Cologne hiking trails Elena Iskhakova's blog

We hastened to escape from it to the streets of evening Cologne and go for a walk along its magnificent streets. I liked Cologne because even without a specific plan or route, the walk would still be successful.

In this article:

Angel car (scandalous story)

Cologne itself is a very beautiful city. Here, as I have already noted, you can not plan a clear route, but go where your eyes look. And so we did. On the way, we came across a lot of interesting things: some beautiful buildings, interesting cafes, restaurants, shops with interesting showcases.

The streets looked a bit deserted, as it was too late for day walks, and it was not yet time for night walks. But cafes, bars and restaurants were already waiting for the first customers. We were not going to stop there, as we wanted to complete our walk on the waterfront: to sit in a cafe overlooking the Rhine.

In the meantime, we met the Cologne City Museum.

And there seems to be nothing special about it. Museum and Museum. But on the roof of the building is a gilded car with angel wings ...

The idea in itself is quite scandalous: to attach angel wings to the car and thereby give a soulless car an element of spirituality. And the fact that the car is painted gold, and, for example, not white, says a lot. Not every thing humble Germans will paint with gold paint, only that which is really dear to them.

This angel car made a lot of noise. Because of him, there were disputes with representatives of the church, scandals. Many called to remove this car, but it has been there to this day, already since 1991. Still, the love of the Germans for cars turned out to be stronger ;-).

And it's clear why. Cars are the passion of the Germans, one of the indicators of their status and their calling card. Nothing tells about the well-being of the owner better than a car. And on the streets of the city you can find many exclusive and sports cars. And always the cars are cleaned to a shine and look perfect.

To be honest, for me personally, a car is primarily a necessity, but not an element of status. That is, the main thing for me is that it rides and I feel comfortable in it (not hot, not cold), and the issue of safety is also important to me. And it's dirty or not - I don't care at all. Do not think that I am a pig, but I will not sweat much for the dirt on the sides. What do you think? Write in the comments.

Roman fountain and river fountain

Right behind the museum is the Roman Fountain (it is about a hundred years old!) - a symbol of the cultural connection between Germany and Rome. It was almost completely destroyed during World War II and then partially rebuilt. We rested for about half an hour, sitting next to the refreshing pouring water. Indescribable sensations after the heat of the day!

It is not far from this fountain to the Cologne Cathedral, in which we had time. In the evening there are fewer people here.

And we again met people in gothic clothes. They seemed to shock the people around a little.

If you go down from the cathedral to the embankment, you can find such an original fountain-stream. I just couldn't get past him.

This is a real river: in some places it is very deep - it hid me more than knee-deep. Children run and play here. That's why I like Germany: any structure, even a fountain, is created not only with a certain meaning, but also with the aim of creating comfort for people.

Waterfront cafe and live concert

There are many cafes along the waterfront. We stopped at one of them at the most extreme (close to the embankment) tables.

The atmosphere was great: candles burning on the tables, a wonderful view of the embankment and pleasant music. Surprisingly, the prices turned out to be very democratic for such a place.

By the way, all cocktails are very nicely served.

The same cafe offers a “drink to go” service. Any drink from a cafe (for example, a cocktail or beer) will be packed in special cups for the same cost. We decided to take a cocktail and go for a walk along the embankment.

Passing noisy cafes, we saw a concert of musicians. They played covers of famous bands. We sat down right on the lawn next to them and enjoyed the music.

Sleep outside? Yes Easy!

I don't know how long we spent at that concert, but when we decided to go to the hotel, it was already after midnight. Returning to our room, we realized that the situation had not changed at all: the stuffiness in the room was simply unbearable, it was unrealistic to sleep there.

It would seem like a great reason to be upset that we will not be able to get a good rest before the next day. But after thinking a little, we decided to sleep right on the loggia (!!!). Its size allowed it to fit there, and the mattress on the bed consisted of two parts, so pulling it out into the street was a snap.

I think that the hotel staff would forgive us our self-indulgence if they knew about this. We slept like babies that night and felt the best in the morning!

This is how a positive approach helps you cope with adversity and turns it into fond memories. Has this happened to you? If yes, write in the comments what exactly. And how did you manage to get out of this situation?

