What to Do When You Find Yourself in Essen, Germany, Essen, Germany

Whenever I meet someone from Germany, I always mention that I’ve visited there. Of course, they ask “What part?” and my answer is “Essen!” The next logical question is a confused, “Why?” How did I end up in Essen, a small city not found on many travel itineraries? I was there for a board game convention. Yup, you read that right.

Most of my travels thus far have actually revolved around book fairs due to my boyfriends profession, but this time we mixed it up and went to a board game convention. We were there a week, and I have to say, I thought it would be hard to fill the time in such a quaint little city. The truth is, there was plenty to do, and I felt like I got a glimpse into how German people really live. We weren’t in a tourist destination where everyone speaks English and you only see the well known attractions. It was up to us to discover the cool things to see in the neighborhood, and hey, staying at a castle doesn’t hurt.

Speaking of castles, we stayed at the gorgeous Hugenpoet! This spectacular little castle is outside the city on a quiet piece of land surrounded by farms. From the moment you walk in, you are greeted with grandiose and charm. The entrance features a large ornately carved staircase and sitting area. The rooms are on the modern side with an old world twist. The grounds are nice for a quiet walk, and the restaurant on the main floor has an interesting array of food. ...... (follow the instructions below for accessing the rest of this article).