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The legendary "Lichtburg" is Germany's largest cinema complex
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Fun from A to Z -- Starting with "A" for Aalto Theater
"I know a few German cities, but I like Essen the best," says Zhai Xiaojing. "It has everything I need." This exchange student came from China to study German in Essen -- a city in the middle of the Ruhr region that offers visitors an urban atmosphere, as well as a natural refuge on its green outskirts.
Zhai Xiaojing lives in a student dormitory. "My favorite thing here is the shared kitchen," she says. "Every evening, we cook together and this gives us the chance to talk." And when she wants to relax after a study session, she doesn't have to go far. "The area around our house is very peaceful and green -- a good place for walks."
Sunbathing at Lake Baldeney
In the summer, it's common to meet up on the grassy banks of Lake Baldeney and along the Ruhr river for some sunbathing, barbecuing or pedal boat riding. You can also go to the Villa Huegel park for some walking or cycling on the 230 kilometers of bicycle paths that are on offer here.
Whoever wants to discover Essen's surroundings can go on daytrips to cities that lie on the Rhine and Ruhr rivers. For students at the Duisburg-Essen University this is not expensive, thanks to the so-called NRW-Ticket. Students automatically receive this upon their enrolment, just like all other students in North Rhine-Westphalia. This ticket allows travel on all buses, trams and regional trains in the whole of North Rhine-Westphalia.
On the Route of Industrial Heritage
Art lovers will appreciate the treasury of the medieval convent in Essen\'s city center, as well as the Folkwang museum and the Villa Huegel, where international exhibitions take place on a regular basis. And of course locals and visitors alike can find out a lot about the industrial past of this region. The now-dormant Zeche Zollverein or Zollverein Coal Mine Industrial Complex has been listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2001. It\'s also an exhibition venue and part of the European Route of Industrial Heritage, which stretches across the Ruhr region.
Essen is also an ideal place for cinema lovers. Apart from Germany\'s largest multiplex cinema, there are also small movie theaters dating back to the period between the 1920s and 1950s. At the Lichtburg movie palace, opened in 1928, the red carpet still gets rolled out for premieres today. Fans of the opera and the theater will find something they like in one of the city\'s seven theaters, at the philharmonic or at the Aalto Theater opera house. Essen\'s largest event venue is the Grugahalle, in which even the Rolling Stones have performed.
A Cup of Coffee in the Unperfekthaus
An unusual meeting place, even for students, is the Unperfekthaus in the inner city, established in 2004. For just a small entry fee, you can stay here all day and drink coffee or cola, chat, write e-mails or visit one of the many artist studios. It's a good spot for exchange students who want to discover the city's alternative culture scene and make some new contacts.
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