Cologne gave us many highlights during our trip, I hope you enjoyed the story. And I'm finishing talking about Cologne, because tomorrow we are going to! And this, friends, is mega-cool! A real fairy tale in real life. And for today I have everything. Thank you for being with me. Bye everyone!

In my opinion, the dream of Cologne originated in me from the time of reading "The Fiery Angel" by V. Bryusov, or maybe not from him at all, it was so long ago ... Therefore, it is not surprising that as soon as the opportunity to visit this city appeared, I could not already miss it. In general, Cologne has somehow entered my life in a strange way. Back in my university years, I mentioned Cologne in one of my stories (now, I can't even believe that I once composed something). It so happened that in my stories I always mentioned a city that I had never been to: the heroes either came from there, or gathered, or lived there ... One way or another, but the new geographical name was always present. And it so happened that then I definitely went there myself. And Cologne, which I mentioned first, remained until the last moment a dream ... a dream that never got into my routes.

I think I've always wanted to see the Cologne Cathedral. And so I saw him ...

walked under its high vaults on the mosaic floors ...

admired its stained-glass windows ...

And even climbed one of its towers.

Perhaps it was a mistake, and it was not worth climbing so high at the beginning of the first day of our journey - the body was not yet used to such rises. And the view from there, I will say, is not the most impressive. I would call him "a heavenly prisoner in a transcendental prison", since the fine lattice of fences does not allow to soar, and to gaze into the distance. And the main attraction (the cathedral) is not to be seen.

Therefore, later we conquered another peak (the tower on the left in the photo), since there is an elevator and the fences are not so severe.

We descended from heaven to the land of Cologne. No, the cathedral did not disappoint me. But since he was always with me in my soul, there was no feeling of novelty. It seemed that somewhere behind the columns one could hear the whispers of literary characters, and when you go outside, you will certainly see a medieval city melting in the summer heat. But that didn't happen. In general, the Cologne Cathedral is like a ghost ship wandering in the waters of time ... I don't know why, but I have always associated Cologne with sultry weather, when the air melts in the sun. with such - as it was at the time of our trip to Moscow. Ah, if the routes of the hot air passed through Cologne ... a miracle would have happened, and I would have got into literary reality ... But ...
Cologne greeted us with a cool breeze. And after visiting the cathedral, we went for a walk around the city.

The maximum plan was this: bypass all 12 Romanesque churches in Cologne. But after conquering the transcendental heights, he scattered, and the walk took on a more thoughtless character, but we still saw something:

Very graphic Cologne Central Station:

The Gothic Town Hall Tower, which was the tallest structure in the city until the completion of the Cologne Cathedral (1880), is decorated with 124 figures of people associated with the history of Cologne. And the Church of St. Martin, one of the 12 famous Romanesque churches.

House-Farin, where the perfume museum is now located, and once the famous EAU de COLOGNE (Cologne water) or simply cologne appeared for the first time. True, we did not manage to get to the museum. We were not allowed in for no understandable reasons.

But next to the museum, an interesting fountain "Fastnachtsbrunnen", created in 1913, appeared to our eyes.

The Old Church of St. Alban is interesting, or rather its ruins ...

The victims of the medieval plague are buried under this church (the oldest of the parish in Cologne). And this is the only monument in the city not rebuilt after 1945, as a reminder of the war. Two sculptural figures “Grieving Parents” are visible under the destroyed vaults.

Having wandered a little along the narrow streets, we went out to the Rhine embankment and went to the Chocolate Museum, to which I will devote a separate post, since the museum impressed me so much that there were a lot of photos.

From the museum we walked along the embankment back to the cathedral.

Having met on the way another Romanesque church - the Church of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Liskirchen:

I was also impressed by the stairs to the cathedral. The alternation of concave and convex steps after each platform is interesting.

So we came to the Hohenzollern railway bridge, next to which Wilhelm II lurked in the bushes.

The bridge lattice is all hung with locks.

Oh, how I do not like this tradition ... How could it even occur to someone? But I still found a couple of interesting copies:

So we got to the tower with a panoramic view, which I mentioned at the beginning of my story. Here the fences turned out to be glass and glared terribly in the sun's rays, but it's still better than the small cells of the lattice. Interestingly, the sights are marked with contours right on the glass.

