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Cologne Travel Guide
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| Cologne
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Located
on the Rhine River, this delightful city (pop. 964,346),
with Roman origins has the largest and most famous church
in Germany (and that's quite a statement). The stunning
13th-century Gothic cathedral (called the Dom) with dramatic
twin spires is a must-see. Art lovers won't want to miss
the museum complex next to the cathedral. It contains the
Ludwig Museum (modern and contemporary art, with a good
selection of pop art) and the Wallraf Richartz Museum (mainly
Dutch and German Old Masters). If you have time, visit the
nearby Romisch-Germanisches Museum (constructed over the
3rd-century Roman Dionysius mosaic). Cologne has several
Romanesque churches, and the city is also well known for
its many art galleries.
Apart from its sights, we feel the best reason to visit
Cologne is to experience its friendly atmosphere -- it's
one of the most fun-loving cities in Europe. Much of the
activity centers around pubs, where people gather to drink
Kolsch, the local beer, which is served in small glasses.
The city's famous pre-Lenten Karneval really gets things
going. It peaks on Rosenmontag, the Monday before Ash Wednesday.
Cologne is well worth a one-night visit.
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| Cologne
Travels & Tours |
Kölner Dom
Described by UNESCO as 'a masterpiece of gothic architecture',
the Kölner Dom was declared a world heritage site in
1996. The construction of the gothic cathedral took 632
years, and when it was finally completed in 1880, it was
the world's tallest building. The Dom stands an imposing
157m high and you will need to be in good shape if you want
to climb one of the towers, although the view from the top
is definitely worth the effort.
Schokoladenmuseum
Opened in 1993, the Chocolate Museum is located in Cologne's
former harbour, and the building has been designed in the
shape of a ship's prow in deference to this maritime connection.
Architect Ernst Eller constructed the building almost entirely
out of glass, according to the specifications of Hans Imhoff,
head of the Stollwerck company. The firm has also influenced
the name of the museum, which in full reads 'The Imhoff-Stollwerck
Museum of the Past and Present of Chocolate'. Visitors can
drink from the warm chocolate spring and try out the home-made
chocolate produced in the factory.
Alter Markt
Alter Markt, or the Old Market, lies in the heart of the
old town. It is home to the Christmas market during the
festive season and the Medienburgerfest in the summer, but
is perhaps best known for the Carnival which begins here
at 11.11am on the 11th day of the 11th month. This is when
Cologne goes completely crazy and hoards of Jecken, or madmen,
storm the town hall. Once Cologne's commercial centre, nowadays
it is simply a focal point for tourists who flock here to
witness the comings and goings around the Marktbrunnen fountain.
Phantasialand
Phantasialand proudly calls itself 'Europe's most unique
theme park'. The wild water rapids, mystery castle, Hollywood
tour, space centre and Colorado adventure are just some
of the attractions. Everything is located in a large, leafy
park which is almost worthy of a visit in itself. Restaurants
such as Alt Berlin, Don Pedro and Chinatown offer a variety
of food and drink. Picnic areas are provided if you wish
to bring your own, more affordable snacks.
Melatenfriedhof
It was Napoleon himself who in 1800 ordered that all burials
should take place outside the city walls - in accordance
with the burial traditions of Ancient Rome. As a result
of this, the new central cemetery was opened on the site
of a disused lepers' house a decade later. The name Melaten
is taken from the French 'malade' or 'sick'. The cemetery
contains numerous old trees which are home to all kinds
of birdlife, and between the trees lie two centuries-worth
of graves and tombs, including many of the city's best known
inhabitants.
Schildergasse
Schildergasse is named after the Schilderer (painters or
sign makers) who used to have their studios on the street.
Today it's home to most of the major department stores and
shops such as Kaufhof, Marks & Spencer, Gap and Douglas.
You can take a break to watch the street performers or have
look at the jewellery and fruit vendors who sell their goods
in the middle of the street. The Bierbrunnen at the lower
end of Schildergasse is a great place to chill out after
a hectic day's shopping. |
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