Cologne, Germany: A Cultural Hub Of Art And History

Cologne, Germany is known for many things, including its joyous attitude and party spirit, its beer, its dialect, its Eau de Cologne perfume, and its Gothic cathedral.

Cologne is the largest city in the German state of North Rhine-Westphalia and the fourth-most populous city in Germany. It is a major cultural centre for the Rhineland, with more than 30 museums and hundreds of galleries. It is also a significant hub for the aerospace industry, with the German Aerospace Centre and the European Astronaut Centre headquartered there.

Cologne is famous for its beer, Kölsch, which is also the name of the local dialect. The city is also known for its Eau de Cologne perfume, created by Italian expatriate Johann Maria Farina in the 18th century.

The city's medieval Cologne Cathedral is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the largest Gothic church in northern Europe. It is said to be the single most-visited landmark in Germany, attracting Christian pilgrims and tourists alike.

Cologne Cathedral

The cathedral is a masterpiece of High Gothic architecture and one of the largest cathedrals in Europe. It is not just a popular destination for tourists but also a famous landmark and a seat of the Archbishop of Cologne and the administration of the Archdiocese of Cologne. The stairs leading down from the cathedral to the train station or the square on the opposite side—the so-called "Domplatte"—is a popular meeting place.

Construction of the cathedral began in 1248 but was halted around 1560 and left unfinished. Attempts to complete the construction began around 1814, but the project was not properly funded until the 1840s. The edifice was completed according to its original medieval plan in 1880. The towers for its two huge spires give the cathedral the largest façade of any church in the world.

The cathedral houses the Shrine of the Three Kings, which is considered one of the most sophisticated goldsmith's works of the Middle Ages. It also features beautiful 16th-century stained glass windows, 10th-century artworks, and a 14th-century altar carved from black marble. Visitors can climb 533 steps to the top of the south tower to enjoy a panoramic view of the city.

Eau de Cologne

Cologne, Germany, is known for its Eau de Cologne, a perfume created in the early 18th century by Italian expatriate Johann Maria Farina. Eau de Cologne has been produced in the city since 1709, and the term "cologne" has since become a generic name for perfumes. During the 18th century, Eau de Cologne became increasingly popular and was exported all over Europe by the Farina family.

The perfume is sometimes referred to as "Water of Cologne" or "Kölnisch Wasser" in German. The Farina family has continued to produce the original Eau de Cologne into the present day, now in its eighth generation. In 1803, Wilhelm Mülhens began producing a similar fragrance in Cologne under the name "4711", taken from the address of his factory on Glockengasse. Today, the 4711 brand is owned by Mäurer & Wirtz, who purchased it in 2006.

In Cologne, you can visit the Farina Fragrance Museum, the birthplace of Eau de Cologne, to learn more about its history. There is also a museum near the Rathaus, about a 6-minute walk from 4711, that offers a 45-minute tour of the oldest intact perfume factory in the world.

Roman history

Cologne, Germany, is a city steeped in Roman history. In 38 BCE, the area was colonised by the Ubii, a tribe from the right bank of the Rhine, at the instruction of the Roman general Agrippa. A fortified settlement was established, which served as the birthplace of Julia Agrippina, later the wife of Emperor Claudius. In 310, Emperor Constantine the Great built a castle and a permanent bridge across the Rhine.

In 50 CE, Agrippina persuaded her husband to elevate the status of the town to a city, and it was renamed Colonia Claudia Ara Agrippinensium, later shortened to Colonia and then Cologne. It was made the headquarters of the governor of Lower Germany. The city's Roman name is a mouthful, and companies and shops are named after its famous native daughter, Agrippina, the 'Mother of Cologne'.

The Romano-Germanic Museum in the heart of Old Town is a great place to learn about the city's Roman past. It houses a large collection of Roman glass, amphorae, jewellery, and flasks with motifs of gladiators. The museum was designed around a magnificent Roman mosaic floor crafted from a million pieces of glass, stone, and ceramics. The Praetorium, discovered under the City Hall, was once the headquarters of the army and later a palace for Roman governors. It featured intricate mosaics and was meant to showcase Roman power to the Germanic tribes across the Rhine.

