Cologne - A vibrant city with tradition

Cologne – founded by the Romans in A.D. 50 – is one of the oldest cities in Germany and constitutes the economic and cultural capitol of the Rhineland. Cologne is the fourth-largest German city (after Berlin, Hamburg and Munich) with about one million inhabitants and the largest city in North Rhine-Westphalia (one of Germany's sixteen federal states). The University of Cologne, named after the medieval scholar Albertus Magnus (Saint Albert the Great), currently is the largest german university with approx. 47000 students.

Tourism

Cologne cathedral

towers of the Cologne cathedral and Michelangelo's David

The Cologne Cathedral (in German: Kölner Dom) is one of the most famous architectural monuments in Germany and the town's landmark. In 1996, the cathedral was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List.

The two towers, more that 150 m tall, also served as an inspiration for our conference logo.

The Cologne Cathedral, its treasure chamber and the tower can be visited. If possible, please do not miss to climb the tower; it only takes 509 steps to the top. For further information, please consult the official website of the Cologne Cathedral.

Romanesque churches

Latest since the relics of the three Magi (Caspar, Melchior and Balthasar) were brought to the city in 1164, Cologne emerged to one of the most important pilgrimage desinations in the (medieval) world and the term Dat hillige Coellen (The Holy Cologne) was widely known.

Note: The golden shrine of the three Magi can be visited at the Cologne Cathedral.

Within the former medieval city wall, Cologne bears 12 Romanesque basilicas, all of which are easily reached by foot or subway:

St. Aposteln
St. Andreas
St. Andreas (tourist information)
Official website of the Dominican convent St. Andreas with a very nice gallery
St. Aposteln
St. Aposteln (tourist information)
Official website (in German) of the parish St. Aposteln with information on the basilika, the artwork and the treasure
St. Cäcilien
St. Cäcilien (tourist information)
Nowadays, the medieval ecclesiastical building houses the Museum Schnütgen for Christian Art.
St. Georg
St. Georg (tourist information)
St. Gereon
St. Gereon (tourist information)
Official website (in German) of the parish St. Gereon with a virtual tour through the basilica
Groß St. Martin
Groß St. Martin
Groß St. Martin (tourist information)
Photographs of Groß St. Martin on Wikimedia Commons
St. Kunibert
St. Kunibert (tourist information)
St. Maria im Kapitol
St. Maria im Kapitol (tourist information)
cars St. Maria Lyskirchen
St. Maria Lyskirchen (tourist information)
St. Pantaleon
St. Pantaleon (tourist information)
Gallery of the parish St. Pantaleon
St. Severin
St. Severin (tourist information)
St. Ursula
St. Ursula (tourist information)

Overview

Museums

Museum Ludwig

The city of Cologne counts about 30 museums; please consult Municipal museums in Cologne for an overview.

Close to the cathedral, you will find the Romano-Germanic Museum with a large number of local acient Roman archaelogical findings, the Wallraf-Richartz-Museum, presenting medieval and early modern paintings from the period between 1250 and 1550, Baroque art by Rubens and Rembrandt, as well as masterpieces of Impressionism and Museum Ludwig with a huge collection of 20th century art and contemporary art.

The Zeughaus, a 16th century armoury, houses the Museum of the City of Cologne, which gives an insight into the history, culture, economy and everyday life of Cologne from the Middle Ages to the present day. Visitors are provided with free audio-guides in German, English, French and Kölsch.

Colleagues with a sweet tooth might enjoy the Chocolate Museum.

Zoo

elephant baby Marlar

The Cologne Zoo exhibits more than 500 species from all over the world. Among the different habitats are

Note that the entrance fee for the zoo also includes the admittance for the aquarium, the terrarium and the world of insects.

One of the greatest attractions in the Cologne Zoo is the elephant park, where up to 20 elephants can live in an area of 20.000 m2, among them the elephant baby Marlar, who celebrated her first birthday on March 30, and Ming Jung, born on 16 April 2007. Don't miss to view the elephant webcam for a video feed from the elephant park.

blackthorn blossom

Botanical gardens

Close to the Cologne Zoo, you will find the Flora and the Botanical Gardens.

Beverages and food

Kölsch

Cologne probably is the only place in the world where the local dialect and the local beer share the same name: Kölsch. All over the city, you'll find pubs, beer gardens and brewery houses serving their own delicious brands, such as:

Please note that the alphabetical list is by no means complete and does not imply any ranking. Feel free to try them all! Unless you're sitting outside in a beer garden, the typical size of the glasses is 200 mL. The Köbes (waiter) usually replaces empty glasses with full ones unless you leave a beermat on top of your glass.

Note: Unless you are looking for real trouble, do not ask the Köbes, who's quite often a guy with a sarcastic humour, to bring a beer brewed in Düsseldorf, the neighbouring city. And no, we won't tell you the name of that other stuff. Enjoy the liquid gold (Kölsch) and don't ask…

Himmel un Ääd

Himmel un Ääd (heaven and earth) is a very traditional dish, composed of apple puree (heaven) and mashed potatoes (earth), together with fried Blootwoosch (blood sausage). Yes, it is a bit special…

Halve Haan

No, it is not half a fried chicken! But millions of visitors of Cologne have thought that too, so don't worry. Find out yourselves what is really is.

Links

Webcams

Participants of ICP2007 will certainly feel welcome and enjoy their stay in Cologne.