Recklinghausen, Hanseatic district capital in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany
Recklinghausen is a Hanseatic district capital at the northern edge of the Ruhr region in North Rhine-Westphalia, spreading between former colliery sites in the south and open farmland to the north. The historic town center groups around the market square with Petrikirche, while residential neighborhoods and commercial zones alternate in the outer districts.
The settlement received its town charter in 1236 and joined the Hanseatic League in 1316, making it a trading hub for regional goods. The discovery of coal seams in the nineteenth century transformed the surrounding area into mining territory and led to rapid population growth.
The Icon Museum holds more than a thousand Eastern Orthodox works from Russia, Greece and the Balkans, which visitors can view in a purpose-built gallery space. This collection ranks among the most important of its kind outside Orthodox countries and displays sacred art spanning from medieval times through the twentieth century.
The main station connects the town with regional destinations and long-distance lines, while motorways A2 and A43 provide access to wider road networks. The center can be explored on foot, and public buses run to different neighborhoods.
The Ruhrfestspiele takes place every May and brings international theater productions to the town after coal miners exchanged fuel for performances following the Second World War. This festival grew into one of the oldest continuous stage events in Europe.
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