Cologne~~the Beautiful City on the Rhine

The Romans left a lasting imprint on Cologne. The remains of their walls and buildings are scattered throughout the central area, and the layout of the city still reflects its Roman heritage. It is such a beautiful city. The best panoramic view is right across the river in the district of "Deutz" or from one of the bridges especially at night when the Catherdral is illuminated, you should certainly if travelling through Germany make Cologne one of your stops, you won't be sorry you did.

The major sightseeing attractions of this ancient city lie within the "Altstadt" (Old Town), the section along the Rhine in the shape of a semicircle. The streets enclosing the "Altstadt" are called rings. They follow the route of the original medieval city wall, remnants of which today remain in three gates, which now houses museums and depots. Cutting through the center of town is the "Hohestrasse", it is a straight street connecting the north and south Roman Gates. A walk from the "Cathedral" to Friesenplatz or Rudolfplatz, whether on a sightseeing or a beer-drinking tour, is a good way to explore the inner city. The main shopping artery of Cologne is so narrow, that cars are not allowed, that means pedestrian friendly, which is so enjoyable when your able to go from one luxury boutique or department store to the next without having to worry about cars.

The silhouette of the cathedral is very prominent as you cross any of Cologne's three major bridges spanning the Rhine, the "Hohenzollernbrücke", the "Deutzer Brücke and the "Severins Brücke". "Hohestrasse" runs south into "Gürzenichstrasse", if you follow that west it becomes "Schildergasse", which is another pedestrian zone leading into the huge "Neumarkt" area. Most of the hotels, shops, nightlife and sightseeing attractions lie within this central area, and are therefore within walking distance of one another.

The "Dom" (Cathedral), located at the Domplatz, is the spiritual and geographical heart of the city, the most overwhelming edifice in the Rhine Valley. Built on the site of a pagan temple and earlier christian churches, the majestic structure is the largest Gothic Cathedral in Germany. They started building the "Dom" in 1248, construction was halted around 1500 and resumed in 1823, to be completed in 1880. The "Shrine of the Three Magi" is the most important and most valuable object in the cathedral. If you climb the 509 steps of the "Südturm" (Southtower), you will have a great view of the Rhine, but even more spectacular is the "Glockenstube" (Bell House), it's only 400 steps up, but well worth the climb, here you will find the Dom's nine bells housed, including the "Petriglocke", the world's heaviest working bell.

In 1941 while workers were digging an air-raid shelter they discovered the "Dionysos-Mosaik, this was found to be from the third century. The mosaik was once the decorative floor of the main room of a large Roman Villa. It was named Dionysos, because of it's octagons and squares, within the elaborately decorated colored work, are pictures dealing with the Greek god Dionysus, the god of wine and dispeller of care. The mosiak is housed in the "Roman-Germanic Museum.

The "Wallraf-Richartz Museum/Museum Ludwig" located on Bishofsgartenstrasse 1, is just a short walk from the Domplatz. This is Cologne's oldest Museum, begun in the 19th century with a collection of Gothic works by Cologne artists, as well as works from medieval days through the Renaisance. These two museums actually form the core of Cologne's art scene.

The "Schnütgen Museum" on Cåcilienstrasse 29, is housed in the Romanesque church of St. Cåcilien (St. Cecilia) this has to be a curator's dream. Beautiful works of art are displayed in their original surroundings. Some of the works diplayed are several medieval tapestries. There is also an abundance of Madonnas, carved in stone, wood and metal.

We have the "Hyatt Regency", it is the best and most spectacular hotel in Cologne, located in Deutz 2a Kennedy-Ufer. It is beautifully decorated, the service is impecable. A room here is between $172-$270.
Standing within the shadow of Germany's most famous Cathedral is the "Dom Hotel" at 2a Domkloster. This was founded in 1857, it has since been remodeled a few times, rooms here run between $150-$260.
The hotel facing the Cathedral Square is the "Excelsior Hotel Ernst", Domplatz, this hotel is located in the heart of the city's finest shopping and business area, rooms here will run between $197-$283.
The "Eden" stands opposite the Dom, bringing a light, airy note to the old section of the city, with it's sun-mad colors and architectural design, it's located at 18 Am Hof, rooms range from $108-$150.
In a secluded corner within the heart of the city shopping center, it's about 5 minutes from the Dom, Rhinegartens, and the romantic Old Town, is the "Senats Hotel", at 9 Unter-Goldschmied. Rates here range from $77-$174.

