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Germany
Travel Guide
Visiting Cologne Germany - five great
places to see by Kim
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Are you considering a visit to
Germany? Why not visit the city of Cologne. It has a history which goes
back to the Roman era. Located next to river Rhine and the fourth
largest city in Germany it offers good a connection to the nearby
cities of Düsseldorf and Bonn. Cologne is also linked with Amsterdam,
Brussels, London and Paris by Thalys, ICE and Eurostar High Speed
trains. The Frankfurt airport has a direct service to Cologne and is
within one hour by ICE trains.
Cologne
has plenty to offer in terms of entertainment and culture. The
following places are certainly worth seeing:
The
Gothic Cathedral, also known as the Dom, is the city's most
famous landmark and also a well known architectural monument in
Germany. It is 144 metres long and 86 meters wide and has two spires
that are 157 metres in height. Construction began in 1248 to house the
relics of the Magi, the Dom was not completed until 1880. The
completion of the cathedral was celebrated as a national event. Despite
changing architectural styles through the centuries, the result is
essentially Gothic. Situated in the centre of Cologne, from the top of
the Dom's south tower there are panoramic views across the city and
surrounding area. Open daily from 7:00 am to 7:00 pm, except during religious
services.
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The most impressive attraction
in the Roman-Germanic Museum is the 70 square metre Dionysos-Mosaik.
The mosaic, once the floor of the main room of a large Roman villa dating
from the third century, was discovered in 1941 during excavation work for
an air-raid shelter. The Museum, which was opened in 1974 and is situated
near the Kölner Dom, boasts a collection of prehistoric, ancient and
medieval finds. The exhibitions give an insight into the daily life,
beliefs and customs of long-forgotten cultures. An unusual feature is the
collection of Roman glassware.
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Cologne is the city of live
music and concerts, with music from all periods from all over the world
and in the most diverse stylistic schools and movements performed here
every day. The powerfully pulsating heart of this Cologne music
culture, is the philharmonic hall built in the cathedral mound, which
seats 2000 people. Since its opening in 1986, it has become one of the
leading international concert halls. The 'Philharmonie' concert
hall has at least one performance scheduled for virtually every day of
the year. Recitals range from chamber music to jazz, folk and pop, with
a house policy of encouraging lesser-known, new and unusual music.
The
city hall in Alter Markt (Old Square) dates from 1330 but has a
tower from the 15th century and a Renaissance facade from the 16th
century.
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Having been damaged during the
Second World War, part of the 14th-century Renaissance building was
rebuilt. Cologne artisans concentrated particularly on restoring the City
Hall tower, and thanks to their donations the City Hall got restored
properly. Statues of emperors, popes, poets and academics - and also of
women's rights campaigners - look down from the tower on the busy square
below.
The Old
Market lies in the heart of the old town. Surrounded by bars and
restaurants, it hosts a variety of events all year round: home to the
Christmas market during the festive season and the Medienburgerfestival
in the summer, the Old Market is perhaps best known for the Carnival which
begins here at 11.11 am on the 11th day of the 11th month. This is when
Cologne goes completely crazy. During the Middle Ages, the Old Market was
Cologne's commercial centre, and the nearby butter market, fish market
and hay market were some of its subsidiaries. Nowadays, it is simply a
focal point for tourists who flock here to witness the comings and goings
around the market fountain.
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