Located in a magnificent park in the north west of the city is Borbeck Palace, whose thousand year old history is closely interwoven with the monastery and City of Essen. In 1744 and 1764 the ruling abbess Franziska Christine extended the former renaissance building with baroque elements.

In 1941 the City of Essen purchased the castle. Today the Water Palace is a meeting place. Here one can attend concerts, readings, exhibitions, seminars and conferences, participate in art, dance and music concerts, dine out and even get married.