The “Wände Südost” project is one of the largest urban art projects in Essen. In the summer of 2012, 21 artists from the region and around the world transformed dreary areas in Essen’s Südostviertel neighborhood. Gray concrete walls along the A40 highway were thus turned into a huge open-air art promenade. The artworks stretch for nearly 3.5 kilometers on both sides of the A40. All artworks are located in public spaces and are free to view. The best way to explore “Wände Südost” is on foot during a walk around the highway route.