Welcome to the German Ruhr area.
One of the largest urban areas in Europe, or more detailed, welcome to the city of Essen,
which has a population of about half a million.
Usually this city and this area is not on a list of travelers coming to Germany.
But it has been European capital of culture on behalf of the whole Ruhr area in 2010.
Why?
This is what I want to discover in this video blog episode.
So let's go!
So here we are at the most important landmark in Essen, the so-called Zeche Zollverein.
Or if I would try to translate it, the Zollverein-Kohlmein industrial complex.
This place is often called the world's most beautiful coal mine.
And in fact it is a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2001.
This is probably the most creative house in town.
And like no other place, it symbolizes the transformation of the industrial city.
Because it is hard to describe what is inside, we will meet up Markus, who will tell us more
about the so-called Unperfect House.
What is the Unperfect House?
Well, it's not that easy to answer this question.
Basically, it is a house for creative people.
You can play around with your ideas, make your first steps and find out if it is an idea
that works out well.
But you have to do that in public, so who likes to paint, paints publicly, who likes
to sing, sings publicly.
So there are hundreds of creative persons who are using this house and visitors as well
as guests can walk around the whole area and have a look at all these activities going
on here.
And if they want, it is also possible to interact with the artists.
That was Essen and you know what that means in German?
Right.
So, see you.
