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UNESCO World Heritage Sites
With more than 40 million overnight stays per year, NRW is one of Germany's most attractive destinations. Cologne Cathedral remains the no. 1 tourist attraction. Further UNESCO World Heritage Sites are Aachen Cathedral and Schloss Augustusburg in Brühl. 52 cultural monuments of a completely different kind are to be found in the Ruhr region along the "Route Industriekultur" designed in the nineties. These include industrial sites of national importance such as the Zeche Zollverein mining monument, which is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Theater, concerts, music
The theatre landscape of NRW boasts nearly 180 theatrical venues. Due in no small measure to its famous artistic directors (e.g. Peter Zadek, Claus Peymann and currently Elmar Goerden), the Schauspielhaus Bochum is one of Germany's most renowned theaters. The Philharmonie Köln and the Konzerthaus Dortmund both offer guest performances by first-class international musicians. The programs range from organ recitals with choirs and classical music to jazz. There are also countless pop and rock concerts and major musicals.
Dance theater
NRW is one of Germany's dance culture centers. The Tanztheater Wuppertal, led by the world-famous director and choreographer Pina Bausch, enjoys international fame.
Museums
Nearly 680 museums in the state attract over 14.7 million visitors every year. The Kunstsammlung NRW in Düsseldorf, for example, shows works by the major artists of the twentieth century. The Museum Ludwig in Cologne houses one of Europe's most important collections of contemporary art.
Festivals
Numerous events in NRW are known to an international public. These include the international literature festival lit.COLOGNE, the International Short Film Festival Oberhausen and the RuhrTriennale culture festival, which takes place against a backdrop of old industrial buildings.
Cultural Capital 2010
Essen will become "Cultural Capital of Europe" in 2010. The City received the title on behalf of the Ruhr area as a whole. For the preparation and realization of the Capital of Culture Year, the Ruhr Regional Association (RVR), the state of NRW, the city of Essen and the “Initiativkreis Ruhrgebiet” have established a promotion organization for the European Capital of Culture 2010. RUHR.2010 GmbH commenced operations at the beginning of 2007.
