Das Ruhrgebiet

The Ruhr district or valley (German: Ruhrgebiet) is an urban area in North Rhine- Westphalia. With a population of 8.5 million and a population density of 2,800/km² it is the largest urban agglomeration in Germany. The large industrial cities such as Essen, Duisburg, Bochum, Oberhausen, and Gelsenkirchen are the heart of the Ruhr district, which is bordered by the rivers Ruhr, Rhine and Lippe.

Some historical background:

 

“Heavy industry means heavy labour. Nowhere in Europe is this so clear as in the Ruhrgebiet. The region is full of the history of coal, steel and people, exemplary pioneering achievements and countless victims. A history in which entrepreneurial audacity simultaneously resulted in appalling suffering and a proud sense of community, and the urban population was welded together by the common fate of poor living conditions, poisonous gases and pulmonary diseases. Now the clouds of smoke from factory chimneys have for the most part disappeared, leaving more industrial monuments in their wake than anywhere else in Europe. Pithead towers and engine houses, coking plants and blast furnace are living witnesses to the past which, in their new roles as attractive cultural and entertainment centres, also point forward to an exciting future.” (Read more: Ruhrgebiet )

About the “Ruhrpottdeutsch”

The local dialect of German is commonly called Ruhrdeutsch or Ruhrpottdeutsch, although there is really no uniform dialect that justifies designation as a single dialect. It is rather a working class sociolect with influences from the various dialects found in the area and changing even with the professions of the workers. A major common influence stems from the coal mining tradition of the area. For example, quite a few locals prefer to call the Ruhr either “Pott”, which is a derivate of “Pütt” (pitmen’s term for mine; cp. the English “pit”), or “Revier”. (source: Wikipedia )

Where to go and what to see?

The Ruhr valley has lots of attractions to see and visit, depending on your personal interests you will find a variety of historical and cultural attractions of which we will present you only a few:

⇒Essen, in the heart of the Ruhr Area, is home to both the armament-producing Krupp family’s Villa Huegel, at which royalty dined regularly in days gone by, and the Margarethenhöhe mine workers’ estates. Margarethenhöhe, with a hotel on the market square, has charming mock-Tudor homes set among tiny terraces and squares bordered with bright flowers. Get an idea of how a day of work went for the coal miners of Essen by spending some time at the UNESCO World Heritage Zeche Zollverein coal mine. Opened in 1928, this mine was once the largest and most advanced in all of Europe. The mine’s complete infrastructure still remains, and the sections of the mines built during the 1930s are widely acclaimed for their period architecture. If you’re into massive structures, this is the place to visit! (source and more information: MyGermanCity )

⇒ Bochum, reserve a ticket for Bochum‘s long-running musical, “The Starlight Express,” which for fifteen years has thrilled millions of viewers. Visit to the Bochum Museum, where some of the world’s best modern art is on display. Between mid-August and mid-October, it’s time for the RuhrTriennale when you’ll be immersed in creative experiences strongly inspired by the former industrial sites places in which they occur! Bochum also hosts the Total Music Festival and the Ruhr Piano Festival, delighting music lovers from all over Europe.  (source and more information: MyGermanCity ) And, last but not least, Bochum is Herbert Grönemeyer’s city of heart. His first album “4630 Bochum” also contains his song “Bochum“, which became the city’s unofficial hymn.

⇒ Duisburg, Landschaftspark: Molten iron used to flow 24/7 from the fiery furnaces of this decommissioned iron works that is now a unique performance space and an all-ages adventure playground. You can free-climb its ore bunkers, take a diving course in the former gas tank, climb to the top of the blast furnace or picnic in a flower garden. From Duisburg train station take tram 903 to the stop Landschaftspark-Nord, then walk along Emscherstrasse (around seven minutes).

(Read more: http://www.lonelyplanet.com/germany/duisburg/sights/parks-gardens/landschaftspark-duisburg-nord#ixzz3wT5iHX3)

 

Curious about the Ruhrgebiet? Visit Lonely Planet for more attractions and information! Have you already been to the Ruhrgebiet? Get in touch with us and let us know your thoughts, your personal do’s and don’t’s and whatever you might like to share!