Permanent exhibitions are normally displayed in the museum. Schnutgen Museum, Museum of Applied Art, and Chocolate Museum exhibits the historical treasures in jems, sculpture, glass paintings, hangings, furniture and many more things of Middle age.
Cologne has a very much extended address of shopping. The shopping centers of Cologne has both departmental and Boutiques by well known designers. Schildergasse is the most popular shopping streets of Cologne. Neumarkt Passage arcade is another well known place where one can get desired quality shopping.
Cologne art & culture enriches the tourism in Cologne, Germany. Two important places which are making the art and culture rich in Germany are Cologne Philharmonic, Cologne arena . Rock concerts, Jazz sessions, folk and pop events take place in Cologne Philharmonic and all the innovational things are done in Cologne arena.
Most captivating museums are meliorating the tourism in Cologne. Ludwig Museum, Wallraf Richartz Museum, Romano Germanic Museum are some important museum which have large collection of paintings and archaeological heritage.
Tourism of Cologne in Germany is going up to its highs for the trade fares. Art cologne, Anuga, and IDS International Dental Show motivates the traders to do good jobs.
Some other interesting places are Cologne cathedral, which is the city’s famous turning point with 157 meter-high towers. Old town in Cologne is enriching the tourism of Cologne, Germany. Romanesque churches are also very important place for the tourists.
Cologne is well known for its scenic beauty of Rhine. The tourism of Cologne is highly appreciable.
History of Cologne
Even to a person who is not at all touring type, the name Cologne rings a bell. Because the very famous perfume Eau de Cologne originated here. But Cologne is not just famous for one reason, i.e. the perfume. There are many other reasons to get attracted towards Cologne. Cologne’s colorful history is one of them.
There were many landmark moments in Cologne’s glorious past. Cologne started enjoying its status as a city under the Romans. This happened in 50 B.C., courtesy, Agrippina the Younger, daughter of Cologne and wife of the Emperor Claudius. Emperor Claudius named it Colonia Claudia Ara Agrippinensis. In 80 B.C. the Eifel Aqueduct was built to supply water to the city.
260 B.C. was another landmark moment in the history of Cologne. It was made the capital of the Gallic Empire by Postumus. But soon the history of Cologne started changing. Foreign aggression began in the form of the Alemanni tribes who captured Cologne 10 months. Though the Romans were able to recapture the city but the Franks finally took the control in 455 A.D.
When Cologne was made an archdiocese under Charlemagne, the Archbishops started their rule. The first Christian bishop was Maternus. The first cathedral of Cologne (link to the Cologne Tourism page) was built by his initiative. Hildebald was the first Archbishop of Cologne. Slowly the post became so powerful that the inevitable began; the feud with the lay citizenry. Therefore the Archbishops moved their base to first to Brühl, later to Bonn.
The economy of Cologne flourished after the city joined the Hanseatic League. But the prosperity was short-lived. The expulsion of the Jews in the 15th century and then the restrictions on the Protestants in the 16th century were major blows to the economy of Cologne. Then again bloodshed began in Cologne’s history with the French occupying the city in 1794. Then the Archbishops again shifted back to the city in 1801. In 1814, the joint group of the Prussian and the Russian groups attacked and captured Cologne. Cologne and parts of Rhineland were given to Prussia.
Cologne was always a bone of contention for the Third Reich. They struggled to influence Cologne because of its strong communist and Catholic roots. Tragedy struck Cologne’s history during World War II. The night of 30/31st May, 1942 was another landmark moment in Cologne’s history. There were huge destructions of life and property because of Allied air raid. Almost 50% of Cologne’s surviving population fled the city soon after the attack.
After World War II, Cologne lost its political status Düsseldorf superseded Cologne and became the political capital of the state Nordrhein-Westfalen. But the economy of Cologne improved with the growth of the media companies and the improvement of the traffic infrastructure. Now,
Cologne is one of the most easily accessible cities of Central Europe.
Sightseeing in Cologne
Cologne is Germany's party city. A gay hub, carnival centre and riverside resort, this medieval place of pilgrimage doesn't have to try too hard to attract visitors. This city in Germany boasts of a long and varied tradition and history. Sightseeing in Cologne will introduce you with some of the fascinating architectures of the world.
There are many places for sightseeing in Cologne. Cologne Cathedral is the largest cathedral in Germany. The huge building covers a surface area of 8,000 sq. m.; both towers stand 157 m tall. The Dom is home to some unique treasures like the remains of the three Wisemen. The Roman-Germanic Museum is one of the major attractions of Cologne. This museum houses artifacts from the Roman times, such as, the Dionysus mosaic, Poblicus' tomb and the largest collection of Roman glass. The Wallraf-Richartz-Museum exhibits artifacts from 1250 to 1900. The paintings of the "Kölner Malerschule" of the middle ages with works of Stefan Lochner as well as paintings of Dürer, Cranach, Rubens or van Gogh are major highlights of this museum. Hansahochhaus was the tallest "skyscraper" in Europe at the time of its construction in 1920. This building stands as a commercial and administration building today.
The Rheinpark is Europe's only cable car traversing the Rhine. This garden stands on the site of Germany's Federal Garden Show. The Rheinpark is an oasis of flowers and shrubs enshrouded by open green spaces, which serves as an ideal spot to relax in fine weather. The Cologne Triangle is located on the right bank of the Rhine. It is 103 metres high and has got 29 floors and a viewing balcony from where you have a great view to Cologne and especially to the Cathedral and the Old Town.