Seems to be effective. But in fact, it is necessary to very accurately guess with the viewing angle that to find the depicted object.
Cologne Cathedral and Hohenzollern Bridge:

Church of St. Kunibert (one of the 12 Romanesque churches):

New Church of St. Heribert (1891-1896):

Church of St. Martin (one of the 12 Romanesque churches):

Here is a view of the city.

And in the next part of my story, read about the chocolate museum ...

Cologne Cathedral is not only the most important attraction of Cologne, but also the most convenient starting point for walking around the city. The main train station is located right next to the cathedral, so for tourists traveling by public transport, arriving in Cologne by rail is the most rational option.

Germanic sketches

Part V. Walk in Cologne

The Cologne Cathedral, which I talked about in the previous part of the report, is not only the most important attraction in Cologne, but also the most convenient starting point for walking around the city.

The main railway station of Cologne is located right next to the cathedral, so for tourists who travel by public transport, arriving in Cologne by rail is the most rational option. Since the cathedral and the railway station are located in the very center of the Old City, each tourist, depending on the range of his interests, can choose a route and slowly walk to any attraction on foot, since the historical part of the city is not large in size. Alternatively, instead of walking around the Old Town, you can take a ride on such a tourist train.

Those who are not interested in the Old Town can go from the cathedral, which stands practically on the very bank of the Rhine, along the pedestrian part of the Hohenzollern railway bridge to the other side and from the observation deck located on the roof of one of the high-rise buildings, admire the panorama of the city.

However, in order to admire the city from a height, it is not at all necessary to cross to the other side - there is another observation deck on one of the towers of the cathedral. But it has one drawback - due to the lack of an elevator, you need to climb the tower on foot, overcoming more than 500 steps.

Museum lovers can visit the Romano-Germanic Museum and the Ludwig Museum located next to the cathedral. In the Romano-Germanic Museum, you can see artifacts dating back to the Roman era - after all, Cologne is one of the oldest cities in Europe. It was founded by the ancient Romans more than 2000 years ago, as a fortification on the border with the territory inhabited by Germanic tribes, and was then called Oppidum Ubiorum after the Germanic tribe of the Ubiys, friendly to the Romans. The Romano-Germanic Museum exhibits, among other things, a unique glass collection dating back to that time and a well-preserved mosaic floor of a Roman villa.

The Ludwig Museum, by contrast, is a collection of contemporary art.

We do not consider ourselves among the connoisseurs and connoisseurs of high art and, as a rule, having arrived in an unfamiliar city, we prefer walking. Therefore, after getting to know the cathedral, we went down to the Hohenzollern bridge and, turning right, went along the Rhine embankment towards the Deutschebrucke bridge.

It was an everyday day, the active tourist season had not yet begun, so there were relatively few people walking on the embankment. We arrived in Cologne the day after the end of the famous annual Cologne Carnival and the city was obviously resting after seven days of unbridled fun.

Near the Hohenzollern Bridge there are berths for river passenger ships.

From Cologne by boat, you can go downstream - to Dusseldorf, or upstream - to Bonn and Koblenz. The Rhine is the largest river in Germany, sung in poetry, songs and legends. If in Russia the most important and beloved river by the people is the Volga Mother, then in Germany, without a doubt, it is the Rhine Father.

After a short walk along the embankment, we came to the Church of St. Martin, or, as it is called in the people, Big St. Martin. This church is probably the most famous and most beautiful of the Romanesque churches in Cologne. And, if I'm not mistaken, the highest.

Before World War II, there were 40 Romanesque churches in Cologne. All these churches were built before the 12th century, when the Romanesque style was replaced by the Gothic. After the Second World War, when the completely destroyed city was reborn from ruins and ashes, only 12 of the 40 mentioned churches were rebuilt and reconstructed. The oldest of them, the Church of St. Gereon, was built in the 4th century. I was very curious to look at her, but, unfortunately, we did not reach her. But they examined the largest (although not the highest) of the Romanesque churches - the Church of the Holy Apostles, standing next to the Neumarkt square.

We came across other churches on our route, there are quite a few of them in the Old Town of Cologne.

By the way, upon arrival in Germany, one feature immediately caught my eye - cockerels are installed on the spiers of most churches instead of crosses.

