Cologne, Germany: How Do Locals Identify Themselves?

Cologne, known as Köln in German, is a city in Germany with a rich history and cultural significance. Located on the River Rhine, it is the fourth-largest city in Germany and the largest in the state of North Rhine-Westphalia. With a population of over a million people, Cologne has a unique identity and a strong sense of local pride. So, what do the citizens of Cologne call themselves?

Cologne's citizens are called 'Kölner' in German

Citizens of Cologne, Germany, call themselves Kölner in German. The city's name in German is Köln, and its citizens are referred to as Kölner, with the masculine definite article "der" attached to the end.

Cologne, or Köln in German, is the fourth-largest city in Germany and the largest city in the state of North Rhine-Westphalia. It is situated on the Rhine River and is known for its rich history, culture, and religious significance. The city has a long tradition as a major trade centre and transport hub, dating back to the Middle Ages.

The name "Cologne" itself has an interesting etymology. The city was founded by the Romans in the 1st century CE and was known as Colonia Agrippina, derived from the Latin "Colonia" meaning "colony". Over time, the name evolved, and the French version, "Cologne", became standard in English. However, the German name "Köln" is believed to have developed from the original Latin name.

Cologne has a strong cultural and artistic heritage, boasting more than 30 museums, including the Roman-Germanic Museum and the Museum Ludwig, and hundreds of art galleries. The city is also famous for its Gothic cathedral, known as the Kölner Dom, which is the tallest cathedral in the world and a recognised landmark.

The citizens of Cologne, the Kölner, take pride in their city's rich history and cultural offerings. They are known for their sense of community and enjoy a thriving urban lifestyle with a mix of modern architecture and historic landmarks.

The city's name comes from the Latin 'Colonia Agrippina'

The name of the German city of Cologne comes from the Latin 'Colonia Agrippina'. The city was founded in the 1st century CE as the Roman 'Colonia Agrippina', from which the name 'Cologne' is derived. Agrippina was later dropped (except in Latin), and Colonia became the name of the city in its own right, which developed into the modern German 'Köln'.

The English name 'Cologne' comes from the French version of the city's name, which has become standard in English. The French adopted the name from the Latin 'Colonia', and this was then adopted into English.

Cologne was founded in Germanic Ubii territory and was the provincial capital of Germania Inferior in 85 CE. It was also known as Augusta Ubiorum. The city became an important trade centre, with a population of 40,000 in 100-200 CE.

Today, Cologne is the fourth-most populous city in Germany, with nearly 1.1 million inhabitants in the city proper and over 3.1 million people in the Cologne-Bonn urban region. It is the largest city in the German state of North Rhine-Westphalia and is a major cultural, commercial, and transportation hub.

The English name 'Cologne' is derived from the French

The English name "Cologne" is derived from the French name for the German city of Köln. The French version of the name has become standard in English. The city was founded in the 1st century CE as the Roman "Colonia Agrippina", from which its name is derived. Agrippina was later dropped (except in Latin), and "Colonia" became the name of the city in its own right, eventually evolving into the modern German "Köln".

The French version of the name, "Cologne", was adopted by English-speaking nations, and this is not unusual—the English language contains many words borrowed from French. This is partly because the language of kings and nobility after the Norman Conquest was French.

The city of Cologne has a rich history. It was the capital of the Roman province of Germania Inferior and was a major headquarters for the Roman military in the region until it was occupied by the Franks in 462 CE. During the Middle Ages, the city flourished due to its location on major trade routes between eastern and western Europe. Cologne was also a free imperial city of the Holy Roman Empire and a major member of the trade union Hanseatic League. It was one of the largest European cities in medieval and Renaissance times.

Cologne is also famous for Eau de Cologne, a perfume created by Italian expatriate Johann Maria Farina in the 18th century. During that century, this perfume became increasingly popular and was exported all over Europe by the Farina family. In contemporary American English usage, the term "cologne" has become a generic term for perfumes marketed toward men.

Cologne is the fourth-largest city in Germany

A Long History

Cologne was founded in the 1st century CE as Colonia Agrippina in the territory of the Germanic Ubii tribe. It was the capital of the Roman province of Germania Inferior until it was occupied by the Franks in 462 CE. During the Middle Ages, Cologne flourished as an important trade hub and was one of the largest cities in Europe. It was a free imperial city of the Holy Roman Empire and a member of the Hanseatic League, a trade union.

A Cultural Centre

Cologne is a major cultural centre for the Rhineland, hosting more than 30 museums and hundreds of galleries. It is also home to several institutions of higher education, including the University of Cologne, one of Europe's oldest and largest universities.

A Strong Economy

Cologne has a strong economy, based primarily on insurance and media industries. It is home to several large companies, including Lufthansa, Europe's largest airline, and Ford Europe, which has its European headquarters and a factory in the city.

A Sporting City

Cologne is also a sporting city, hosting several major events, including football matches during the 2006 FIFA World Cup and the annual Cologne Marathon. It is home to football club 1. FC Köln and the ice hockey team, Kölner Haie.

The city is home to the world's tallest cathedral

The citizens of Cologne, Germany, refer to themselves as "Kölner" in German, or "Cologners" in English.

Cologne is home to the world's tallest cathedral. Construction of the Gothic masterpiece began in 1248 but was halted around 1560, leaving it unfinished. Attempts to complete the construction began around 1814, but the project was not properly funded until the 1840s. The edifice was finally completed in 1880, and at 157 metres (515 feet), it is the tallest twin-spired church in the world. It is also the third-tallest church of any kind in the world.

The cathedral was built to house the Shrine of the Three Kings and is a globally recognised landmark. It is Germany's most visited landmark, attracting an average of six million people a year. The cathedral is a renowned monument of German Catholicism and Gothic architecture and was declared a World Heritage Site in 1996.

The cathedral's towers give it the largest façade of any church in the world. It is built from different types of rock, including trachyte and sandstone, and many sculptures and canopies are made of limestone. The cathedral's black patina is due to weathering, soot, and biofouling, and it is a characteristic that has endured for centuries.

The cathedral's colourful glass windows are especially impressive, with more than 10,000 square metres of windows in total. They bring a vibrant intensity of colour to the interior, filling the space with light to make God's omnipotence and closeness tangible. One of the oldest stained-glass windows is the famous Bible Window, located in the central chapel of the ambulatory.

The cathedral is also known for its long and drawn-out origins and period of construction, which began with the Three Wise Men and ended in 1880. It is said that "when the cathedral is finished, the world will end", and so work continues on this eternal building site.

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