Essen (Zollverein UNESCO World Heritage Site)

The Zollverein Coal Mine Industrial Complex at Gelsenkirchener Straße 181 in Essen is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the most striking industrial monuments in Europe. It lies about 35 km north-east of Düsseldorf in the Ruhr region of North Rhine-Westphalia. A regional train or S-Bahn runs from Düsseldorf Hauptbahnhof to Essen Hbf in about 20 to 30 minutes, followed by tram 107 towards Gelsenkirchen to the Zollverein stop in about 15 minutes; the Deutschlandticket covers regional services, while an ICE shortens the rail leg with a separate ticket. The complex, with its Bauhaus-style Shaft XII and the red-brick Shaft 1/2/8, produced coal and coke until 1986 and 1993 respectively. Today the Ruhr Museum, housed in the former coal washing plant, tells the natural and cultural history of the region, and the escalator up the orange 'Kohlenwäsche' leads past the 24-metre level to the entrance. Visitors can join guided tours of the site, walk the cokery grounds, and see the Red Dot Design Museum in the former boiler house. In winter, an ice rink operates on the grounds, and in summer a swimming pool sits among the industrial structures. A typical itinerary starts with the Ruhr Museum for the first two hours, followed by a lunch in one of the on-site restaurants and an afternoon walk across the site, taking in the Shaft XII headframe, the coking plant and the Zeche's long promenade. The Zollverein Park offers a pleasant stroll with industrial landscaping, and the nearby Folkwang Museum in Essen city centre is an alternative addition for art fans. Spring to autumn is the best period for walking the open-air parts, and mornings are quieter than afternoons. Because the grounds are large and involve stairs and long outdoor stretches, comfortable shoes are needed. The visit can be combined with a ride on the city's S-Bahn network for onward exploration of the Ruhr area.