World Cup 2006
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City Guides
GELSENKIRCHEN
Gelsenkirchen Zoo
– Gelsenkirchen Zoo is probably the most visited tourist attraction in the town. It is located in the direction of the stadium, close to the Berliner Brucke Strasse and with its own stop on the tram 301 line. It has a good and successful breeding programme for Bears, with both the Grizzly and Polar varieties taking pride of place in the park.
Schloss Berge
– This baroque stately home is set in acres of beautiful woodland less than half a kilometre north of the Veltins Arena. The building dates back to the early 1200’s when it was constructed by Gerlach von Strünkede. The main house sits on a man-made island, surrounded by a moat and trees.
Veltins Arena Museum and Tour
- The Museum charts the history of the club, from its origins in the mining industry in the early 20th century, right up until the successes of the current campaign as well as displaying some of the silverware that have made the club so successful. It also shows photos, films and models of their previous homes. Three times a day the club also runs tours of the stadium (on non matchdays only).
The Bleckkriche
– The Bleckkirche is Gelsenkirchen’s oldest church, originally built in 1735 and one of the most famous icons of the town. It features a number of valuable works of art, including a renaissance altar that is rumoured to date back to 1574.
Shopping
Visitors have to remember that Gelsenkirchen is the smallest of all the venues being used in the FIFA World Cup 2006™. It has less than 280,000 residents in the whole conurbation, putting it on a par in the UK with Cardiff. The shopping experience reflects this fact – functional is the watch word here. You wont find the designer shops that Köln and Munich has, or the smart department stores and malls that can be found in Hamburg and Stuttgart.
