About Cologne

Cologne is a city district and metropolis in Germany, in the federal state of North Rhine-Westphalia, located on the Rhine, north of Bonn and south of Neuss and Düsseldorf. With approximately 1 million inhabitants, Cologne is the fourth largest city in Germany and the largest in North Rhine-Westphalia.

Cologne has a 2,000-year history, and visitors will find everything from Roman towers to Gothic churches to beautiful examples of modern architecture. Cologne has a variety of museums: visit for example the Museum of Applied Arts, the Museum Ludwig and, if you have a sweet tooth, the Chocolate Museum.

What is known in Cologne?

This very old cathedral city on the river Rhine is one of the most important commercial and cultural centers in western Germany. Cologne (Köln in German) is famous for its 12 great Romanesque churches, especially the magnificent Cologne Cathedral.

Home is where the Dom is”. The Cathedral of St. Peter and St. Mary, is a masterpiece of High Gothic architecture, and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

What makes Cologne attractive to visit?

A Few examples where Cologne is famous for and reasons why visiting are:

• The Cologne Cathedral (Dom): One of the most famous landmarks for which cologne is known for! “Home is where the Dom is”. The Cathedral of St. Peter and St. Mary, is a masterpiece of High Gothic architecture, and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
• Kölsch the beer and Kölsch the dialect: What is the only dialect you can drink? Right, Kölsch! Of course, the Cologne beer is well known far beyond the city limits. But here in Cologne, there is practically no alternative to the best of all beers, and the Kölsch beer is one of the many reasons for which Cologne is known for.
• Cologne Breweries: Wherever beer flows, a brewpub cannot be far. This also goes for Cologne. The Cologne brewpub scene is a cult of its own. Even if you only visit the city for a few days, you should definitely take a detour into one of the numerous brewery pubs. The lively atmosphere immediately sucks every Cologne newcomer into its wake.
• Cologne Carnival: The Cologne Carnival is the big carnival that Cologne is known for. If you live in Cologne, there’s no way around it – unless you lock yourself in at home for a week. Every year during Carnival, the entire city is rendered out of commission.
• Cologne Gay Pride: The people of Cologne are known for their relaxed, liberal, and tolerant attitude to life; all are welcomed and accepted for who they are. As a result of this attitude, Cologne has a thriving LGBT+ community. There are countless gay bars and clubs to visit in the city center and once a year people come from all over the world to join in the city's colorful Gay Pride parade also known as (CSD Christopher Street Day).