Exploring Cologne's Secrets: Can You Handle It?

Can You Handle It? Tours offers a free, fun, and informative performance-style walking tour of Cologne, Germany. The tour is designed to be interactive and educational, providing guests with interesting historical facts about the city in an untraditional and engaging way. The tour covers major points of interest such as the Cologne Cathedral, the Belgian Quarter, the Hahnentor Gate, St. Kolumbia, and Cologne's old town, offering a rich history of medieval Cologne and its famous landmarks. It also includes a stop near the LGBTQ district and introduces visitors to the city's party locations and musical history. The tour is approximately 2 to 2.5 hours long and is available twice daily, starting in front of the McDonald's at Rudolfplatz.

The Roman Empire, Roman Towers, and the city's history

The "Can You Handle It?" walking tour of Cologne, Germany, is an informative and fun way to learn about the city's history, including its time as part of the Roman Empire.

Cologne was once a settlement within the Roman Empire. During this time, it was bombed and destroyed significantly, although the Cologne Cathedral (also known as the Kölner Dom) remained standing. This is probably the city's most famous tourist attraction and is the highest and oldest building in Cologne, attracting about 6 million visits annually. Due to time constraints, the walking tour does not take the group inside the cathedral, but it is recommended that visitors explore it at the end of the tour.

The tour also includes other historically important buildings, such as the old Roman Towers, Friesenplatz, and the Memorial to all those who opposed the Nazi regime. The City Hall is another significant site on the tour. After being completely destroyed during World War II, it was rebuilt between 1970 and 1975. One corner of the building features a statue of a small man showing his bottom, which has been the subject of various local stories over the years.

The walking tour is a great way to learn about the historical and artistic beauty of Cologne, including its Roman past and subsequent influence on the city's development.

The Dom (Cologne Cathedral)

The Dom, or Cologne Cathedral, is a renowned monument of German Catholicism and Gothic architecture. It was declared a World Heritage Site in 1996 and is Germany's most visited landmark, attracting around 6 million people a year. The cathedral is the tallest twin-spired church in the world, standing at 157 metres (515 feet) tall. It is also the second tallest church in Europe and the third tallest church in the world.

The construction of the Dom began in 1248 but was halted around 1560 and left unfinished. Attempts to complete the cathedral began around 1814, but the project was not properly funded until the 1840s. The building was finally completed to its original medieval plan in 1880, 632 years after construction had begun. The completion of Germany's largest cathedral was celebrated as a national event, with Emperor Wilhelm I in attendance.

The Dom was built to house the reliquary of the Three Kings and to serve as a place of worship for the Holy Roman Emperor. It is the seat of the Archbishop of Cologne and of the administration of the Archdiocese of Cologne. The cathedral is a Catholic Church and its opening hours vary depending on the day of the week and whether a mass is taking place. It is generally open to tourists on weekdays between 10 am and 5 pm, and on Sundays between 1 pm and 4 pm.

The Dom is a Gothic masterpiece, with a 19th-century western section, nave and transept that changes in style. However, this change is not perceptible in the overall building, as the 19th-century work faithfully follows the medieval forms and techniques of the original plan. The cathedral is built from different types of rock, which weather differently due to their varying characteristics. The filigree buttresses and arches are exposed to the elements and are susceptible to water damage, as well as damage from the sulphur content of the air and bird droppings.

The Dom contains many artistic masterpieces, including the Gero Crucifix, believed to be the oldest large crucifix north of the Alps, and the Shrine of the Three Kings, the largest reliquary in Europe. Other highlights include the altarpiece of St Clare, the altarpiece of the City Patrons by Stephan Lochner, and the altarpiece of St Agilolphus in the south transept. Visitors can climb the 533 steps to the viewing platform, which offers scenic views over the Rhine.

