Ruhr: European Capital of Culture 2010
tourismerfo on 07 5, 2010
Tourism in Germany has been given a boost in 2010 by the Ruhr being the European Capital of Culture under the official name of ‘RUHR.2010, Essen for the Ruhr‘. This is the first time that the title been held by an entire region, in this instance, a conurbation of more than fifty towns and cities in western Germany situated near the border with the Netherlands. A surprising new side to the region can now be seen, with a vast number of highlights and events drawing in a great deal of tourism.
The Ruhr region was formally an industrial heartland with its coal mines, coking plants and steelworks. However, tourism is very buoyant within the places which were once associated with physical labour being transformed into recreational hot spots where culture and tourism thrive. For instance, there are over one thousand industrial monuments, two hundred museums, around a hundred arts centres, theatres and concert venues. The area holds around 250 festivals and fairs which allow tourists and other visitors from all around the world the opportunity to not only experience tourism in Germany but the European Capital of Culture.
For the last year, a panel of artists and the rest of the RUHR.2010 group have been working on proposals and ideas for the European Capital of Culture, which will attract a great deal of tourism to the area all year round. The programming structure of the European Capital of Culture 2010 “Essen for the Ruhr” consists of three main themes: which are mythology, metropolis and Europe. These are interlaced into and represented by the disciplines and theme areas of theatre, language, music and festivals; events enjoyed by a great number of tourists. It is through these media that the story of change in the area, from one of industry to tourism, can be told. Taking the Ruhr mythology as the starting point, the board of officials aim to show the birth of a new metropolis, one able of moving Europe through both culture and art, and so, tourism in Germany will be seeing a great deal of activity in 2010.
Tourism in Germany has been given a boost in 2010 by the Ruhr being the European Capital of Culture under the official name of ‘RUHR.2010, Essen for the Ruhr’. This is the first time that the title been held by an entire region, in this instance, a conurbation of more than fifty towns and cities in western Germany situated near the border with the Netherlands. A surprising new side to the region can now be seen, with a vast number of highlights and events drawing in a great deal of tourism.
The Ruhr region was formally an industrial heartland with its coal mines, coking plants and steelworks. However, tourism is very buoyant within the places which were once associated with physical labour being transformed into recreational hot spots where culture and tourism thrive. For instance, there are over one thousand industrial monuments, two hundred museums, around a hundred arts centres, theatres and concert venues. The area holds around 250 festivals and fairs which allow tourists and other visitors from all around the world the opportunity to not only experience tourism in Germany but the European Capital of Culture. For the last year, a panel of artists and the rest of the RUHR.2010 group have been working on proposals and ideas for the European Capital of Culture, which will attract a great deal of tourism to the area all year round. The programming structure of the European Capital of Culture 2010 “Essen for the Ruhr” consists of three main themes: which are mythology, metropolis and Europe. These are interlaced into and represented by the disciplines and theme areas of theatre, language, music and festivals; events enjoyed by a great number of tourists. It is through these media that the story of change in the area, from one of industry to tourism, can be told. Taking the Ruhr mythology as the starting point, the board of officials aim to show the birth of a new metropolis, one able of moving Europe through both culture and art, and so, tourism in Germany will be seeing a great deal of activity in 2010.
