Cologne

Cologne is a big and important city in Germany, located in the state of North Rhine-Westphalia. It is the fourth-most populous city in Germany, with nearly 1.1 million people living in the city itself. The city is famous for its beautiful and historic Cologne Cathedral, which was the tallest building in the world for a short time long ago. This grand cathedral was built to hold a special shrine and is now one of the most visited places in Europe.

Cologne has a very long history, dating back to Roman times when it was called Colonia Agrippina. Over the years, it became a major center for trade and culture. During World War II, the city suffered heavy bombing, but many historic buildings were restored afterward. Today, Cologne is a vibrant cultural hub with many museums, universities, and important businesses. It is also known for a special type of fragrance called Eau de Cologne, which has been made there since 1709.

History

Main articles: History of Cologne, Colonia Claudia Ara Agrippinensium, and Colonial history of the city of Cologne

For a chronological guide, see Timeline of Cologne.

Roman Cologne

The first settlement on the site of modern-day Cologne was founded in 38 BC by a Germanic tribe called the Ubii. In AD 50, the Romans established Cologne on the river Rhine, naming it after Emperor Claudius and his wife, Agrippina the Younger, who was born there. The city became an important trade center and the capital of a Roman province. Many Roman remains still exist in Cologne today.

Middle Ages

During the Middle Ages, Cologne became a powerful city under the control of archbishops. It gained independence and became a important trading city, joining the Hanseatic League. The city was known for its wealth and grand buildings, including its cathedral, which houses important religious relics.

Early modern history

Cologne was a self-governing city within the Holy Roman Empire, with its own army and political influence. The city faced challenges from powerful archbishops who wanted to control it, leading to many disagreements over the centuries.

From the 19th century until World War I

Cologne lost its independence during the time when France controlled the area. Later, it became part of Prussia and experienced growth through industrialization. The famous cathedral was completed during this time, becoming a symbol of German pride.

World War II

During World War II, Cologne suffered heavy bombing that destroyed much of the city. The attacks caused many casualties and left large parts of the city in ruins. After the war, the city was rebuilt, though some historic buildings were lost.

Post-war and Cold War eras

After the war, Cologne was rebuilt and became an important city in Germany, located between two major political centers. New roads and buildings were constructed to accommodate growing traffic and populations.

Post-reunification

In recent decades, Cologne has grown as a media and trade center, with new developments improving its accessibility and economy. The city has faced challenges, including incidents that have required careful handling to ensure community safety.

Geography

Cologne is a big city in Germany, sitting along the River Rhine. Its area covers more than 405 square kilometres and ranges from 37.5 metres to 118 metres above sea level. It is part of the Rhine-Ruhr area and is one of Germany’s warmest cities, with mild winters and warm summers.

Cologne experiences a temperate climate with plenty of cloud cover and around 1,567 hours of sunshine each year. Temperatures usually range from about 3°C in January to 19°C in July, though it can get much hotter during heat waves. The city is also quite prone to flooding from the Rhine River, and has built many protections like flood walls and special areas to help manage the water.

Innenstadt (Stadtbezirk 1) Altstadt-Nord, Altstadt-Süd, Neustadt-Nord, Neustadt-Süd, Deutz Rodenkirchen (Stadtbezirk 2) Bayenthal, Godorf, Hahnwald, Immendorf, Marienburg, Meschenich, Raderberg, Raderthal, Rodenkirchen, Rondorf, Sürth, Weiß, Zollstock Lindenthal (Stadtbezirk 3) Braunsfeld, Junkersdorf, Klettenberg, Lindenthal, Lövenich, Müngersdorf, Sülz, Weiden, Widdersdorf Ehrenfeld (Stadtbezirk 4) Bickendorf, Bocklemünd/Mengenich, Ehrenfeld, Neuehrenfeld, Ossendorf, Vogelsang Nippes (Stadtbezirk 5) Bilderstöckchen, Longerich, Mauenheim, Niehl, Nippes, Riehl, Weidenpesch

Chorweiler (Stadtbezirk 6) Blumenberg, Chorweiler, Esch/Auweiler, Fühlingen, Heimersdorf, Lindweiler, Merkenich, Pesch, Roggendorf/Thenhoven, Seeberg, Volkhoven/Weiler, Worringen Porz (Stadtbezirk 7) Eil, Elsdorf, Ensen, Finkenberg, Gremberghoven, Grengel, Langel, Libur, Lind, Poll, Porz, Urbach, Wahn, Wahnheide, Westhoven, Zündorf Kalk (Stadtbezirk 8) Brück, Höhenberg, Humboldt/Gremberg, Kalk, Merheim, Neubrück, Ostheim, Rath/Heumar, Vingst Mülheim (Stadtbezirk 9) Buchforst, Buchheim, Dellbrück, Dünnwald, Flittard, Höhenhaus, Holweide, Mülheim, Stammheim

Demographics

Main article: Demographics of Cologne

Cologne is a big and important city in Germany. In ancient Roman times, it was a large and rich city with about 40,000 people. Over the centuries, its population grew and changed. Today, Cologne is the fourth-largest city in Germany, with about 1.1 million people living there. It is part of a larger area called the Rhine-Ruhr region, which has over 11 million people.

