-posted bicycle routes and you can pedal around and explore the place.
Events you will fall in love at Essen
Love Parade
It happened once during July 2005 that there was the annual German Love Parade - it was one of the largest and best free parties in this city. This parade is with a procession of trucks and floats along with sound systems and live music that dispels a message of peace, love, respect and tolerance. It is regarded as one of the biggest street parties in Europe.
Nightlife at Essen vibrant and sounds like you…
There are numerous bars and clubs in Essen. Daktari is a small and stylish bar in the southern quarter with reasonable price and has a variety of cocktails with ice cubes are served. Lighthouse 21 is a multi roomed nightclub with international DJs and has large dance area with small lounge space. Menehune is conveniently located at the heart of Ruttenscheid and is famous for its attractive waitresses and cocktails.
Transportation
Essen is connected to Cities of Europe via air route. But to travel from one place to the other the city has long-distance, regional and local trains. You can travel all around Essen by train that will take less time to travel. There is a small underground subway line in Essen that is fast to travel and it is just the best for a sightseeing tour. There are inexpensive bus and tram services to get around the city and you can buy a day ticket for five people or you can buy a one-week ticket if you travel more often.
So when in Germany make sure you visit Essen not just for a trade fair but to explore that it has in store for every hitchhiker.
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