In Holland, where we went from Germany on a sightseeing bus tour, the same thing is observed. When I asked about cockerels on church steeples, the guide answered that this feature is inherent mainly in Protestant churches. Upon returning from a trip, I looked for an answer to this question on the Internet - I did not find anything intelligible. Although the rooster has long been considered one of the symbols of Christianity, the guide's answer seems to be quite plausible - after all, Northern Germany and Holland are territories inhabited mainly by Protestants.

However, let's continue about Cologne. Considering that the city was completely destroyed during the Second World War, the concept of "Old Town" in Cologne is very conditional. Buildings, even stylized "antique" ones, were built relatively recently, as, for example, these pretty houses next to the Church of St. Martin.

Having examined these houses and the church, we turned in the direction opposite to the embankment, and, passing through the courtyards, went to the Alter Markt square, where the building of the old town hall is located.

Although, to be precise, the back side of the building looks at the Alter Markt, and its facade with the main entrance faces another square - Rathausplatz, which is now all dug up during archaeological excavations.

Cologne Town Hall is remarkable in many ways. Firstly, it is considered the oldest in all of Germany. Secondly, its main tower is decorated with 124 sculptures. Among the personalities depicted in the sculptures are popes, kings, emperors, archbishops, the most famous townspeople and patron saints of Cologne.

The pedestal of one of the sculptures - Archbishop of Cologne Konrad von Hochstaden (the one who founded the cathedral) is made in an openly obscene manner. By this, the author, obviously, expressed the dislike of the inhabitants of Cologne for this historical character. It is known that the townspeople in the Middle Ages waged a long stubborn struggle to free themselves from the power of their lords - the archbishops of Cologne. Their struggle was crowned with success in 1288 as a result of the Battle of Worringen, already mentioned by me in one of the previous parts of the report. De facto, after this battle, Cologne became a free imperial city, although de jure for almost 200 years it was considered the possession of archbishops.

Another episode of the struggle of the Cologne people for their rights and freedoms is depicted on the bas-relief above the main entrance to the town hall. The author of the bas-relief captured the duel of the burgomaster of Cologne Hermann Grün with a lion.

In short, this story is as follows. Hermann Grün was one of the archbishop's most implacable opponents. The archbishop's vassals lured him into a trap and released a lion on him. The courageous burgomaster did not pass up and, like a gladiator on the stage of a Roman circus, fought with a lion and killed him. The tyrant-archbishop and his associates were left with a nose, and the cause of the struggle for freedom and democracy triumphed. In general, a happy ending, almost like in a Hollywood movie.

And finally, the third feature of the Cologne City Hall. On the side that faces the Alter Markt, a clock is installed, an integral part of which is a bearded head. At the beginning of each hour, when the clock starts striking, the head sticks out its tongue and teases everyone who looks at it.

In the end, someone got tired of it and this someone on one of the buildings standing on the opposite side of the square, in defiance of a vulgar head, installed something no less vulgar.

And on the Alter Markt square there is a monument to a very popular historical character in Cologne - General Johann (Jan) von Werth. On the route of our walk, we saw quite a few interesting monuments and even more fountains, which are real works of art. In this part of the report, I will not be distracted by their description, but rather devote the next part to this topic entirely.

From the Alter Markt square, we went for a walk through the streets and squares of Cologne quite arbitrarily, as they say, wherever we look. Here and there, the consequences of the just past annual Cologne carnival were visible. Judging by the large amount of garbage left in the former carnival venues, the townspeople and guests of the city were simply not coming off like a child.

Obviously, it is difficult for employees of the city improvement service after a week of general stormy fun to very abruptly reorganize to a normal work rhythm. Who, if not the Russians, celebrating the New Year for two weeks, understand their feelings and sensations.
At first, I was surprised by the large number of small bottles - "git" - lying on the pavement.

Everything became clear when in the window of one of the shops we saw a carnival belt-"bandolier", loaded with a large number of such bottles. But it's really convenient! A participant in carnival events taking place on the streets of the city only needs to girdle with such a "bandolier" to have fun non-stop and keep oneself in good shape without being distracted by visiting bars and restaurants.

In general, as I said, the Old Town of Cologne does not give the impression of being old. True, on one of the streets we went to the place where the Roman watchtower, which has miraculously survived to our times, stands,

and not far from the Neumarkt square we saw the medieval fortress gates of the 13th century.

Most of the buildings in the Old Town are buildings of modern architecture, however, this does not make a walk in the historic center of Cologne less interesting.

