Cologne - Buses and Buses - Transportation - Attractions - What to See.

Cologne is a large city located on the Rhine River in western Germany and the capital of the state of North Rhine-Westphalia. It is famous for its valuable historical monuments, many interesting and collection-rich museums, and as a scientific and industrial center, where, among other things, Ford factories and numerous breweries producing Kölsch beer are located.

Cologne is one of the oldest urban centers in Germany - its history dates back to the Roman Empire. In the Middle Ages, the city was surrounded by defensive walls, with 12 gates leading to it, following the example of Jerusalem. Today, in some parts of Cologne you can still see remnants of these fortifications and four medieval city gates. In addition, fragments of Roman-era walls have been preserved.

Cologne - what is worth seeing in the city?

The biggest, most characteristic attraction of the city is the monumental Gothic cathedral. However, Cologne has many more interesting buildings and monuments that are worth knowing. So what is worth seeing here?

Cologne Cathedral

The Cathedral of St. Peter and St. Mary is one of the largest and most important churches in Europe. Its construction began in 1248 and continued intermittently for more than 600 years. After its towers were completed in 1870, it was the tallest building in the world for more than a dozen years. Inside, visitors can admire, among other things, a gilded reliquary with the remains of the Three Kings - the patron saints of Cologne, the Geron crucifix, the oldest carved image of the crucified Christ this side of the Alps, or beautiful medieval stained glass windows. In one of the cathedral's towers hangs the largest bell in Europe, called the Bell of St. Peter, while in the square in front of the temple is a stone arch that is a remnant of the ancient city gate. Also worth a visit is the cathedral treasury, where antique reliquaries, archbishop's insignia and other works of sacred art are on display.

Roman-Germanic Museum in Cologne

The museum deals with the history of the city from Paleolithic times to the early Middle Ages. It is located on the site where a Roman villa was located in the 1st century AD. A remnant of that period is a beautiful floor mosaic with Dionysian motifs.

Ludwig Museum

This place houses a collection of contemporary art, including works by artists such as Pablo Picasso, Andy Warhol and Salvador Dalí. It has an impressive collection of pop art and the third largest collection of Picasso paintings and sketches in the world. In addition, there are many works by German artists and a sizable collection of photographs.

Cologne Perfume Museum

Cologne is the city where cologne water was invented. It was created in 1709 thanks to Johann Maria Farina. The museum is housed in the original production rooms of an 18th-century perfume factory. Those interested in the subject can go to a workshop on the production of eau de toilette in the later Cologne Water factory, a building called 4711.

National Socialism Documentation Center (EL-DE-Haus)

This place was created in the former Gestapo building. Inside you can see the prison, which has been left almost unchanged, as well as exhibitions detailing the history of National Socialism, racial cleansing, anti-Semitism and documenting World War II and the post-war era in the city.

KölnTriangle observation deck

On the other side of the Rhine is a modern skyscraper, on the roof of which is located an observation deck. It's worth driving up and admiring the city from a completely different perspective.

Rhenish Garden

Along the banks of the Rhine near the old city is located a walking and park area, which is enjoyed by both residents of Cologne and tourists visiting the city.