Essen is a city in the North Rhine-Westphalia region of Germany. It has a huge industrial heritage, and the Zollverein Coal Mine is a UNESCO listed site, the most famous of the shafts perhaps being XII which was built in Bauhaus style. Car hire in Essen is popular with those wanting to visit the mine which is a short drive from the city centre.
This post-industrial landscape might appeal to some more than others, but Essen also has a green side for those who enjoy nature and parkland. Many tourists visiting the city like to hire a car so they can head to the outlying southern boroughs which include Kettwig and Werden.
Essen has a strong cultural scene, with the city being crowned the European Capital of Culture in 2010. In Essen you can find Aalto-Theatre, the Colosseum Theatre, the Little Theatre and the Katakomben-Theatre, as well as various museums.
With the strong industrial history of Essen, it sits on a well-connected road network. With the Ruhrschnelleweg (A40) connecting Essen with Düsseldorf and the Netherlands, the A42 connecting several towns in the Ruhr region and the A52 with further connections to the Netherlands, these links open up the possibility to travel to several further locations, making it a great place to use as a base to explore the area.