Of course, for local residents, everything here seems familiar and commonplace, but for us, Russian tourists, any European city, no matter how big or small, is a source of new positive impressions. Here, literally at every step, there is something to catch on to - there is always something funny, amazing or unusual on the route of the walk.

This tower is part of a large mansion that used to stand on this site. Its history is connected with one of the urban legends of Cologne. The legend, in turn, is based on completely real events. In the XIV century, the wealthy patrician Mengis von Aducht lived in the mentioned mansion. More than anything, he loved his beautiful wife Rikhmodis. During the plague epidemic, Rihmodis died. The inconsolable husband ordered to put all the jewelry and jewelry that she had in the coffin. The gravediggers, knowing this, decided to profit and dug the grave at night after the funeral. Opening the lid of the coffin, they saw that Rihmodis moved and opened her eyes. Distraught with horror, the villains rushed with all their might to inform her husband about this. Rikhmodis climbed out of the coffin and followed them home. By the time the gravediggers woke up and disturbed the whole house of Mengis von Aducht, she had already approached the gate, began to knock on them and ask to be allowed inside. At this time in the stable the horses whinnied loudly. The patrician, shaking with fear, shouted: “Get out, ghost! I would rather believe that these horses will be able to climb up the tower of the house than that you are my wife! " And immediately after these words, two horses broke out of the stable, galloped up the spiral staircase right into the room at the very top of the tower, and, opening the shutters, stuck their heads out of the window. And then everyone believed that Rikhmodis was alive. To perpetuate this miracle, the happy husband Rihmodis ordered to make a sculpture with two horse heads and install it on the top of the tower. Of course, you and I understand that Rihmodis was in a lethargic dream, and the story with horses is just a beautiful invention. But if there were no such inventions, our life would be very boring.

Numerous street musicians help to maintain a positive attitude while walking around the city. In Cologne, they are for every taste and color.

Cheerful organ grinder

Of course, a short walk in Cologne is not enough to get a more or less complete picture of it. In order to get acquainted with its most interesting places, you need at least three to four days. Those who have this time should definitely go up to the observation platforms and admire the city from a bird's eye view, take a funicular ride from one bank of the Rhine to the other, visit the famous museums of chocolate and cologne, take a river boat trip along the Rhine. Judging by the reviews on the Internet, Cologne is also very good for shopping lovers - in the historic center, on several neighboring streets, not far from the Cathedral, there are a lot of shops with goods of all the most famous world brands.

This is not the end of the story about Cologne. In the next part, as I said, I will talk about the many monuments and fountains in Cologne.

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Cologne is a metropolis full of charisma and charm, stretching on the banks of the Rhine, along with Istanbul and Rome, one of the three most holy cities in the world. Its 2,000-year history is reflected in Romanesque basilicas, well-groomed winding streets, palaces and Gothic architecture of ancient buildings. This place is famous for its numerous tourist attractions, which will take at least a week to see. For those of you who do not have time and are wondering what to see in Cologne in one day, we have prepared an overview of the most famous sights of the cathedral city.

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Among the treasures of the museum: the works of Picasso, Chagall, Malevich, Rodchenko, Kirchner, Popova. Some exhibitions, for example, half-empty bottles surrounded by stacked cigarette boxes, put into a stupor even fans of surrealism.

The museum is open from Tuesday to Sunday from 10:00 to 18:00. The entrance ticket costs 12.00 €.

Hahnentorburg gate

Seven centuries ago, a fortress wall passed here. Its western front gate saw the solemn entrance of the emperors of the Roman Empire, who followed to Cologne to worship the relics of the Magi. At the beginning of the 19th century, the medieval building was used as a prison dungeon, and in 1877 the first horse tram station was opened on the adjacent square. In 1888, the premises of the perfectly preserved building housed expositions of the historical museum.

The 1943 British aviation bombing partially destroyed the architectural monument. After the restoration, the Hanentorburg Gate was used as a gallery displaying works by German artists. Since 1988, the building houses the headquarters of the guard of honor of the annual carnival.

Address: Rudolfplatz 1.

Cable car

The sights can be seen walking the streets, cycling or taking the sightseeing bus. But what about viewing interesting places from above, or rather, from the cable car gondola stretched across the river? The funicular was opened in April 1957. German Chancellor Konrad Adenauer was his first guest. Since then, the 34-meter-high air crossing has carried over 20 million passengers, offering them an impressive panorama of the Rhine and the metropolis on its shores.

