Cologne (Köln) is a vibrant German city famous for its awe-inspiring cathedral, Romanesque churches and atmospheric brewhouses.

Cologne is situated on the river Rhein in North Rhine-Westphalia and is the fourth largest city in Germany. Cologne's very name bears witness to its Roman past as the town of Colonia. The city has an extremely lively arts and culture scene and it is known as the "capital of Rhenish joie de vivre".

Cologne is Germany's oldest city and, until the 19th century, the grandest - a status still reflected in the scores of spires that serrate its skyline, and its massive cathedral, or Dom. Cologne, like most areas of Germany, has its very own local dialect of German, though this is improbable to hinder the average sight-seeing tourist.

Despite its strong religious background, Cologne has a reputation as a goodtime town and its Carnival is one of the biggest in Europe. Visitors can sample the city's famous hospitality in its brewhouses - Cologne boasts more breweries than any other European city. Cologne also offers some fine museums featuring rich Roman remains and an important artistic heritage.Despite losing most of its historic centre in WWII, a small proportion of Cologne's Altstadt survives, right by the river.

But the major draw for visitors is Cologne's cathedral, known as the Dom, arguably the world's greatest gothic edifice and Germany's most visited attraction.

In Cologne there is so much to see, from the old Roman towers to the modern opera house, it is gradually becoming the fine-art capital of Germany. Cologne spoils its visitors: it heaps on the magnificent architecture, splendid museums, superb theatre and concerts, excellent dance clubs, and enormous department stores, and then, if that wasn't enough, it heaps some great food and beer on top.

As a matter of fact, Cologne is one of Germany’s leading gastronomic lights, from venerable breweries offering unique Kölsch beer and typical Cologne delicacies to first-class restaurants - boasting well in excess of 3000 public houses, restaurants and breweries.
COLOGNE is situated on the river Rhein in North Rhine-Westphalia and is the fourth largest city in Germany. Cologne's very name bears witness to its Roman past as the town of Colonia. The city has an extremely lively arts and culture scene and it is known as the "capital of Rhenish joie de vivre".

Cologne is Germany's oldest city and, until the 19th century, the grandest - a status still reflected in the scores of spires that serrate its skyline, and its massive cathedral, or Dom. Cologne, like most areas of Germany, has its very own local dialect of German, though this is improbable to hinder the average sight-seeing tourist.

Back to Top

Cologne is the oldest major city in Germany. The name Cologne comes from the Roman empress Agrippina. The wife of the Emperor Claudius was born on the banks of the Rhine and elevated her "Colonia" to the status of a city in the year 50 A.D. Today, traces of the Romans are still to be found at every turn in Cologne: the Dionysus mosaic in the Römisch-Germanisches Museum, sections of the Roman city wall and the Roman water system, which formerly brought fresh spring water to the Roman city from the Eifel region.

Cologne is the largest city in the Rhineland region of Germany, with a population of about 1 million. It is located 27km (17 miles) N of Bonn and 188km (117 miles) NW of Frankfurt. Cologne's population is 43% Roman Catholic, 18% Protestant and 39% nonreligious or other.

Cologne is especially known for its magnificent Gothic cathedral, which was once the tallest building in the world. But Cologne is also so rich in antiquity that every time a new foundation is dug, the excavators come up with archaeological finds.

Extensive bombing during World War II seriously damaged nearly all the buildings of the Old Town, but the cloud had a silver lining – reconstruction revealed a period of Cologne's history that had been a mystery for centuries.

Cologne traces its beginnings to 38 BC, when Roman legions set up camp here. As early as 50 AD, the emperor Claudius gave it municipal rights as capital of a Roman province and named the city Colonia Claudia Ara Agrippinensis. In the early Christian era, a number of saints were martyred here, including the patron of the city, St. Ursula (383 AD).

Cologne had a Christian bishop as early as 313 AD, and in 785 became the seat of an archbishop. The Archbishop of Cologne was one of the electors of the Holy Roman Empire and became very powerful. In 1164, Archbishop Rainald von Dassel brought the relics of the Three Magi to the city, making it a major pilgrimage destination. During the Middle Ages, as Cologne became a center for international trade, Romanesque and Gothic churches were built with prosperous merchants' gold.

Today, Cologne is a bustling modern city with much to see, from ancient Roman artifacts to magnificent churches. Cologne also has 31 museums, with exhibits ranging from archeological findings to contemporary art. Most recently, Cologne was the home of the 2005 World Youth Festival, attended by German native Pope Benedict XVI.

Back to Top

Over 2000 years ago the Romans settled what’s today Cologne and dubbed the city a Roman colony, "Colonia", in 50 ACE (the German name has stuck since then as Koln). Out of these times came a large number of artifacts which one can witness under the open sky or un- der the roof of the Römisch-Germanisches Museum (Roman-Germanic Museum). For those wishing to experience that history all the way up to the present, they should seek it out at the Kölnische Stadtmuseum (Cologne City Museum), Cologne’s old weapons depository.

