Contemporary art isn't modern art. Most of the time, contemporary art goes right over my head but I…read morestill find a few things here and there. Such was the case here with interesting and unique pieces. One was the apple. As near as I can tell, this is titled "*" (yes, just asterisk) by artist Noriyuki Suzuki. It is an apple surrounded by an armillary sphere and it's watching the apple slowly deteriorate from all angles. "Between the Clouds" by artist A.A (no . after the second A) Murakami. It is a machine creating a fog patch and fog rings. Every few seconds, it inhales and blows a ring of fog. If you've ever seen someone smoking and blowing smoke rings, it's that. The toddler who was here at the same time as me seemed to enjoy poking the rings as they made their way across the exhibit room. Other exhibits defy description. You're just going to have to go to the NRW-Forum yourself and check it out. [Review 16377 overall - 182 in Germany - 1884 of 2021.]

Easy exhbition of pictures related to fashion of the 70's and 80's…read more Nice the flashback to the elegance and glamour of those years! Interesting the possibility to download an app for your iPhone to listen to the audioguides for free. Free wifi connection.

This is a very cool, old town. It helps if you have good friends living there. The bars are great,…read morethe sites are excellent. Being between Kōln and Düsseldorf, its a well situated and also next to the river Rhine, so if you are able to squeeze in a boat ride that would be great. You have to check it out if you have the chance. You won't be disappointed.

Gefühl für das Tiefe mittelalter kommt hier hoch. Auf den rheinwiesen ist es abends herrlich.read more

Loved it. One of the best attractions in the Ruhr area by far. Would recommend it to anyone looking…read morefor an interesting day out.

"Where they burn books, in the end they will also burn human beings." -Heinrich Heine. Prophetic,…read moreconsidering he included it in his play "Almansor" in 1821 (which portrayed the burning of a Quran). I know very little of Heinrich Heine (1797-1856) other than a few choice quotes so it was interesting being brought here by my Yelp friend Klaus-Dieter and I was pleased to learn a bit more about this Germany poet and writer. The Institute contains Heine's handwritten works (what survived the Nazi era) and collections of other literature and art from the Düsseldorf era of his time. They also have a huge collection of literature by others about the man. There is no other similar exhibit elsewhere in the world though there is a fountain in the Bronx (of all places!) in tribute https://www.nycgovparks.org/parks/joyce-kilmer-park/monuments/700. You can expect to spend at least an hour touring the artifacts and displays in the institute, learning about this great man. I'll leave you with this quote that seems more Mark Twain but is indeed Heinrich Heine: "Experience is a good school. But the fees are high." [Review 16358 overall - 165 in Germany - 1865 of 2021.]

This place is just WOW. Calling it a museum doesn't really do it justice - it's an experience…read more The concept is combining nature and art. There are 12 giant, windowless brick structures spread across a huge forest area, each housing different types of art. You just wander around a crazy German forest, find the houses and shock your eyes with whatever is inside. Three houses in particular really stood out as incredible, but every house is worth a visit. Besides the art inside, there's art bursting in the wild as well, including living areas where artists work and chat with visitors. When we were there, a Joseph Beuys protégé was casually hanging out. AND, there's a gorgeous cafe that goes by the honor system. Like, what?! Another thing to note is the fact that I saw 0 employees. Just... no one. You can touch the art, take pics, whatever without judging eyes. There's also no names, descriptions or anything next to the art. Tickets are 15 EUR full / 7 EUR student, and maps are available at the front. They come in handy because the forest can feel like a maze. I'm usually a fast walker through museums, but I needed 3 hours to take in this magical place. Everything is just beautiful, and I don't know if there's anywhere else quite like it. Go here!

Maybe the best museum in Germany, as far as I remember, it has been the first one to combine art…read moreand nature in such a consequent way.

I had a good experience while learning the history of the area. If you have a local friend or tour…read moreguide, you can spend a couple hours walking around the facility/park. You'll get a beautiful industrial view in addition to public displays, cafes, and museum. Regardless of what day you visit, you'll find plenty of frequent visitors, but will also find good spots to relax alone. I recommend this spot for engineers, those curious of Essen's history, and others who want to sight-see. You'll also find Germany's longest escalator nearby on the way to the museum.

I've been living in Essen for 6 years now and I must admit, I'd never even considered visiting a…read morepit, a coal mine in my free time!! But having visited this place last weekend - WOW what a surprise!!! IT'S MASSIVE!!! We just went for a quick visit because I didn't expect much but now I'm a fan of this place. It's difficult to describe. It's a museum. A monument to the industrial past of the Ruhr area. It's a great place to visit - picnic. I need to go back again. I just didn't have the time to see everything - I was only there for 3 hours!! I'll update this again soon

The tour was so long, and it was merely in German. At first, It was a guided tour 17 meters under…read morethe ground that force the group to follow the guide and wait patiently until he finishes. I think giving minute details is part of the German culture. After that we went to the museum which was self-guided. Interesting how this area was once demonstrating the world energy. On June, it was raining and cold inside.

I appreciate the fact that much of what I take for granted is partly due to efforts and…read morecontributions of those I do not see. Just as I work in the back ground, the life of miners is one not seen. Lots of working models of steam engines, mining techniques, and equipment. All very cool in my book, and I can see how most of you would find this dry. Take the underground demonstration mine tour, it is free. Some of the equipment is absolutely unbelievable. Unfortunately, the placards are in German, as is the tour.