The funicular is 935 m long and has 44 cabins for 4 people. Travel speed - 10 km / h. To use this unusual mode of transport, you need to get to the Zoo / Flora (bus line 140) or Claudius-Therme (lines 150, 250, 260) stops. Fare:

• Adults: 4.80 € one way, 7 € round trip
• Children: 2.70 € - one way, 4 € - round trip

Working hours: from 20.03. until 01.11. daily from 10:00 to 18:00.

Church of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary

Construction of the city's second largest temple (after the Kölner Dom) began in 1618. The first architect of the project was Christoph Wamser, a fan of the Baroque style. The torch was taken over by the Thuringian Valentin Bolz in 1623. In 1628, Ferdinand of Bavaria, Elector of the Roman Empire, donated a gilded altar 22.5 m high to the church. A year later, divine services began within the walls of the basilica, although construction work was completed only in 1689.

With the arrival of Napoleonic troops, the church fell on hard times. In 1794 it was plundered and closed. The doors of the cathedral were opened again for parishioners only in 1801, after the adoption of Catholicism by France. The bombs of the Second World War destroyed the baroque building from the face of the earth. The restored holy house appeared on 26 Marzellenstrasse in 1979. Today the basilica is used by the Italian community as a parish church. The main nave houses the only mechanical nativity scene in Cologne, which recreates scenes from the night of the Nativity of Christ.

Church of St. Martin

The townspeople call one of the 12 Romanesque churches Big Saint Martin. The construction of a three-nave basilica with a sharp spire and four angular 70-meter towers began in 1220. The building was based on the foundations of a Benedictine monastery destroyed by fire. Over its centuries-old history, the building has gone through more than one reconstruction. The last restoration was completed in 1985, since then the doors of the temple have been open to parishioners.

In comparison with the decorated multi-colored stained-glass windows, vaults and a monumental facade, the interior decoration strikes with modesty, bordering on asceticism. The interior is decorated only with a sculptural image of a crucifix, an altar made in the form of a clover leaf, and a fragment of an antique column. According to legend, the ancient relic does not let people with evil thoughts enter the walls of the temple.

The basilica is located at An Groß St. Martin 9 and is open from 9:30 am to 7:30 pm (Tuesday to Friday) and from 10:00 to 19:30 on weekends.

Hohenzollern bridge

Along with the central station, the 409.19 m long arched railway structure made of concrete and steel, which crosses the Rhine, is an important transport hub for Germany. The Hohenzollern Bridge, with about 1,500 trains daily, is an integral part of the cityscape. At night it is illuminated by powerful spotlights, making it a favorite subject for photography.

The first crossing of the river, named after the famous German dynasty of kings of Prussia, opened in 1911. Those entering the bridge were greeted by equestrian statues and sculptures of emperors. In 1943, the structure was badly damaged by bombs, and two years later it was completely destroyed. Traffic on the restored bridge resumed in 1948.

If you are on a romantic trip, take the time to walk across the Rhine Bridge. Along the way, you will see millions of symbols of love - various castles (from tiny to huge barns) that completely cover the iron supports of the structure. The tradition of leaving on fences engraved signs of an unbreakable union began with the advent of the 21st century. Despite repeated attempts by the city authorities to remove the locks, they still serve as an ornament to the Hohenzollern Bridge, making it heavier by several tons.

Thünnes and Shel

For connoisseurs of folklore, the metropolis has prepared a gift: a sculptural composition on the Alter Markt, depicting two completely opposite characters. One of them, skinny, sly and arrogant Shel, is dressed in a tuxedo and bowler hat, the other, a plump, friendly and stupid Tünnes, looks like a simple villager. This couple is the protagonists of numerous anecdotes and comic theatrical performances.

The story of the heroes began in 1803, when Johann Christoph Winters, the founder of the Hänneschen puppet theater, introduced into the repertoire two invented characters that later became allegories of resourcefulness and innocence. In 1974, the Austrian sculptor Wolfgang Andreas Reiter immortalized a funny couple in metal. Tourists have a belief: those who stand on the tips of the boots of both figures and rub the prominent nose of Thünnes, the bronze inhabitants will give good luck in business and happiness.

