COLOGNE

Regularly voted Germany’s most popular tourist destination, Cologne (Köln) offers many attractions, right from its famous cathedral with its exquisitely crafted and towering twin spires, to its many museums, chocolate, sports and Roman history too. Contrary to popular belief that most Germans are very snobbish and unfriendly, the people of this wonderful city are liberal and are cheerful and friendly to tourists and they would make an excellent company to have around your beer table.

An ancient Roman wall, lots of medieval churches, post-war buildings, avant-garde structures and even a new postmodern quarter right on the Rhine are all part of the enchanting city’s history and architecture.

Cologne was the founded by the Romans in 38 BC, and was named Colonia Claudia Ara Aggripinensium, that eventually became a major trading centre, which it continues to be even today and is now the fourth largest city in Germany.

The busy city exudes a cheerfulness that is typical of Rhineland. The city wears its tradition on its sleeves but mixed with a blend of contemporary that is manifested in the many traditional bars and breweries of the city that serve locally brewed beer and authentic cuisine of the Rhine region. The sophisticated shops, elegant restaurants, modern bars and dance clubs contribute to the new age verveand has an art scene that constantly competes with that of Berlin.

The major attraction of Cologne are the twelve exceptional Romanesque churches including the world famous Cologne Cathedral, all at a distance that would take only a leisurely stroll from the old town.

Cologne’s university is the oldest and largest in Europe.

Cologne history goes back a very long way when it was established as a Roman provincial capital and military garrison in the 1st century AD. With the river Rhine playing a very important part in the city’s progress, it has now become now one of the most important cultural centres of Germany.
It is home to many arts and entertainment facilities and is home to more than 100 galleries and 36 museums.

And yes, in case you were guessing if the city had anything to do with perfumes, then yes. Eau de Cologne, which means water from Cologne, was first bottled and sold here. It was launched by an Italian perfume maker, Giovanni Maria Farina, who was originally from Italy. He named his newly launched perfume, Eau de Cologne, in honour of the city which was now his new home.

Flights from all over Europe arrive at the Cologne Bonn International Airport. It has two terminals and lies 15 kms from Cologne city centre and 22 kms away from Bonn. The city can be reached by a taxi, train or shuttle bus. Every 20 minutes, an S Bahn train runs to the Cologne Hauptbahnhof (main train station).

The airport station is located between the two terminals of the airport. At frequent intervals the airport shuttle buses run between the two terminals and there is also a shuttle service into the city every 20 minutes. The bus can be boarded outside the terminals. Taxis too are available outside the terminals that takes around 15 minutes to the city centre.

Bus

The international bus station, Busbahnhof, of Cologne, is at BreslauerPlatz, behind Hauptbahnhof. Direct buses run between Cologne and various destinations in Germany and also throughout Europe.
Eurolines offers coach services to Cologne that includes a direct service from London. There are also daily buses to Paris and to Prague thrice a week run by Eurolines.

 

Train

Cologne’s Hauptbahnhof is situated just off the iconic Cologne Cathedral and the majestic structure is the first thing that you would see once you step out of the railway station. Every day, regional trains ply to Cologne from all over Europe. Cologne’s is served by two stations, of which, the main one is the beautiful Koln Hauptbahnhof, which connects to Amsterdam, Brussels, London, Paris and Berlin. The Inter City Express (ICE) and Thalys trains offer many service from Cologne to many German and European cities.

The biggest tourist attraction of Cologne is the magnificent Kölner Dom, or the Cologne Cathedral, which is also Cologne’s geographical and spiritual heart. Housing art and treasures, this majestic edifice stands tall with its twin spires that are among the tallest in Europe. The view from the railways station which is still on a lower level than the basement of the cathedral, extrapolates the tallness of the church further. Till the time Eiffel tower was built by Gustave Eiffel, the twin steeples were the tallest buildings in Europe. You can have a wonderful view of Cologne by climbing up the 533 steps of the Dom’s south tower. Information and tickets can be collected at the underground Dom forum visitor centre.

A stroll around the Dom will help appreciate the cathedral’s true dimensions that make it Germany’s largest though its mass and height are lightened up by the lacy spires and buttresses.

You are treated to more awe once you are inside the huge cathedral, with its massive pillars and arches that support its lofty nave. The medieval stained-glass windows let soft light seep through, presenting a magical view, which is enhanced further by the more recent work on the windows by the contemporary artist Gerhard Richter, which is set in 11,500 squares of glass in 72 different colours and provides for an enthralling kaleidoscopic view due to its abstract design by Richter, and is called the ‘symphony of light’.

Among the bevy of treasures of the Cathedral is its most prized, the Shrine of the Three Kings, which is placed behind the main altar.

It is a richly bejewelled and exquisitely decorated sarcophagus, which is believed to hold the mortal remains of the three kings who followed the guiding star to the stable in Bethlehem to see the new born Jesus. Their bones were spirited out of Milan in 1164 as spoils of war by Emperor Barbarossa’s chancellor and instantly put Cologne bang in the centre of the pilgrimage map.

The Cologne’s historic churches, like the Great St. Martin, and museums are the charm of the Old Town. In addition, the quaint alleys and the traditional houses add to its beauty. These old houses now are home to modern boutiques, galleries, cafes and restaurants. Along the Rhine, there are many a pleasant paths offering excellent views. There are many monuments and fountains that add to the charm of the city. There is also an archaeological zone which showcases the city’s ancient ruins and artefacts.

