Food is the second gray city of the Ruhr area and is centrally located in this metropolitan area. As the city of opposes, she combines the remnants of the heavy industry of the northern city parts with great half-timbered houses in Essen-Kettwig in the south of the city. Grounded around 800 and equipped with the city law since about 1400, Essen experienced the industrial upswing with the construction of the bill of collection and coking "Customs club" In the 1920s. At that time, food was the bigger mining town of Europe.

Requirement of the former Zeche Zollverein
In 1986, the Zeche Zollverein was closed from economic reasons and turned to one of the most attractive art and cultural centers in the region. On the free access to the former industry facility, among others, the Ruhr Museum, the Red Dot Design Museum and the dismissed cokingery with unique photocations.