The collection of the Folkwang Museum enjoys worldwide renown. From Caspar David Friedrich to Claude Monet, Paul Gauguin, Vincent van Gogh and Paul Cézanne, from Ernst Ludwig Kirchner, Max Beckmann to Salvadore Dali and Andy Warhol, no significant name from the art history of the 19th and 20th century is missing. Specially worth seeing: the exquisite collection on the history of photography.

Villa Hügel, the former residence of the Krupp industrial dynasty, has made itself a name far beyond the borders of the region as a superlative cultural centre. The art-historical exhibitions shown there are usually absolutely unique and always impressive as regards their choice of themes and exhibits.

A collection of international posters, nationally unique in terms of quality and quantity, is justly the pride and joy of the German Poster Museum, whilst the Design Center North-Rhine Westphalia presents and awards prizes to the "best of the best" from a very large number of functional and attractive new designs.

Sacred treasures from the 9th to 18th centuries, on the other hand, are to be found in the treasure chambers of Essen Cathedral and the St. Ludgerus Basilica, thus demonstrating that Essen was a city of culture long before it rose to be an industrial metropolis.