Cologne‚ also affectionately called “Kölle” in Kölsch‚ is with almost 1‚1 million inhabitants the fourth largest municipality in Germany and the most populous in North Rhine-Westphalia. The city is home to the University of Cologne with about 51.000 students‚ the technical university with around 27.000 students and many other universities which makes it to the largest education and research site in western Germany.

Cologne - historical and modern

The city offers over 2000 years of history. In particular because of the Cologne Cathedral‚ which counts as the city´s landmark and is a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1996‚ and because of its Romanesque churches and other medieval buildings‚ Cologne belongs on the list of your destinations. Not only the “old” Cologne will delight you. Nowadays the city is a cultural metropolis with lots of museums‚ momentous events‚ and galleries as well as a lively music scene. In addition‚ significant and world-renowned exhibitions such as the photo technology trade fair photokina‚ the video game trade fair Gamescom‚ the oldest art fair in the world Art Cologne‚ and the fitness and health trade fair FIBO are here at home.

Sights

In addition to the famous sights such as the Cologne Cathedral and the Chocolate Museum‚ the city has also other highlights to offer. Here you will find a few tips for your stay in the cathedral city.

Timeride Cologne

Because Cologne got heavily destroyed in the Second World War‚ there is not much left to visit from the imperial period today. Nevertheless‚ you do not have to miss a time journey back to the nostalgic year 1900‚ as with the Timeride Cologne history fans are guided to the sights of bygone days with the help of virtual reality glasses.

Museum Ludwig

The city is also one of the art metropolises in Europe. The Museum Ludwig in the old town of Cologne plays a major role in it because the house exhibits the third largest Picasso collection in the world.

Cologne Zoo

The Cologne Zoo has been existing since 1859‚ has an area of about 20 ha‚ and about 7000 animals from 700 different animal species have found their home here. The zoo became especially known for the many elephant births. The territory of the pachyderms‚ the elephant park‚ was built in 2005 by the help of private donations.

The Botanical Garden

For all plant lovers here a special tip:

The Botanical Garden in Cologne‚ also known as "Die Flora"‚ is home to around 12.000 cultivated plant species from all over the world. Between 2004 and 2005 it was admitted into the Street of Garden Art as outstanding and became a part of the European Garden Heritage Network. Here you can switch off from everyday life and send your senses on a trip around the world.

Cologne Carnival

We dedicate an extra chapter to the Cologne Carnival‚ also known as “the fifth season”.

Every year on November 11 at 11:11 a.m.‚ it kicks off at the Old Market. The actual "carnival session" then begins again in the New Year and traditionally ends on Ash Wednesday.

Would you also like to get carried away by the hustle and bustle of the carnival?

Nothing easier than that because during the “session” numerous carnival sessions and balls are going on where young and old are swaying‚ laughing‚ and singing the evening away. On “Wieverfastelovend” (Weiberfastnacht)‚ the Thursday before “Rosenmontag”‚ the carnival session will culminate in the street and pub carnival. The following 6 days a large number of carnival parades will take place in the individual town districts‚ whereby the “Rosenmontag” procession in the city centre of Cologne is the largest. During this time‚ the usual life in public institutions like schools‚ authorities and shops are taking place only to a limited extent and the city is in the hands of spectators. "Drinkste eine met"? – Then come to our beautiful city of Cologne for the Cologne Carnival!

Cologne cuisine

At the end of our city trip in Cologne we will take you into the traditional “Kölsche Küche”.

Cologne has a long culinary tradition. The Rhenish herring dip with apples‚ onions and cream can be found on almost every menu. In the Rhineland sweet and savoury things are also combined very often. Examples of a sweet-sour dish is the Rhenish Sauerbraten and the traditional “Himmel un Ääd”‚ which is a dish of blended potatoes and applesauce with fried black pudding (“Flönz”). Of course‚ the Cologne breweries and their home brewed “Kölsch” play a special role. The beer gets freshly tapped from the barrel in the pubs. With this bright blonde beer‚ you get a “Rievkooche” (potato fritter)‚ a "Flönz"' or a "Halver Hahn" (rye rolls with cheese and pickled gherkins)‚ good home cooking is served.

Have we whetted your appetite‚ and would you like to experience the real Cologne?

Then become a beLEAVer now! - because with LEAV you can easily explore the Rhine metropolis.