The city of Koln lies on the Rhine, the third-longest river in Europe,
after the Volga and the Danube. The unmistakable landmark of this city of 1 million inhabitants is its
magnificent Gothic cathedral, the largest in Germany. A winding staircase leads to a viewing platform 95
metres up in the south tower, where the view amply rewards the effort of getting there.
The town was founded by the Romans and later went on to become
the biggest city of medieval Germany. Much of the original architecture was lost during the allied air
raids in 1944 but the cathedral itself miraculously escaped heavy damage and the city was rebuilt
according to its medieval street pattern.
Cologne is also famous for is wealth of Romanesque church
architecture, most notably the Church of St Martin in the vicinity of the Cathedral, and St Gereon's near Appellhofplatz.
Apart from its rich history and varied architecture,
Cologne is an important centre of commerce, industry, and culture. It ranks high among Germany's
great cities and its lively metropolitan atmosphere makes it difficult for visitors not to come back time after time.
Nearest towns: Bonn (27 km), Duesseldorf
(38 km), Solingen (35 km, Bergisch Gladbach (19 km)
under €25
€25-€50
€50-€75
€75-€100
€100-€150
€150-€250
over €250
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