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Gelsenkirchen - Overview
By Jon Darch
Aug 21, 2004, 00:40
Gelsenkirchen near Schalke
Schalke may only be one of the city's many boroughs, but the name Schalke is far better known outside the immediate area than that of Gelsenkirchen. Club folklore has it that when Schalke 04's legendary player of the 1930s, Ernst Kuzorra, was asked by the King of Sweden where Gelsenkirchen was, he cheekily replied "Near Schalke!".
Gelsen-where?
Gelsenkirchen is in fact located in the industrial Ruhr District, in the north west of Germany.
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| Gelsenkirchen's location |
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| The former Nordstern colliery |
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Changing times
Gelsenkirchen is a former mining and coke refining town. However, 117 years of coke refining came to an end in 1999 and a year later the Ewald-Hugo colliery closed with 3,000 laid off. The city is now becoming a centre for solar panel technology, as well as home to some major chemicals and water utility companies. |
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Rugged charm?
Angular buildings characterise the rather concrete city centre these days, which cannot be said to be picturesque. But while not pretty, Gelsenkirchen is football mad. For over 100 years it has been home to Schalke 04, named after the local borough of the same name.
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| Industry today - Gelsen Water Co. HQ |
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| The 18th century Schloss Berge |
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Historic buildings
Despite the city centre's 1970s appearance, there are a couple of impressive historic buildings in the area. The Renaissance Schloss Horst and noble Schloss Berge, both more like large manor houses than 'castles'.
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See Expedia.co.uk for Gelsenkirchen hotels, flights and rental cars  .
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External links
Official city website (English)
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Internal links + hotels
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