The Zollverein coal mine industrial complex is an icon of industrial architecture and today is used for cultural purposes. Essen cathedral contains sections of Abbess Theophanu's medieval Ottonian basilica. The cathedral treasury houses one of Europe's most valuable collections of church treasures, plus precious religious objects from every epoch.Zollverein coal mine – UNESCO World Heritage
The pit complex was built in 1932, inspired by the Bauhaus style, and was the last of Essen's coal mines to be closed down. What was once the largest and most attractive coal mining plant in Europe is now an important industrial monument. Visitors can see the conveyor machine, tipping hall and boiler house.Essen Cathedral and Cathedral Treasury
The cathedral was restored after suffering bomb damage in the second world war, and now looks much like it did in the early 14th century. The squat, Westphalian version of an early-Gothic hall church is built on the foundations of Essen's first collegiate church. Essen's cathedral treasury includes many works of art such as the Golden Madonna, the oldest full-relief Madonna statue in the West.Old Synagogue
The synagogue was consecrated by the Jewish community in Essen in 1913. The domed building designed by architect Edmund Körner could accommodate congregations of around 1,400. It was burned down on 9 November 1938 during Kristallnacht, but suffered no further damage during the war. Today, the restored synagogue is a memorial and venue for lots of exhibitions.