Cologne's Rich History: Exploring The City's Ancient Attractions

Cologne, Germany's fourth-largest city, is famous for its rich history, vibrant culture, and diverse attractions. Located on the Rhine River, it is known for its joyous attitude and party spirit, and unique landmarks, including the medieval Cologne Cathedral, one of the world's largest Gothic churches. The city boasts a thriving music and art scene, with highlights such as the Wallraf Richartz Museum and the Ludwig Museum, featuring works by renowned artists like Picasso, Warhol, and Lichtenstein. Cologne is also renowned for its beer, Kölsch, and its lively brewpub scene, where the local dialect and warm hospitality can be experienced. The city hosts the annual Cologne Carnival, a colourful celebration that draws visitors from around the world. With its tolerant and liberal atmosphere, Cologne is a hub for the LGBT+ community, hosting the annual Gay Pride parade, known as Christopher Street Day. Beyond its cultural significance, Cologne is an important economic centre, with a strong media presence and a thriving industry, making it a fascinating destination with much to discover.

Cologne Cathedral

The construction of this Gothic masterpiece took place in several stages and was completed in 1880, over seven centuries after it first began in 1248. The cathedral is the seat of the Archbishop of Cologne and the administration of the Archdiocese of Cologne. It was constructed to house the Shrine of the Three Kings, which supposedly contains the relics of the Three Magi, and is a globally recognised landmark and one of the most visited sights and pilgrimage destinations in Europe.

The cathedral is characterised by its huge spires, which give it the largest façade of any church in the world. It is built from different types of rock, which weather to varying degrees. The filigree buttresses and arches are exposed to the elements and are susceptible to water damage, bird droppings, and the sulphur content of the air. The Schlaitdorf sandstone, used from 1842 onwards for the transept façades and the upper parts of the nave and transept, is particularly vulnerable to weathering and is constantly being renewed.

The cathedral is open to tourists on weekdays between 10 am and 5 pm and on Sundays between 1 pm and 4 pm. Visitors can climb the 533 steps to the viewing platform, approximately 100 m (330 ft) above the ground, which offers a scenic view over the Rhine.

Cologne's Old Town

During World War II, over 70% of the Old Town was destroyed, but there are still many attractions to visit, including the famous Gothic-style cathedral, the 16th-century Town Hall, and the Romanesque Groß St. Martin Church. The area also boasts several museums, including the Roman-Germanic Museum and the Museum Ludwig.

The Old Town is known for its quaint yet impressive houses, which are quintessentially German. The area's picturesque streets and squares are lined with colourful buildings and cafes. It's also a great place to sample Kölsch, a local brew and one of the few traditional German ales.

The Old Town is easily accessible, with the Cologne Ring, a city boulevard, encircling it and connecting to adjacent city districts.

Eau de Cologne

Cologne, Germany is famous for Eau de Cologne, a perfume that has been produced in the city since 1709. The name translates to "Water from Cologne" and it has since become a generic term for scented formulations with a typical concentration of 2-5% essential oils, as well as a more affordable version of a popular perfume.

The original Eau de Cologne was created by Giovanni Maria Farina, an Italian perfume maker who moved to the city. In a letter to his brother in 1708, he described his new fragrance as reminding him of "an Italian spring morning, of mountain daffodils and orange blossoms after the rain". He named the scent after his new hometown and it was delivered to nearly all royal houses in Europe.

Farina's shop, which opened in 1709, is the world's oldest fragrance factory and is still in operation today. The Farina family has been producing the original Eau de Cologne in Cologne for over 300 years, though the formula remains a secret.

The term cologne has become a generic term for perfumes marketed towards men, though it can be used for women's perfumes as well.

Roman Catholic heritage

Cologne is famous for its Roman Catholic heritage, which is centred around the city's medieval Cologne Cathedral (Kölner Dom). The cathedral is a renowned monument of German Catholicism and Gothic architecture and was declared a World Heritage Site in 1996. It is Germany's most visited landmark, attracting an average of 6 million people a year.

The site of Cologne Cathedral has been occupied by Christian churches since the 4th century. Construction of the present cathedral began in 1248, after its predecessor was destroyed by fire. The new cathedral was designed in the Gothic style, emulating French church architecture. The choir was consecrated in 1322, but construction continued until 1560, with a large wooden crane left standing about 184 feet above the ground. The project then stalled for centuries. During the French Revolution, occupying troops used the cathedral as a stable and hay barn. Restoration work began in the 1820s, and a new cornerstone was laid by King Frederick William IV of Prussia in 1842. Architects Ernst Friedrich Zwirner and Richard Voigtel resumed work, guided by 1300s architectural drawings. Construction finally ended in 1880.

Cologne Cathedral is a High Gothic five-aisled basilica with a projecting transept and a tower façade. The nave is 43.58m high, and the side aisles 19.80m. The western section, nave and transept, which began in 1330, change in style, but this is not perceptible in the overall building. The 19th-century work faithfully follows the medieval forms and techniques.

The cathedral's art treasures include the massive gold Shrine of the Three Kings, containing relics of the Magi. The shrine is a masterpiece of medieval goldwork by the noted goldsmith Nicholas of Verdun. It was begun in 1182 and completed in about 1220. The altarpiece in the Lady Chapel is a triptych entitled The Adoration of the Magi, made by Stefan Lochner. The cathedral's oldest stained-glass windows were crafted in the 13th century. A more modern stained-glass window was completed in 2007 by the Cologne-based artist Gerhard Richter.

Medieval pilgrimage site

Cologne became an important centre of medieval pilgrimage when, in 1164, Archbishop Rainald of Dassel gave the relics of the Three Wise Men to Cologne's cathedral. The relics had been taken from Milan by Emperor Frederick Barbarossa, and were considered worthy of veneration. The shrine, made of bronze and silver, is considered one of the most sophisticated goldsmith's works of the Middle Ages.

The relics of the Three Wise Men, also known as the Magi, are housed in the Shrine of the Three Kings, which is located in the eastern arm of the cathedral. The shrine was completed in 1225, and placed in the centre of the Old Cathedral. The relics were saved from a fire that destroyed almost the entire cathedral in the 13th century.

Cologne Cathedral was constructed to house the shrine, and it became a globally recognised landmark and one of the most visited pilgrimage sites in Europe. The cathedral is the tallest in Germany, and was the tallest building in the world from 1880 to 1890.

Cologne also preserves the relics of Saint Ursula and Albertus Magnus.

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