SECURITY ESSEN 2026 | LIVE SHOW


understated. For


Abbey was an independent imperial territory


governed by


centuries, Essen powerful


abbesses who controlled the region until its dissolution in 1802. Its Cathedral, The Essen Minster,


un Ääd (heaven and earth) – mashed potatoes with apples and black pudding and the neighbourhood pubs, or Kneipen, where locals unwind after work with local beers. Do bear in mind, though,


that


German dining etiquette diff ers from many other cultures, particularly when it comes to timing. Lunch typically happens between 12:00 and 14:00, and many restaurants close between lunch and dinner service. Dinner starts early, around 18:00, and kitchens often stop serving by 21:00. A look back at the town’s history


represents something of a cultural journey from medieval times which saw it grow from a religious settlement to a powerhouse of


Germany’s


industrial revolution, to the vibrant green and cultural hub it is today. Historians will note that, as far back


as 845, Saint Altfrid, an infl uential German bishop and Benedictine monk, founded a convent for noblewomen which became


the spiritual and


administrative core of the settlement. His infl uence on the City can’t be


is today noted for housing the 10th- century Golden Madonna, the oldest known free-standing statue of the Virgin Mary in the Western world. Its industrial past is marked by the discovery of considerable coal reserves in the Ruhr Valley which eff ectively transformed the area. In 1811, The industrialist Friedrich Krupp founded a steel factory there, building a family dynasty that saw Essen transformed into one of Europe’s leading manufacturing centres and becoming central


to Germany’s


military-industrial complex. As a result, the population boomed


rapidly from about 3,000 in 1800 to more than 100,000 by the late 19th century. Its role as a centre for war production had consequences. The city was heavily bombed and largely reduced to rubble by Allied forces. That and the eventual collapse of


its heavy coal and steel industries saw Essen reinvent itself. And it did so with some success. Its work in drastically cutting emissions and revitalising its waterways earned it the title, 2017’s European Green Capital, having been named the European Capital of Culture in 2010 on behalf of the entire Ruhr area. For example, you could explore the Zeche Zollverein, a UNESCO World


THE GOOD NEWS FOR SHOW VISITORS IS THAT SEPTEMBER IS ARGUABLY THE IDEAL TIME TO VISIT, THE COMFORTABLE EARLY AUTUMN WEATHER MAKING IT PERFECT FOR OUTDOOR INDUSTRIAL HERITAGE TOURS AND PARK STROLLS


Heritage site and gigantic former coal mine, or stroll through Grugapark with its botanical garden which comes alive in the Autumn via its tropical greenhouses, and wellness spaces. Or you could hire a bicycle and ride


around Baldeneysee, Essen’s largest recreational lake. On cooler days, you can experience


the world-renowned Museum Folkwang which features a world- class collection of 19th and 20th- century art or treat yourself to a fi lm at Lichtburg, Germany’s largest and grandest art-house cinema theatre. And if the Krupp family infl uence


appeals, Villa Hügel, the historic family residence and the surrounding Hill Park is stunning in the September foliage. Overall, there’s lots to commend


Essen to a visitor. It has a no-nonsense, relatable


feel to it: multicultural,


tolerant and comfortably welcoming, somewhere expats and diverse groups can feel at home.


ESSEN WAS ONCE THE CENTRE OF EUROPE’S COAL AND STEEL INDUSTRY


EXPLORE THE ZECHE ZOLLVEREIN, A UNESCO WORLD HERITAGE SITE AND GIGANTIC FORMER COAL MINE


It’s also awash with legend and a


host of fascinating stories that only enhance the overall intrigue. One of them involves the opulent 269-room palace, Villa Hügel, built at great expense by the Krupp family, using only stone and iron to ensure it was fi reproof, while stripping it of any warmth in the process. The underground world of Essen’s


coal mining era had its own distinct culture. At the height of the coal boom, the borders between neighbouring cities were fi ercely contested. To foster goodwill, the mayors of


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