Besides the above tourists attractions there are many other places for sightseeing in Cologne. You will cherish your journey to this lovely city throughout your life.Museums in Cologne
"History is the only laboratory we have in which to test the consequences of thought."
Etienne Gilson
It would be the foremost desire of a tourist to know the exact past of the place he/she is visiting; and museum is definitely the centre where a traveler gets enough information on the history of that place. Therefore, while paying a visit to the city of Cologne, you must see the Museums in Cologne where you will the consequences of thought of the dwellers of this place.
Cologne has been aptly termed as the City of museums. Cologne owes this designation, in contrast to several other major European cities by virtue of its outstanding commitment to art of plentiful ordinary citizens.
Having had destroyed most of Cologne's first generation of museum buildings during the Second World War, the city now mesmerizes travelers by the museums presenting a laconic history of museum architecture in the second half of the 20th century. Museums in Cologne have special exhibitions alongside their permanent collections.
Museums in Cologne offer conventional picture galleries in Germany, where visitors may appreciate the most significant collection of old Cologne paintings, art of the Baroque period involving masterpieces by Rubens and Rembrandt and, in the 19th century section, paintings from the Romantic period, Realism and Symbolism.
Slip into the Museums in Cologne and see the excellence in collection of several hundred works by Pablo Picasso, Peter and Irene Ludwig as well as the collection of the Cologne advocate Joseph Haubrich.Visiting Museums in Cologne, you may admire art treasures from the early Middle Ages until the end of the Baroque period in the unique ambiance of a medieval church building. You will witness ivory work from the Carolingian period and that of the Saxon emperors, goldsmiths' work, sculptures in wood and stone from the Romanesque to the Baroque period, glass painting, textiles and ecclesiastical treasure art from the Gothic period to the Rococo.
Festivals and Events in Cologne
Christopher Street Day
Christopher Street Day or CSD is annual carnival celebrated across the cities of Europe by the Gay Communities in the memory of first bigger homosexual upraise and some other minorities who raised a protest against police assaults in New York’s Christopher Street in Greenwich Village on June 27, 1969. And its glory has been enriched with time; this has now been an emblem of Gay pride.
So Germany follows the tradition with a great spirit and German Gay Community celebrates the Christopher Street Day with pomp and grandeur. The City of Cologne tastes the flavor of this festival every year and this year it will be held from 6th to 8th July. But keep it in your mind that the Christopher Street Day takes place on different weekends between June and August, except on the historic date of June 27. If you want to take a sip from that ecstasy, just aim at the time and set your mind up for Christopher Street Day, Cologne.
Cologne is the special place to enjoy Christopher Street Day for its people and atmosphere which has always been great on this carnival days. Gay Procession, techno parades, floats and music set the tune of the carnival, but CSD also considered political parades, speeches, political mottos, attendances and patronages from well-known politician. Though the carnival is arranged by the gays but it is undoubtedly enjoyed by everyone and you need not to be like them to take part in that craze!
While you are having a tour in Germany it is quite disappointing if you miss their native in a celebrating mood, it has always been amazing, and you just can’t miss the joy! The whole Europe celebrates CSD but still Cologne has an exceptional image as it blends ancient urbanity with a backdrop of its fresh nature. Do you know that Cologne is the oldest city of Germany situated by the River Rhine with a population of over one million? So if you have no intention to lose the best of Germany, without any hesitation delve into its carnivals, taste the spirit and craze of Germans while it is full to the brim!
Cologne Carnival
The Carnival Season is a holiday period during the two weeks before the traditional Christian fasting of Lent. The origin of the word carnival is Italian carne- or carnovale, from Latin carnem (meat) + levare (lighten or raise), literally - to remove the meat - or - stop eating meat - . According to another theory it is said that the word comes from the Latin carrus navalis, which was a Greek cart carrying a statue of a god in a religious procession at the annual festivities in honor of the god Apollo. Most commonly the season began on Septuagesima, the third from the last Sunday before Ash Wednesday, but in some places it started as early as Twelfth Night, continuing until Lent. And now we are going to tell about the Cologne Carnival.
- Cologne Carnival:
Since time immemorial Carnival has been celebrated in the City of Cologne. After taking over from the French Revolutionary troops, the Prussians thought that it was high time to - organize - the street carnival, in 1814. Thus, the - Festordnendes Komitee - was founded in 1823 & on February 10, 1823 Cologne celebrated the first Rose Monday ( - Rosenmontag - ) with the motto - Inthronisation of the Carnival Hero - .
The Festive Committee represents well over 100 Cologne carnival associations, traditional corps, etc., to preserve the hallmark of the traditional Cologne Carnival.
- Carnival Sunday and Rose Monday:
On - Rosenmontag - (Rose Monday), the procession with the three chief Carnival figures, Prince, Peasant and Maide begins. Millions of people in colorful dress, along with huge figures parodying topical events, about 130 bands, hundreds of horses, are seen passing through the streets. Carnival Sunday, the day before Rose Monday, is the seventh Sunday before Easter. On both Carnival Sunday and Rose Monday, traffic is stopped in most areas of the city. The Tourist Office makes a route well in advance.
Hotels in Cologne
