Just a few decades ago, Herbert Grönemeyer sang that the city was "completely gray from work" and had a "pulse of steel." Today, it is a green city positioning itself as a future Gigabit City with a high quality of life. Furthermore, Bochum is as old as a place in the Ruhr area can be: Originating from a royal court of Charlemagne, the agricultural town evolved over time into one of the leading coal and steel locations as well as a modern large city and university town. In 2010, the Ruhr area was even designated as the "European Capital of Culture." Bochum has experienced peaceful decades as well as phases of profound change, such as during industrialization or the suffering under the Nazi dictatorship. Stefan Pätzold provides an exciting and vividly narrated short history of the city.