Villa Hügel in Essen

She sits majestically enthroned above the Baldeneysee, Nestled within a unique park: the Villa Hügel in Essen. The former residence of the Krupp dynasty, built in 1973, now serves as a historical monument and provides space for exhibitions and events. The "Villa," as it is commonly known, comprises a main building and an annex, which houses the Krupp Historical Exhibition. A remarkable 8,000 square meters are spread across approximately 270 rooms and additional usable areas. The imposing sandstone building is surrounded by a roughly 28-hectare park, the Hügelpark, which invites visitors to linger and stroll.

Besides the unique vegetation, it is also the sculptures and the constantly changing perspectives that make the Villa Hügelpark to distinguish them. Most of the approximately 7,000 trees were planted by Alfred Krupp, the builder of Villa Hügel, as early as the 19th century. Their appearance today is correspondingly imposing and magnificent. Giant chestnut trees, majestic magnolias, mysterious yews, and not forgetting the magical sequoias that offer protection to the villa and its castle-like terrace on the eastern side.

The Krupp family loved exploring the park and the adjacent Krupp Forest, covering approximately 100 hectares and now a municipal recreation area and nature reserve, on horseback. Alfred Krupp rode daily along the former country lane from the villa to the foundry, often at such a brisk pace that he racked up numerous speeding tickets. The workaholic is said to have had his office set up above the horse stables. This distinctive smell was believed to ground him. Thus, a bronze sculpture of a grazing horse still stands below the gatehouse on Hügelweg, commemorating the former owner, Alfred Krupp. Even today, a challenging bridle path, similar to a trail, winds through the Krupp Forest.

Alfred Krupp, originally born Alfried Krupp, achieved his breakthrough with the production of seamless steel wheels, which sold like hotcakes during the booming railway industry, even in America. Three overlapping seamless railway wheel rims became Krupp's trademark. To this day, the symbol is used as an identifying mark and logo by organizations such as the Alfried Krupp von Bohlen und Halbach Foundation, the current owner of the Villa Hügel, the Alfried Krupp Hospital in Essen-Rüttenscheid, and the Essen Gymnastics and Fencing Club (ETUF). And to this day, the three seamless railway wheel rims are part of the corporate logo of the ThyssenKrupp Group, which merged the former steel giants of the Ruhr region, Thyssen from Duisburg and Krupp from Essen. Hoesch AG from Dortmund had already been acquired by the Krupp Group in 1991 through a so-called "hostile" takeover – reportedly the first debt-financed takeover in the history of German publicly traded companies.

The Krupp Historical Exhibition recounts all these events. In the meticulously restored rooms, visitors experience the company's history and the spirit of the Krupp dynasty across two floors. For example, there's a model of the sailing yacht Germania. Another model is located in the study in the main building. A total of six sailing yachts, named Germania I to VI, were built for the Krupp family during the 20th century. The interactive exhibition also illustrates the topographical changes to the hill, first without and later with the Villa Hügel, as well as the damming of the Ruhr River to create the Baldeneysee, and much more.

The ravages of time, taking their toll on the imposing sandstone building, necessitated renovation work. This is hardly surprising, given that the Villa Hügel was originally built between 1870 and 1873. Since 2013, the Villa Hügel, adjacent building sections, and part of the green spaces have been undergoing extensive and sensitive restoration work, ensuring that visitors remain undisturbed.

The Villa Hügel, briefly a residential building and primarily a venue for representation and receptions for emperors, kings, heads of state, politicians, and celebrities, is now used as a museum, exhibition space, and auditorium for classical concerts. A historically significant place where one can feel the spirit of history and the structural transformation of the Ruhr region like almost nowhere else.