Nearest Major Airport:

• Dusseldorf, Germany (DUS-Dusseldorf Intl.)

Area:

Essen, Germany: Although the centre of one of Europe's largest industrial areas, Essen has many historic buildings and claims to fame. The 10th-century cathedral has the oldest sculpture of the Virgin Mary in the world, its synagogue is the largest in northern Europe, and the city hall is Germany's tallest. Now a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Zollverein Coal Mine was formerly the largest in the world. The Villa Hügel hosts exhibitions and concerts.