Zulpicher Street, nightlife, and Kolsch beer

Zülpicher Straße, or Zülpi as it is affectionately known, is the place to be for nightlife in Cologne. This long street is lined with pubs, bars, and restaurants, so you're sure to find something to suit your taste. It's also a great place to shop, and there's some impressive architecture to take in.

Zülpi is known for its vibrant nightlife and is particularly popular with university students, offering cheaper prices than the nearby Ringe. However, in recent years, the street has changed, with some reporting an increase in harassment and a more aggressive atmosphere.

Despite these reports, Zülpi remains a hub of activity, with something to suit everyone's tastes. Whether you're looking for Cuban bars, American pubs, karaoke, or the famous Oma's Schnitzels restaurant, you'll find it here. And of course, no visit to Cologne would be complete without trying the local beer, Kolsch. This refreshing brew is made with light German malts, bright noble hops, and cold, clean water, resulting in a light straw-colored beer with a clear body and an ABV of around 5.2%

Belgian Quarter, street art, and graffiti

The Belgian Quarter is one of the main hubs of street art in Cologne, along with Ehrenfeld and Mülheim. The area is known for its eclectic urban art, with a mix of large-format murals and small-format pieces by local and international artists.

One of the most famous pieces of street art in the Belgian Quarter is the mural by Italian artist Agostino Iacurci, which can be found on Maastrichter Straße. The street art hub between Aachener Straße and Venloer Straße features an array of works, including magnificent murals by Tika, Hendrik ECB Beikirch, and Sepe & Chazme, as well as small-format pieces by local artists adorning facades, drives, and even the pavement.

The Belgian Quarter is also home to three specialist galleries for street art that regularly hold inspiring exhibitions. These galleries contribute to the growing recognition of Cologne as a Public and Urban Art destination, which has been developing since the CityLeaks Urban Art Festival began in 2011.

In addition to the Belgian Quarter, street art enthusiasts should also check out the neighbourhoods of Ehrenfeld and Mülheim. Ehrenfeld boasts the city's highest concentration of large-format murals by internationally acclaimed artists such as ROA, Herakut, and Faith47. Mülheim, on the right bank of the Rhine, also offers a number of fascinating murals by international artists like Hense, Axel Void, Franco Fasoli, and Ammar Abo Bakr.

For those interested in graffiti specifically, the neighbourhood of Nippes is worth visiting. There, you'll find outstanding pieces by some of Cologne's top writers on the neighbourhood's railway pillars and underpasses.

City Hall, Gothic tower, and WWII destruction

The City Hall in Cologne, Germany, is a historical building with a documented history spanning some 900 years. The building complex consists of several structures, including the 15th-century Gothic-style tower, which is the oldest part of the City Hall. The tower, known as the Ratsturm (Council Tower), was commissioned by the Cologne guilds in 1406 and built between 1407 and 1414. It reaches a height of 61 meters and consists of five storeys. The tower was heavily damaged during World War II, along with the rest of the City Hall, except for the front portion and part of the tower, which remained and were rebuilt in a modern style.

The Gothic tower is an example of the varying architectural styles that make up the City Hall complex. Other styles include the 14th-century historic town hall, the 16th-century Renaissance loggia and cloister (the Löwenhof), and the 20th-century Modern Movement atrium (the Piazzetta). The complex is located in the Innenstadt district, between the two squares of Rathausplatz and Alter Markt.

During World War II, Cologne was subjected to 262 Allied air raids, with the first RAF bombardment occurring on May 17, 1940. The city's cathedral, a Gothic masterpiece, was one of the only buildings left standing after the intense bombing. On March 6, 1945, when US forces entered Cologne, the cathedral loomed above the ruins, having survived 14 bomb hits.

The cathedral played a unique role in the bombardments, as its twin spires served as an easy navigational landmark for Allied bombers. Despite the heavy damage it sustained, the cathedral remained standing, a majestic symbol of the perpetuity of the faith, as described by American Catholic chaplain (later Archbishop) Philip Hannan.

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