EXPLORING COLOGNE...................

Carnival, Churches and Culture

"Kölle Alaaf!" That's the battle cry you hear in Cologne every spring. It signifies that carnival has arrived - a time of year that is known here as the "fifth season". Carnival enthusiasts wearing brightly colored costumes take control of the city. They crowd the streets, bars and even the supermarkets. Musicians beat their drums or play popular carnival songs on their trumpets and flutes. And everybody feels free to sing and dance along. Cologne seems to be out of its mind for five days and nights on end. The only thing left to do for any visitor is to hop right in and join the party. But don't be late, the festivities end abruptly on Ash Wednesday.

We don't want to create the impression, however, that Cologne has nothing to offer but its party atmosphere during carnival. There's hardly another German city with quite as much zest and friendliness. No one stays alone at one of the many bars or restaurants that serve Cologne's standard brew Kölsch.

The Cathedral is Always in View

But there's more than just Kölsch culture as well. With approximately one million inhabitants Cologne is Germany's fourth largest and oldest city. The Roman Empire stretched to the Rhine River 2000 years ago, and it was here that the Romans established a trading post they named Colonia. Their influence can still be seen today. Over time, the Rhine river became ever more important as a trade route, shipping goods from the Alps to the North Sea or upstream. During the middle ages, Cologne prospered as a center for trade. Twelve major Roman Churches and three fortress-like city gates testify to the importance of Cologne during this period.

Cologne's most famous landmark is its cathedral, the Kölner Dom. It is one of Germany's best-known cathedrals and tourist sights and attracts countless tourists from all over the world every day of the year. This masterpiece of gothic architecture took hundreds of years to build and wasn't completed until the nineteenth century. The cathedral's twin spires rise some 157 meters into the sky and dominate the city's skyline.

Quick Reconstruction

One can get a sense of how Cologne looked before World War II through the individual architectural monuments scattered about the city as well as the picturesque Old Town south of the Cathedral, with its gabled houses and narrow alleyways. The war exacted a heavy price, and 90 percent of Cologne’s downtown district was destroyed by allied bombs. Today Cologne’s cityscape is primarily characterized by the functional buildings that went up during the city’s speedy reconstruction.

Modern Art

Cologne has much more to offer culture-vultures than just its long and fascinating history. The city is regarded as a metropolis of contemporary art and boasts numerous art galleries. It has a lively art scene - the Ludwig Museum as well as the renowned art fair "Art Cologne" draw crowds.

Modern Media

In addition, Cologne is one of Germany’s premiere media centers with ten radio and television stations. West German Broadcasting (WDR), the RTL TV station and around 400 production companies have their headquarters in Cologne. It’s become Germany’s most important television center and is experiencing ever greater investment and expansion. The "Media Park" media center that has gone up over the last decade is one good example.