Melatenfriedhof . This historical cemetery outside of the old city walls, placed here in accordance with Napoleon's directives that burial laws should be in accordance with the traditions of Ancient Rome, is home to some of the city's most famous characters. While many come to Melatenfriedhof to see the graves of well-known Germans, the artistic splendour of some of the headstones also makes it of interest to artists or those simply looking for an atmospheric stroll among the cemetery's tree-lines paths.

Cologne Cathedral. The Dom is actually Germany’s largest cathedral. Its construction began in 1248, and was finished in 1880. The huge building covers a surface area of 8,000 sq. m., both towers stand 157 m tall. The Dom houses some unique treasures like the remains of the three Wisemen.

Guided Tours to Old Town. Everyone visiting Cologne ought to be part of a guided tour into the city's magic cathedral and through the Old Town with its beautiful squares, historical monuments and houses. Because there's no better and cheaper way to learn that much about the old roman town.

The Roman-Germanic Museum. The museum belongs among the most loved in Germany because it houses artifacts from the Roman times, such as, the Dionysus mosaic, Poblicus’ tomb and worldwide the largest collection of Roman glass. One must unconditionally visit.

The Wallraf-Richartz-Museum. The Wallraf Richartz Museum (WRM) shows artwork from 1250 to 1900. One of the highlights are paintings of the "Kölner Malerschule" of the middle ages with works of Stefan Lochner as well as paintings of Dürer, Cranach, Rubens or van Gogh.

Popular Personalities from Cologne. Innumerable prominent figures belong to Cologne’s city history. Everyone knows the name of Konrad Adenauer and often Willy Millowitsch (see photo). Even Albertus Magnus once lived and taught in Cologne when Thomas Aquinas was one of his students.

Boat trip on the rhine. Making a boat trip on the rhine is one of the duties for every Cologne-visitor, espacially when the weather is high. Three shipping companies always offer several trips of various duration. Being on board you'll have a beautiful panorama view on Cologne's nice old town.

Cologne Zoo and Aquarium (Zoo Köln).Cologne Zoo is the perfect family attraction and boasts an enormous collection of animals, including one of the biggest elephant parks in the whole of Europe. Other top attractions include the monkey island, giraffes, hippos, an indoor rainforest area, a modern owl house and an outstanding group of aquariums, where many brightly coloured marine fish reside, amongst beautifully landscaped coral reefs. If you time your visit right you will be able to enjoy the feeding displays and talks, which feature the zoo's penguins, sea lions and otters.

Phantasialand.It is debatable whether the park lives up to its claim of being 'Europe's most unique theme park', but a day out at Phantasialand does guarantee plenty of fun. With all the attractions that you would expect from an adventure theme park, kids and adults alike can get splashed on the water rapids, spook themselves in the mystery castle, or simply lay back and relax in the lovely park. International cuisine is served up at various on-site themed restaurants, so that thrill-seekers do not have to leave the grounds for anything.

EL-DE Haus .This fascinating building was once the Gestapo's (secret police) headquarters during WWII. Almost untouched since then, EL-DE Haus acts as both a memorial and an enthralling exhibition, giving visitors an absorbing insight into the workings of this Nazi regime. Guided tours will take you past cells that once held Jews, homosexuals and other 'enemies' of this unimaginable regime. Further attractions on-site include the Nazi Documentation Centre, where you can digest the permanent exhibition entitled 'Cologne under National Socialism'.

Früh am Dom .A Cologne institution, no visitors should miss out on a taste of the city's best beer offerings at the Früh am Dom. The selection of German ales here is outstanding, with the locally-brewed Kölsch beer being a local favourite. The Früh, as it is known by residents, is not just popular with tourists, as the locals enjoy this place for its menu of national dishes too. Tuck into some German sausage and sauerkraut, which are amongst the other main attractions here, and come closer to understanding the rich German culture.

Back to Top

By train: The central train station is immediately below the cathedral - a very impressing view when you enter the city by train. From the "Hauptbahnhof" you can reach many sights, pubs and hotels by walking.

By air: The international airport Köln-Bonn is situated half way between the two cities. By taking the train (S-Bahn) S13 you will reach the Cologne central station in about 15 minutes. The train leaves at 20-minute intervals on weekdays and 30-minute intervals on weekends and holidays. A taxi ride from the airport to the city centre takes about 20 minutes and will cost around 20 Euro.

By car: Cologne is surrounded by concentric Rings, thus orientation is not really difficult. The outest is the "Autobahnring". From here the main arterials radiate inwards the city. If you just follow the centre signs, you will reach the Dom as well as the central station, where you can park rather easily (underground parking) but it will cost you more than in the outer areas.

Moving on in Cologne is never a problem, a well-developed bus, tram and subway system makes it fairly convenient to get around. The public transport network, shared with Bonn, is relatively high prized, but you can always buy daily or group tickets. Investing in a 24-hours-ticket or a three-day-pass makes getting around less expensive.

The subway includes sections which run at street-level (trams). Tickets can be purchased inside the subway stations at counters or at ticket machines, which you will find as well inside the vehicles. Before your first ride you have to cancel your ticket, because there are no conductors present.

Back to Top

Back to Top