GERMANY: COLOGNE
Köln
(Cologne) ancient daughter of the Rhine. Founded by the Romans, Cologne
is now a metropolis (1.4 million inhabitants) known especially as a
trade fair centre. Moreover, Köln is an important centre of art and
culture. This reputation hinges on its excellent museums, numerous
historic buildings and superb art galleries. Founded by the Romans and
largely destroyed in the Second World War, Cologne offers a seducing mix
of old, rebuilt and new architecture. The impressive cathedral is one of
the archetypal monuments of Germany. Book and newspaper publishers have
their head offices here, as do radio and television stations. The
highest number of visitors, however, come to Köln for the five days
preceding Ash Wednesday, to join in the fun and watch the grand carnival
processions.
Despite
its metropolitan atmosphere, visitors to Cologne will also find romantic
corners with taverns, pubs and inns, in which they can enjoy the famous
"Kölsch" beer.
Only since 1888 has the Rhine actually flowed directly through Cologne.
Until that date it flowed past the city. Cologne lay on the left bank:
across the river was - even in Roman times - the "Land of the
Barbarians" After World War II the old bridges were also rebuilt, and
new ones were added; the Rodenkirchen motorway bridge, the South bridge,
the Severin bridge and the Deutz bridge, the Hohenzollern bridge, the
Zoo bridge, the Mühlheim bridge and the northern motorway bridge.
In 1888
Cologne's boundaries were redrawn to include "Deutz", since time
immemorial "the town opposite Cologne". Cologne could now expand on both
the right and the left banks of the Rhine. The inner city, if measured
according to its medieval boundaries, today occupies just one percent of
the total area of the city. It is the part which visitors will want to
see as it contains most of the historical sights: here are the city's
meeting places and attractions are all crowded together.
