North Rhine-Westphalia is not the largest state in Germany, but the state with highest population. More than 18 milliones peoples are living in this area. The mineral pit-coal and heavy industry brought a lot of workers in the lasts centuries into this area. It arose an huge industrial area called Ruhrgebiet or also named "Kohlenpott". After all the face of the industrial cities changed in the last decades. Today are here more recently service companies with future technology for computer and environment protection. Many industrial areas are now attractive and cultural centres. Green parks with lakes and recreation centres are today the view. North Rhine-Westphalia have a long history. Cities like Cologne, Bonn, Aachen and Xanten have it´s originate already at the Roman times and have a long tradition over the middle up to the modern age. Many churches, castles and museums have treasures of art with non estimated values. Hikers and friends of nature find a lot of posibilities in areas of Teutoburg Forest, Sauerland, north Eifel and Siegerland. For cycling holidays is the green Münsterland a great area.