The North Rhine-Westphalia city of Gelsenkirchen in the north of Germany's Ruhr has an ancient history dating back to the 12th century. Yet this city of 270,000 people was all but a tiny village until the Industrial Revolution. Today, it has moved on from its coal mining past to become a vibrant stop on the way to the better known German tourism hubs of Cologne and Dusseldorf, less than 80kms to the south and southwest, respectively. Gelsenkirchen embraces its industrial past, with old rail lines and refineries having been converted into civic and recreational venues. For sightseeing, there's the 13th century Berge Castle, host to numerous music events throughout the year. Families will enjoy Zoom Erlebniswelt zoo with its interactive elements and exhibits on three continents. Most Gelsenkirchen hotels are located in the city centre, near to its historical attractions, while others are close to the city's parks, where bike paths, playgrounds and gardens are featured.

other spellings: glesenkirchen otel, gelsenkrichen hote, gelsenkirchenhotels, gelzenkirchen hotell