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Cologne

Cologne

State

North Rhine–Westphalia

Country

Germany

Continent

Europe

Size

405 KM2

Population

1,100,000

Spending Budget

$58 - $150

Famous For

  • Cologne Cathedral
  • Flora and Botanical Garden
  • Rhine River Cruise
  • The Wallraf-Richartz Museum and the Ludwig Museum
  • The Cologne Chocolate Museum

Best Time to Visit

  • January
  • February
  • September
  • October
  • November
  • December

History

The first urban settlement on the grounds of modern-day Cologne was Oppidum Ubiorum, founded in 38 BC by the Ubii, a Cisrhenian Germanic tribe. In 50 AD, the Romans founded Colonia Claudia Ara Agrippinensium (Cologne) on the river Rhine and the city became the provincial capital of Germania Inferior in 85 AD. Early medieval Cologne was part of Austrasia within the Frankish Empire. In 716, Charles Martel commanded an army for the first time and suffered the only defeat of his life when Chilperic II, King of Neustria, invaded Austrasia and the city fell to him in the Battle of Cologne. In the 843 Treaty of Verdun Cologne fell into the dominion of Lothair I's Middle Francia – later called Lotharingia. Following the Battle of Worringen in 1288, Cologne gained its independence from the archbishops and became a Free City. Cologne lost its status as a free city during the French period. According to the Peace Treaty of Lunéville (1801) all the territories of the Holy Roman Empire on the left bank of the Rhine were officially incorporated into the French Republic (which had already occupied Cologne in 1794). Thus this region later became part of Napoleon's Empire. Cologne was part of the French Département Roer (named after the river Roer, German: Rur) with Aachen (French: Aix-la-Chapelle) as its capital. In 1815 at the Congress of Vienna, Cologne was made part of the Kingdom of Prussia, first in the Jülich-Cleves-Berg province and then the Rhine province. During the 19th and 20th centuries, Cologne absorbed numerous surrounding towns, and by World War I, had already grown to 700,000 inhabitants. Industrialisation changed the city and spurred its growth. Vehicle and engine manufacturing was especially successful, though the heavy industry was less ubiquitous than in the Ruhr area. The cathedral, started in 1248 but abandoned around 1560, was eventually finished in 1880 not just as a place of worship but also as a German national monument celebrating the newly founded German empire and the continuity of the German nation since the Middle Ages. Some of this urban growth occurred at the expense of the city's historic heritage with much being demolished (for example, the city walls or the area around the cathedral) and sometimes replaced by contemporary buildings. During World War I Cologne was the target of several minor air raids but suffered no significant damage. Cologne was occupied by the British Army of the Rhine until 1926, under the terms of the Armistice and the subsequent Versailles Peace Treaty. During World War II, Cologne was a Military Area Command Headquarters. Despite Cologne's status as the largest city in the region, nearby Düsseldorf was chosen as the political capital of the federated state of North Rhine-Westphalia. With Bonn being chosen as the provisional federal capital and seat of the government of the Federal Republic of Germany (then informally West Germany), Cologne benefited by being sandwiched between two important political centres. The city became–and still is–home to a number of federal agencies and organizations. After reunification in 1990, Berlin was made the capital of Germany.

Present Day

In 1959, the city's population reached pre-war numbers again. It then grew steadily, exceeding 1 million for about one year from 1975. It remained just below that until mid-2010 when it exceeded 1 million again. In the 1980s and 1990s, Cologne's economy prospered for two main reasons. The first was the growth in the number of media companies, both in the private and public sectors; they are especially catered for in the newly developed Media Park, which creates a strong visual focal point in Cologne's city centre and includes the KölnTurm, one of Cologne's most prominent high-rise buildings. The second was the permanent improvement of the diverse traffic infrastructure, which made Cologne one of the most easily accessible metropolitan areas in Central Europe. Due to the economic success of the Cologne Trade Fair, the city arranged a large extension to the fair site in 2005. Cologne is one of the provinces of Germany. It’s on the banks of the Rhine river. Heart Industry of Cologne is a Chemical industry of almost 40 companies and 23,000 employees. The age of Cologne is 2,000 years. It’s a regional cultural hub of Germany. Ludwig Museums explains the exact cultural heritage. The city remains a banking centre, as it was in the Middle Ages, and it is the site of one of the world’s oldest commodity and stock exchanges. It has been a centre of the automotive industry—notably engine manufacture—since the late 19th century and is now the headquarters of the European operations of the Ford Motor Company. But business activity has become greatly diversified. Insurance has assumed a major position, and Cologne is a leading media centre with many publishing houses and production companies for radio and television. Engineering, electrical engineering, machinery, chemicals, and pharmaceuticals also are significant. Other manufactures include chocolate and the city’s famous eau de cologne, which was first produced commercially at the beginning of the 18th century.

