Paths, streets, and squares characterize the "face" of a city, art and culture how a city is experienced. The culture trail from the main station to the Folkwang and Ruhrland Museums in the South quarter links in a very special way art and cultural sites, architecture, and sculptures.

The museums in Goethestraße, the  Aalto-Theater, and the "Saalbau" attract several 100,000 visitors annually to their events. Important artists have created the sculptures that can be seen in the "Stadtgarten", and in other places along the route from the main station to the museums, past cultural facilities such as the "Kulturwissenschaftliche Institut", past and present business architecture, and the "Erlöserkirche" (Church of our Redeemer).

A particular highlight of the culture trail is the footbridge at the "Glückaufhaus", which allows the safe crossing of "Bismarckstraße". This links the Essen "Museumsinsel" (museum isle) directly with "Rüttenscheider Straße". And with the B 224 a "City Gate" is thus created.

Blue luminiscent glass stones, engineered in a new technology specially developed for the Essen idea, mark this culture trail. In addition, signs and descriptive boards show the way and provide information on architecture and sculptures. The culture trail is intended to call attention to art and culture, and to generate new perceptions of it.