Town hall

To the north of the historic part of the metropolis, on the Rathausplatz, is the oldest town hall in Germany - the seat of the City Council. According to archival documents, in the middle of the 12th century, there was already a “House of Citizens” representing the interests of local residents and merchants of the Hansa (Northern European Trade Union). In 1330, a new structure was erected on the foundations of the old building, which in 1414 was supplemented with a 61-meter Gothic tower. After another 150 years, a Renaissance gazebo appeared. As a result of numerous reconstructions, today's town hall amazes with a mixture of architectural trends.

The facade of the five-story building is decorated with 124 sandstone sculptures depicting famous citizens of the city, saints and powerful of this world: emperors and popes. The tower has a carillon containing a set of 45 bronze bells. One of the 24 pre-programmed melodies is played four times a day. Through the baroque main entrance, visitors enter a spacious 30-meter hall with a height of 3.30 m. The decoration is a copy of the Altar of the city's patrons, the original of which is kept in the Cologne Cathedral.

Gate of Saint Severin

The well-preserved southern gate, through which the road to Bonn, which lies 30 km, passed, reminds of the Middle Ages, when the city was surrounded by a fortress wall. Built in the 13th century, the four-storey stone structure is a massive hexagonal tower topped with a crenellated roof and complemented by two side turrets. This place served not only as a trade route. Here the city authorities greeted high-ranking guests: Prussian kings and foreign monarchs.

In 1881, the defensive fortifications were demolished, and a natural history museum was founded in the bastion, which was soon replaced by a hygiene museum. With the coming to power of the National Socialist Party, the premises housed the headquarters of the Hitler Youth, and in 1979 a community center began functioning in the historic building.

The attraction is located on Chlodwigplatz street 2.

Botanical Garden "Flora"

A visit to the urban green oasis is a must on the one-day tourist route. A visit here won't harm your budget - the park is free to enter. On the territory of 11.5 hectares, surrounded by fountains, sculptures, ponds and flower beds, exotic representatives of the flora grow. Giant trees such as the American sequoia coexist here with European beeches and Asian laurels.

The highlight of the garden is the rose gardens and four interconnected greenhouses, where the same temperature is maintained throughout the year. They contain a collection of 5,000 plant species in the tropics and deserts. Near the palm alley there are comfortable benches overlooking a small waterfall.

The Botanical Garden is located at Amsterdamer Strasse 34. You can get here by tram lines 16 and 18 or omnibus number 140. Stop - Zoo / Flora.

In the historic center of the metropolis, a little to the south of the Cologne Cathedral, there is an embankment - a place whose image is captured on souvenirs purchased by tourists in memory of the city. The long, well-groomed cobblestone alley offers not only scenic views of the Rhine and the Hohenzollern Bridge, but also numerous bars, restaurants and traditional open-air pubs (Biergarten). In addition, there are several berths, from where from March to October you can take a refreshing journey along one of the longest rivers in Europe.

We recommend that you join a panoramic boat tour organized by the Köln-Düsseldorf Rheinschiffahrt shipping company. From a comfortable boat for 20 guests, you will see the most famous sights of the fourth largest city in Germany from an unusual perspective.

The river tram leaves the pier (you can find it by the big red letters KD) at 10:30, 12:00, 13:30, 15:00, 16:30 and 18:00. Ticket prices: adults - 10.40 €, children - 6 €. During the trip, you can use the German or English-language audio guide. Travel time is one hour.

Claudian Baths

Claudius Therme awaits those who feel the pleasant tiredness of a fascinating walk through interesting places in Cologne - a magnificent health complex located in the Rhine Park on Sachsenbergstraße 1. The territory, decorated with original buildings stylized as architectural structures of Ancient Rome, is divided into several sectors. The first of them is a common area, which includes an inhaler, a jacuzzi, solariums and baths (open and closed). The most visited is the pool with thermal water, the temperature of which does not drop below +23 ° C.

This is followed by a bath area consisting of wooden huts. Visitors are offered herbal, Finnish saunas, a hot Erdwal sauna with a fireplace, a Russian bath, a Serailbad bath with Ayurvedic massage and a panoramic sauna overlooking the cathedral. A light dinner in one of the cozy cafes will complement your relaxing break and wellness treatments.