6Exploring one of the most economically powerful metropolitan areas in Europe, this guide delves into North Rhine-Westphalia, a German region that boasts a diversity of landscapes, major cultural sites, and a significant history. Roaming the cities of Xanten, Bonn, and Cologne, the survey also considers countless castles, palaces, and sacred buildings, such as the cathedrals in Paderborn, Altenburg, and the mighty edifice in Cologne, bearing witness to an impressive past. Numerous works of art and artifacts, including everything from archaeological finds and contemporary art to chocolate, are detailed throughout nearly 700 museums in the state. North Rhine-Westphalia's most famous natural spectacles are described, including the dripstone caves of Attendorn and the strange rock formations of the Externsteine in the Teutoburg Forest. Details on the many festivals of the region, the industrial history of the Ruhr, the region's culinary specialties, and its extremely diverse architecture are also featured.