Koln (Cologne) Germany

Cologne ("Köln" in German) is an urban Jacuzzi that keeps the Rhine churning. It's home to Germany's greatest Gothic cathedral, one of the country's best collections of Roman artifacts, a world-class art museum, and a healthy dose of German urban playfulness. (Rick Steves)

Cologne's population: 1,022,627

Average High Temperature: 67 (around April 21)

Low: 43

2014 Easter week-end

April 18:  Good Friday (Karfreitag)

April 20–21:  Easter Sunday and Monday (Ostersonntag and Ostermontag)

Easter - this event has lost its religious significance for many Germans and has taken on a largely commercial form, with shops cashing in on chocolate eggs and toys. The Cologne Cathedral however hosts religious services commemorating the crucifixion and the resurrection of Christ on both Good Friday and Easter Monday respectively

THINGS TO DO IN COLOGNE:

Climb the 500+ steps up the cathedral towers

The Cologne 'Dom'

The Dom is one of the largest churches in Europe and its twin towers dominate the landscape. A heart pounding climb up will reward you with amazing views on a clear day of the city and beyond. The cathedral is also well worth a visit with beautiful stained glass windows.
Thanks to its spiritual and cultural meaning, Cologne Cathedral became a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage Site in 1996.

Have a beer in Koln
Now the good people of Cologne are very particular about their beers and the brew houses and bier kellers of the old town are a great way to enjoy the light Kolsch beer, unique to Cologne and some hearty food in the historic beer halls.
 Visit the Chocolate Museum

The ‘Schokolade’ museum will educate about everything to do with cocoa and chocolate and you can enjoy tasting freshly made chocolate in the factory while taking in views of the Rhine. http://www.chocolatemuseum-cologne.com

http://www.germany-tourism.co.uk

Old town

Cologne's Old Town

This part of the city has been preserved and restored and contains a number of interesting churches, small museums and bier kellers among its cobbled streets. Well worth checking out is the Romano Germanische Museum with ancient roman relics found during excavations in the city.

World class modern art
The Museum Ludwig is next door to the cathedral and is home to a world class collection of modern art including works by Andy Warhol and many pop art pieces. Fresh exhibitions are held every few months and it’s well worth spending a half day exploring the exhibits on show. There is also a cool café in the lobby which often hosts live music while you eat and drink. http://www.museenkoeln.de/

Shopping
The city has an excellent selection of shops, from well know German department stores such as Peek & Cloppenburg, Karstadt and Galleria Kaufhof to international brands as well as local speciality boutiques, art and antique shops. The main area is pedestrianised, ending in a series of arcades, this then continues out towards the Hansaring past Neumarkt with a large number of designer boutiques and shops unique to the city. You can buy all manner of goods including the original Cologne fragrance the city is best known for.
Take a trip out of the city and visit Phantasialand

One of the stomach churning rides at Phantasialand

An easy trip by train and bus will bring you to one of Germany’s largest theme parks.  Lots of fun for all ages and plenty of places to eat and drink as well as some gut churning rides.http://www.phantasialand.de

Hire a bike or use a bike from AMA Waterways
Rent a bicycle and pedal your way all over the city, through the parks, along the river, out to the zoo and beyond. You can even take them with you on the excellent tram and train service to get out of the city and explore the countryside around Cologne. The tourist office next to the main railway station, or the main booking office in the station itself, can give you some ideas for half or full days trips of hiking and biking.

COLOGNE AND WORLD WAR II

In World War II, the city center of Cologne was leveled by bombings; the Cathedral was the only building that survived. Standing tall in an otherwise flattened city, some said it was divine intervention; a more matter-of-fact explanation is that the Cathedral of Cologne was a point of orientation for the pilots.

The cathedral suffered 14 hits by World War II aerial bombs but did not collapse and reconstruction was completed in 1956. In the northwest tower's base, an emergency repair carried out with bad-quality brickstones taken from a nearby war ruin remained visible until the late 1990s as a reminder of the War, but then it was decided to reconstruct this section according to the original appearance. It is possible to climb a spiral staircase to a viewing platform about 98 metres above the ground.

MORE ABOUT THE KOLN CATHEDRAL:

Dedicated to the saints Peter and Mary, Cologne Cathedral (Kölner Dom) is the seat of the Catholic Archbishop of Cologne. Cologne Cathedral is the greatest Gothic cathedral in Germany and has been Cologne's most famous landmark for centuries. Once the tallest building in the world, Cologne Cathedral still boasts theworld's largest church façade.

The cathedral's main treasure is a golden reliquary containing the remains of theThree Magi of Christmas story fame. These relics and other treasures have made Cologne Cathedral a major pilgrimage destination for centuries.

WHAT TO SEE IN THE CATHEDRAL:

Inside, the most celebrated work of art in the cathedral is the Sarcophagus of the Magi, a large gilded sarcophagus dating to around 1200. The largest reliquary in the western world, the exterior is seven feet of gilded silver and jewels. Images of Old Testament prophets line the bottom and the 12 apostles decorate the top. Inside, the reliquary holds three golden-crowned skulls believed to belong to the Three Magi.

These relics were acquired by Cologne in the 12th century and put the city on the pilgrimage map. Cologne Cathedral is still an important stop for modern pilgrims. 

In the Sacrament Chapel is the Madonna of Milan (Mailänder Madonna), an elegant wooden sculpture depicting Mary and the child Jesus. Made in the Cologne Cathedral workshop around 1290, this High Gothic statue is associated with miracles and has attracted pilgrims for centuries. It is probably a replacement for an even older statue, which was brought to Cologne with the relics of the Three Magi by Rainald von Dassel and destroyed in the fire of 1248.

Another important statue of the Virgin Mary, which attracts the most attention from today's pilgrims and worshippers, is the miracle-working Jeweled Madonna in the north transept. Only the heads of the Virgin and Child can be seen; the remainder of the statue is dressed in a gown of white silk (last renewed in 1991) pinned with jewels and other ex-votos. The sculpture is Baroque and dates from the late 17th century.

The choir is surrounded by 13th and 14th century art: carved oak stalls, frescoed walls, painted statues and stained glass. The Treasury, outside the cathedral's left transept, is housed in the cathedral's 13th-century stone-cellar vaults. The six dim rooms contain a variety of glittering chalices, crosses, and reliquaries, plus fine examples of bishops' garb.

The construction of the Cologne Cathedral began in 1248, in order to house the precious relict "Shrine of the Three Holy Kings". It took over 600 years to complete the Cathedral, and when it was finished in 1880, it was still true to the original plans.

Cologne is home to Ford Motor Company's European headquarters