Essen - Zeche Zollverein UNESCO Weltkulturerbe
Image by Daniel Mennerich. Licensed under Creative Commons
Ruhrpott
Geologically, the region is defined by coal-bearing layers from the upper Carboniferous period. The coal seams reach the surface in a strip along the river Ruhr and dip downward from the river to the north. Beneath the Lippe, the coal seams lie at a depth of 2,000 to 2,600 ft.
Gelsenkirchen - Horst - Zeche Nordstern
Image by Daniel Mennerich. Licensed under Creative Commons
Ruhrpott
Once known for its belching steelworks and filthy coal mines, the Ruhrgebiet – a sprawling post-industrial region of 53 cities – is considered part of the larger Rhine-Ruhr metropolitan region, which is among the largest in Europe, behind only London and Paris.
Dortmund - Zeche Gneisenau
Image by Daniel Mennerich. Licensed under Creative Commons
Ruhrpott
The Ruhrpott is a former industrial area centrally located in North Rhine Westphalia. The region takes its name partly from the river Ruhr and the word “Pott” which comes from “Kohlenpott” (meaning “coal pot”) alluding to the area’s coal-mining past.

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Cranger Kirmes

Every first Friday of August, every year.

Cranger Kirmes in Herne stands out with the 500-odd showmen and their roller coasters, ghost trains, games, and curios spread out over an 111,000-square-meter space. Originally founded in the 15th century as a horse market, Cranger Kirmes soon evolved into an entertainment event replete with jugglers and magicians. Today, the colorful funfair welcomes about 4 million visitors over 10 days starting the first Friday of August.

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The Ruhrpott's past

The Industrial Center of Germany

In the past, the coal-dust-covered center of German industry, the Ruhrpott has undergone a transformation into a melting pot of cultures and making the area a popular destination for visitors. This reinvention led to the Ruhr area becoming the first region to be named a European Capital of Culture in 2010. The Ruhrpott cities and communities form one vibrant and diverse metropolis today, with numerous historical and cultural attractions for visitors to enjoy.

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The Ruhrpott Present and Future

A Mecca of History and Culture

After its mining and steel industries fell into decline in the 1970s, the Ruhr Valley decided on an unusual strategy for economic renewal: turning the dying industrial landscape into a giant history and technology museum, as well as a top recreation destination.

The gambit appears to have worked. With its mixture of museums, parks, and unique historic industrial sites, The Industrial Heritage route, which officially opened in 1999, helped attract some three million visitors to the Ruhr Valley in 2001, with the numbers on the rise, according to tourism authorities.