Future

The City of Cologne’s Comprehensive Plan was prepared in response to increasing growth and development activity in the City. The city council has established a public participation process designed to receive input and suggestions from a wide variety of stakeholders including planning commission and City Council members, local business, and residents. Preferred growth strategies resulting to include promotion of more commercial/ industrial development, maintain a moderate growth rate, retain the rural atmosphere in Cologne, focus on mixing of housing styles and prices, plans for the expansion of public utilities and services needed for growth, incorporate pedestrians and bicycling corridors in all growth plan.
Must Visit Places ------------

Cologne Cathedral

One of the largest cathedrals in Europe, it was started in 1248 and is considered the most ambitious building project of the Middle Ages. As impressive as its 157-meter-tall twin towers is the cathedral's incredible interior, a must-see when visiting this bustling city. Located near the left bank of the Rhine, Cologne Cathedral (Kölner Dom) is the city's towering landmark. Officially called the Cathedral of St. Peter and St. Mary (Hohe Domkirche Sankt Petrus), this stunning edifice is a masterpiece of High Gothic architecture, and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Cologne City Hall

A particular highlight of the city's Old Town area is Cologne's historic City Hall, the Kölner Rathaus. The oldest such public building in Germany, it boasts a rich history dating back more than 900 years. As the focal point of the ruling classes during medieval times, the building you see today reflects a number of different architectural influences. These include the 14th-century main building, the 15th-century tower, and a Renaissance-style loggia and cloister. Even the 20th-century influences are pleasing, as seen in the atrium.

Rhine River Cruise

It would be a shame to visit this beautiful city without viewing it - and its nearby river scenery - from a boat on the Rhine. On a one-hour Cologne Sightseeing Cruise, get unparalleled views of Cologne landmarks, including the twin-spire of Cologne Cathedral, the picturesque buildings of the Old Town, and the Hohenzollern Bridge. One of the most popular things to do in Cologne at night is the Rhine River Evening Panorama Cruise, a leisurely two-hour excursion to see the city aglow with lights. Enjoy the views.

The Wallraf-Richartz Museum and the Ludwig Museum

Art lovers will want to visit both the Wallraf-Richartz Museum and the Ludwig Museum when in Cologne. Housed in one of the city's newer architectural structures, these two excellent galleries cover a wide range of European paintings to view. Of particular note are works by Rembrandt, Manet, Renoir, Leibl, Liebermann, and Slevogt. The Wallraf-Richartz Museum is particularly strong in the work of the Cologne school, while the Ludwig focuses on modern and contemporary painting. In the same building is the Agfa-Foto-Historama with its displays of photographs and cameras dating back to 1840. Also of interest is Kolumba, the art museum of the Archdiocese of Cologne, notable for its art and antiquities.

The NS Documentation Centre of the City of Cologne

A combination memorial site, interactive museum, and research facility, the center - sometimes referred to simply as NSDOK - is set in the actual building where prisoners were held by the Gestapo. Its most chilling experience is entering the actual prison cells in the basement with the writing of prisoners scratched into the walls. Those with an interest in life under the Nazi regime and its aftermath will want to visit the NS Documentation Centre of the City of Cologne ( NS-Dokumentationszentrum der Stadt Köln). This important memorial gives an unvarnished account of National Socialist (Nazi) horrors, especially for the citizens of Cologne. The center attempts to put a human face on the effects of the police state on both Germans and occupied countries, with individual stories. It also focuses on the long aftermath of the Nazi era and the efforts to bring those responsible for its atrocities to justice.

Cologne Zoological Garden

Founded in 1860, Cologne Zoo (Kölner Zoologischer Garten) is one of Germany's oldest zoological gardens. Evidence of its age can be seen in its fine collection of 19th-century menagerie buildings, including its Moorish-style elephant house and an old birdhouse (now home to chimps) resembling a traditional Russian church. Other highlights include Ape Island with its mock rainforest; a well-stocked aquarium; and an excellent big cat enclosure, a biotope habitat where visitor view the animals through glass without bars.

Bird's-Eye View of Cologne from a Cable Car

Since its establishment in 1957 as the first European cable car to cross a river - in this case, the Rhine - the Cologne cable car has carried millions of passengers. The views are, of course, the big draw, particularly those of the Old Town and Cologne Cathedral. For more great views, a visit to Cologne Telecommunications Tower is worthwhile. Located northwest of Cologne's Old Town, Colonius, as it's known locally, is 243 meters high with a superb viewing platform and a revolving restaurant. KölnTriangle, a striking contemporary building on Ottoplatz, also has a panoramic viewing platform.

Flora and Botanical Garden

Established in the 19th century near the riverbank in Riehl, a northern district of Cologne, Flora and Botanical Garden (Flora und Botanischer Garten Köln) covers 11.5 hectares, with more than 10,000 species of plants. You can stroll through this public park to learn about the plants, or simply to enjoy the beautiful and colorful flowers arranged in formal beds throughout the growing season. Open all year-round, the tropical settings of the greenhouses and the Palm House are delightful, whatever the season. Serving as an elegant backdrop to the gardens is The Flora, a historic building that hosts flower shows, concerts, and events.

St. Gereon's Basilica

Romanesque St. Gereon's Basilica (Basilika Sankt Gereon) is perhaps Cologne's most unusual church. It was built on the site of a former 7th-century church, which was itself constructed in the 12th century on a ten-sided domed structure dating from Roman times (and still visible). Dedicated to Saint Gereon, this visually appealing structure has an unusually long choir, and is filled with medieval murals, mosaics, and ancient relics.

The Cologne Chocolate Museum

The Cologne Chocolate Museum (Schokoladenmuseum) can trace its roots to 1972, when Hans Imhoff acquired the Stollwerck chocolate factory. What he discovered there was a rubbish container filled with broken machinery, packaging material, and other remnants of chocolate manufacture. Thus inspired, he began preserving and restoring these as the basis for the museum, where exhibits follow the entire process from bean to the finished packaged product. There are interactive displays, collections of molds, antique chocolate boxes and wrappers, plus free samples from the chocolate fountain. There's even a working production line where you can watch chocolates being made.