The Wallraf-Richartz Museum and the Ludwig Museums offer a visual treat to art lovers in Cologne. These two galleries are housed in one of the city’s newer architectural edifices. Works of Rembrandt, Manet, Renoir, Leibl, Liebermann and Slevogt are prominently represented.

The Cologne school of art is well represented in Wallraf-Richartz Museum, while the Ludwig museum displays modern and contemporary paintings.

The Agfa-Foto-Historama, with photographs and cameras dating back to 1840 are displayed in the same building.

The bus stops at the top of the village, allowing you to walk down at your own pace. But do remember that is a fairly tough hike back to town from the beaches. If you are not planning to continue down the Amalfi coast, ferrying back to Sorrento is a better option.

Built on the site of a former 7th century church which was constructed on a ten-sided domed structure that is still visible, the Romanesque St.Gereon church is Cologne’s most unusual. The church is a visual treat, with its long choir and medieval murals, mosaics and ancient relics. The church is dedicated to St. Gereon.

Altenberg Cathedral

Altenberg Cathedral, also known as the Bergischer Dom, is six kilometres away from the Cologne church. Built in 1259 and with a rich interior, its stained glass and the tombs of princes and abbots, are fine examples of early Gothic architecture in the Rhineland. Though not strictly a formal cathedral, since no bishop has ever sat here, it gained fame due to its imposing dimensions. Both Protestant and Catholic congregations share the premises

The Kölner Rathaus is Cologne’s Old Town Hall and the oldest public building in Germany. It has a rich history and dates more than 900 years back. Being the centre of power during medieval times, the building reflects influences from many styles of architecture in its 14th century main building and 15th century tower. Even the atrium is pleasing, influenced by early 20th century architecture.
With its Gothic figures of eight prophets and nine ‘good heroes’ (pagan, Jewish and Christian), the Hansasaal or Hanseatic Hall is another highlight. It also houses a wonderful carillon that plays thrice a day.

The Church of St. Pantaleon was built in the 10th century on the site of an old Roman villa and was restored in the 17th century. The tomb of the Empress Theophano, the wife of Otto II who died in 991 AD, is a notable feature of the church. Earlier, the St.Pantaleon also housed the relics including a collarbone of St. Alban.

The modern shrine dedicated to the 10th century saint, JosemariaEscriva of Opus dei, was added in 2006.

With colourful ceiling murals and Romanesque stonework, the church is an artistically significant building as well.

Fifteen kilometres south of Cologne lies the picturesque town of Bruehl, wherein is situated the 18th century palace, Schloss Augustusburg, residence of the Archbishops of Cologne. Resplendent with rich furnishings, the late Baroque / Rococo palace is renowned for its splendid staircase hall. The large park, used for open-air concerts and festivals, is another highlight of the place.

The Falkenlust palace shares the same park and was built in 1740 and declared a World Heritage site by UNESCO.
Bruehl has many museums and historic sites, one of which is dedicated to surrealist artist Max Ernst.

Full of cultural, adventure and sports activities, Cologne caters to the taste of the young and the old.

Rhine River Cruises

The Rhine has been an important traffic artery of Cologne since long. It helps in transporting goods to the city and is also a popular route for river cruises. It offers an interesting perspective to view the city from the river.

Boat tour service providers help give you a fantastic view of the city on their cruises, be it the historic city or the modern Rheinauhafen, with its crane houses. Each shipping line offers a different route and theme. These cruises also extend towards the Rhine valley towns of St Goar and Koblenz, which are excellent day excursions choices.

You can join or leave these cruise from various points that suit your convenience. On board you can enjoy a refreshing drink or have an authentic meal from the Rhineland while you hear commentaries about the history of this wonderful city.

Cologne Cable Car

It was the first cable car in Europe to cross a river, the Rhine, in this case, and was built in 1957. It has since carried more than 15 million passengers and offers a breathtaking bird’s eye view of the Old Town and the Cologne Cathedral.

It is easily accessible by public transport and is best enjoyed as a one way trip, the return by walk through either of the banks of the river.

The night view of the Cathedral while riding on the cable car is spellbinding.

Cologne Telecommunications Tower

The Cologne Telecommunications Tower offers a spectacular view of the city. It is located in northwest of Colonius, Cologne’s Old Town. The tower is 243 meters high and has a revolving restaurant too.
Phantasialand

Phantasialand is a favourite destination for the kids. It is one of the largest theme parks in Europe, with a cable car, a Viking boat trip, a monorail and an interesting replication of old Berlin.

Biergarten Rathenauplatz

Cologne’s best places for a drink is in this large park. It is a community-run beer garden. Huge trees canopy the sprawling tables served with simple snacks, salads and frikadelle (spiced hamburger), prepared in a cute hut. The food is cheap and the best. The Hellers Brewery nearby provides the beers. The proceeds of this outlet are used for the maintenance the park.

The Cologne Zoo provides excellent entertainment for the kids with its 500 species of animals from all continents and oceans of the world. The children’s Sports & Olympia Museum houses exhibits on the Olympics and the history of national and international sports.

Theme parks like the Stadtwald, Aqualand-Erlebnisbad, GEW Energy Dome, etc., are also sure to entertain you. The city even has a chocolate museum which will be one museum that would be a definite hit with the kids.