Cologne has 12 Romanesque churches, many with a Roman past. The Great St Martin Church, a distinctive part of the city's skyline, was built on an island in Roman times, on top of warehouses whose bases can still be seen today. The Kolumba Museum, designed by Swiss architect Peter Zumthor, showcases stumps and walls of Roman residential settlements.

The city was once encircled by a long Roman wall with 19 ancient towers. Fragments of the wall and towers can still be seen today, including the beautiful Römerturm, whose brilliant masonry showcases Roman engineering skills.

Cologne's famous cathedral, the Dom Cathedral, also has Roman foundations and walls, discovered during excavations. The city's Roman past is intimately connected to its present, with history whispering from every corner.

LGBT+ community

Cologne, Germany, is known for its thriving and vibrant LGBT+ community. The city is recognised for its joyous attitude, party spirit, and liberal, tolerant outlook. The LGBT+ community in Cologne is celebrated through a number of events, establishments, and nightlife options.

LGBT+ Events

Cologne is home to one of the largest gay and lesbian events in Germany and Europe, the annual Cologne Pride or Christopher Street Day. This event, also known as CSD, celebrates pride in gay and lesbian culture and comprises a large city pride parade and a week of festivals, parties, and political forums. The two-week programme includes more than 100 events, celebrating and promoting the issues of the LGBTQIA+ community, including human rights, tolerance, and peaceful coexistence. The event attracts around 1 million visitors per year and is considered one of the biggest gay prides in Germany.

The city also hosts the Schaafenstraßenfest street fair, which is another opportunity for the LGBT+ community to come together and celebrate.

LGBT+ Establishments and Nightlife

Cologne has a specific area known as the "Bermuda Triangle" or the "Rainbow-Hued Party Mile", located in the Altstadt-Süd neighbourhood. This area is a popular destination for the city's gay scene, boasting numerous LGBT+ establishments within close proximity. The Bermuda Triangle is home to several gay bars, clubs, drag shows, and cabaret performances. Additionally, there are gay saunas and bathhouses in the city, providing further options for the LGBT+ community to socialise and relax.

The city's LGBT+ nightlife is diverse and inclusive, offering something for everyone. Whether it's dancing the night away at a club or enjoying a cosy evening at a gay-friendly café, Cologne's LGBT+ scene is known for its welcoming atmosphere.

Kölsch beer

Kölsch is a style of beer that originates from Cologne, Germany. It is a hybrid of lager and ale, combining the best elements of both. It is fermented with ale yeast and then conditioned at cold temperatures like a lager. This process is similar to that used for Düsseldorf's altbier.

Kölsch is light in colour, with a straw-yellow hue, and has a vinous character with a slightly dry, crisp finish. It is known for its drinkability and exceptional balance of malt and fruit flavours, with a subtle touch of spice. It is also light and refreshing, making it perfect for warm summer days.

In Cologne, Kölsch is traditionally served in a tall, thin, cylindrical 200-millilitre glass called a Stange. The server, called a Köbes, carries eleven or twelve Stangen in a Kranz, a circular tray resembling a crown or wreath. It is customary for the Köbes to immediately replace an empty glass with a full one, marking a tick on a coaster under the glass. When the drinker is finished, they place the coaster on top of the empty glass to signal that they do not want another refill.

Since 1997, the term "Kölsch" has had a protected geographical indication within the European Union, meaning it can only be applied to beer made within 50 km of Cologne and brewed according to the Kölsch Konvention, as defined by the members of the Cologne Brewery Association.

Kölsch is an integral part of Cologne's culture and is considered the city's signature beer. It is also gaining popularity in the American craft beer scene, with several breweries offering their own takes on the traditional style.

Frequently asked questions