On the outskirts in the suburb of Merheim you will find the very top restaurant in Germany the "Goldener Pflug" or visit the finest restaurant in the city "Chez Alex". The trappings of this elegant restaurant are rich and old world, the name "Rino Casati" with it's stunning replica of a Flamish tapestry on the wall. One place you should visit is "Die Bastie", this is a great place to watch the Rhine. But the trick here is to aim for a window table. The split-level dining room is on the 2nd fl. of this circular, tower-like building, jutting out into the river, and the view from here is dramatic.

A place called the "Museum" serves 10-liter minikegs of "Kølsch" outdoors under the protection of a two-story tall dinosauer. it is located on Zülpicher Pl. 9.
The "Hallmackenreuther", on Brüssler Pl 9, embraces the cheesy art deco of the late '60s and early '70s.
"Osho's" (Hohenzollernring 90), is one of Cologne's best Disco.
The "One World" disco upstairs compliments the "Petit Price", downstairs The "Prince's" musical theme varies, from jazz, regae, salsa and Latin. On Friday nights the "One World" becomes the "Pink Triangle", a gay and lesbian club.
Visit "Papa Joe's Biersalon", (50-52 Alter Markt) best place for jazz in the whole city.
"Maxwell", (25 Pfeilstrasse) located in the vicinity of the "Neumarkt", this is both a cafe and bistro. (This is where models, journalists, advertising people along with a host of many others hang out).
Since Cologne is one of the major cultural cities of Germany, the "Oper der Stadt Køln" is one of Europe's finest modern opera houses, built between 1954 and 1957.
The city's "Philharmonic Concert Hall" is a circular building with a beamless roof 130 feet in diameter. Here you will find a changing repertoire of some of the finest classical music. It also presents pop and jazz.

Cologne's pre-Lenten "Carnival" is a bit like Niagara Falls. It is something many people feel they need to experience. This is the opportunity to act the fool and make fun of the world at large and, above all themselves. The various events associated with carnival begin officially on 11/11 at 11:11 a.m., it begins to reach peak on "Weiberfastnacht", the last Thursday before Ash Wednesday. On "Weiberfastnacht", women get to do pretty much whatever they want, starting with cutting the tie off every man foolish enough to waer one on this day. (if you go during this time, remember tie=snip snip :-)). The activities culminate in the main carnival procession, held on "Rosenmontag" (Rose Monday), in the pre-procession warm-up, perfect strangers will kiss, link arms, and sing and prance about while drinking, mainly "Kølsch", and the crowds shout for more 'Kamelle and Strüßjer', the sweets and bunches of flowers that are thrown in tons to the partiers. The activities carry on with increasing hilarity as the night time falls, on these days bar closing times are ignored, so it's 24 hrs. a day if you want. The locals say that if you were at the procession and actually saw it, you were not truly entering into the spirit of things.
A new "carnival" custom has developed in recent years; many bars and taverns hang out a straw doll in costume, and at midnight on "Shrove Tuesday", as Lent begins, the figure is solemnly cremated on a funeral pyre. This marks the official close of "carnival" for another year but plans are already being made for the next Karneval season.

There is only one consumer product besides "Kølsch" that is unique to Cologne and that would be "4711" eau de cologne". Yes, this is where eau de cologne came from, not France, it was first made by the Italian chemist Giovanni Maria Farina, who settled in Cologne in 1709. Cologne water is still produced in the city.
On the whole, prices are expectedly high--although bargains of a sort can be found. Interesting finds can be made in the many antique shops. Particularly worth a visit is Germany's oldest art auction house "Kunsthaus Lempertz", founded in 1802, or the "Bazaar de Cologne" on the Middlestrasse, has mainly high fashion, shoes, accessories, interior decorater's shops as well as restaurants, the overall atmosphere is out of the Mediterranean.
Why not visit the pedestrian areas of the city. The traffic-free "Hohestrasse is the main shopping artery, the largest store in this area is the "Kaufhof Department Store", which has a little bit of everything (like a K-Mart, Wal-Mart here).
There are numerous other shops in the pedidestrian area and all over the city.

Well, this concludes another tour. Thank you for joining me and I hope you enjoyed it, if you did tell your friends to visit and please sign my guestbook.