Duisburg at the Rhine is the westernmost city in the Ruhr region, part of the Rhein-Ruhr metropole, the largest contiguous conurbation in Germany and the fifth largest in Europe (Rhine-Ruhr metropolitan region).
In Germany, Duisburg stands for coal and steel (until the middle of the last century), but for the last 30 years it has been undergoing structural change towards new industrial fields (continuing high tech steel manufacturing) and regional and national tasks. The Port of Duisburg is the largest inland port in the world and one of the most central logistical hubs in Europe.
The entire region with the central cities of Duisburg, Essen, Bochum and Dortmund as well as 54 smaller local cities was chosen as one of the European Capitals of Culture in 2010, highlighting in particular the coexistence of industry, culture and its centuries-old social diversity.
The University of Duisburg-Essen is conveniently situated near several renowned destinations, including the UNESCO World Heritage sites in Cologne and Aachen (cathedrals), Essen (Zeche Zollverein), and the Roman limes wall in Xanten.