The city has many people from different places around the world. About 40% of the people living in Cologne have a background from another country. There are also many people who speak a special local language called Colognian, or Kölsch, which is only spoken in this area. Cologne is also known for its many places of worship, including churches and mosques, showing the city's rich cultural mix.

Largest groups of foreign residents

From country	Population (2022)
Turkey	57,135
Italy	21,351
Ukraine	12,634
Poland	9,766
Iraq	8,631
Syria	8,074
Bulgaria	7,916
Greece	5,841
Iran	4,910
Serbia	4,837
Romania	4,786
Russia	4,651
Spain	3,954
Bosnia and Herzegovina	3,830
Croatia	3,539
Portugal	3,263
France	3,043
Kosovo	2,586
Netherlands	2,523
Morocco	2,418
Austria	2,394
China	2,328
United Kingdom	2,287

Government and politics

See also: Cologne City Hall

The city of Cologne is run by a mayor and three deputy mayors. Cologne has a special political history because it was once a free city with a strong Catholic population. This history created unique relationships among different groups, sometimes leading to unusual decisions in city government.

The current Lord Mayor of Cologne is Torsten Burmest from the SPD party. He won the most recent mayoral election in September 2025. The city council works with the mayor to help govern Cologne for five-year terms. Cologne also has representatives in the state parliament and the national Bundestag.

Cityscape

The inner city of Cologne was mostly destroyed during World War II. When the city was rebuilt in the 1950s, planners kept the old street layout and names. Today, the city center has many modern buildings, with a few important older ones rebuilt for their history. Some of these modern buildings, like the Cologne Opera, are famous for their style, though some people still debate how they look.

Outside the center, most buildings are from the 19th and 20th centuries. About a quarter of Cologne was built before 1945. Green spaces cover more than a quarter of the city, giving each person around 75 meters squared of park or open space.

• Junkersdorf old town
• Art Nouveau villa on Bayenthal-gürtel
• Gründerzeit building in Ehrenfeld, Cologne
• Hansahochhaus, a building in the style of Brick Expressionism

Wildlife

Cologne is home to many insects, small rodents, and birds. Pigeons are the most common animals, but each year more exotic birds, like the rose-ringed parakeet, are seen. The warmer climate in southeast North Rhine-Westphalia helps these birds survive the winter.

Hedgehogs, rabbits, and squirrels live in parks and green areas of the city. In the outer suburbs, you can spot foxes and wild boar, sometimes even during the day.

Tourism

Cologne is a popular city for visitors, with millions of people staying and arriving each year. One of its most famous landmarks is Cologne Cathedral, a big Gothic church that took over 600 years to build and was named a World Heritage Site in 1996.

The city also has many other important buildings, like twelve old Romanesque churches, medieval houses such as Cologne City Hall, and three remaining medieval city gates. Visitors can explore busy shopping streets like Hohe Straße and Schildergasse, and cross the Rhine River on beautiful bridges including the famous iron Hohenzollern Bridge.

Skyscraper	Image	Height in metres	Floors	Year	Address
KölnTurm		148.5	43	2001	MediaPark 8, Neustadt-Nord
Colonia-Hochhaus		147	45	1973	An der Schanz 2, Riehl
Rheintower		138	34	1980	Raderberggürtel, Marienburg
Uni-Center		133	45	1973	Luxemburger Straße, Sülz
TÜV Rheinland		112	22	1974	Am Grauen Stein, Poll
Ringturm		109	26	1973	Ebertplatz, Neustadt-Nord
Justizzentrum Köln		105	25	1981	Luxemburger Straße, Sülz
KölnTriangle		103	29	2006	Ottoplatz 1, Deutz
Herkules-Hochhaus		102	31	1969	Graeffstraße 1, Ehrenfeld

Culture

Main article: History of theatre in Cologne

Cologne is a city full of art, music, and fun traditions. It has many museums, like the Roman-Germanic Museum that shows old art and buildings, and the Museum Ludwig with modern art, including works by Picasso. There are also music venues where you can hear orchestras like the Gürzenich Orchestra and the WDR Symphony Orchestra Cologne.

The city has special events too. Every year, there is a big street party called the Cologne carnival, where people dress up in costumes and celebrate. Cologne is also famous for its special beer called Kölsch and a sweet perfume called Eau de Cologne.

Carnival

The Cologne carnival is one of the largest street festivals in Europe. In Cologne, the carnival season officially starts on 11 November at 11 minutes past 11 a.m. with the proclamation of the new Carnival Season, and continues until Ash Wednesday. However, the so-called "Tolle Tage" (crazy days) do not start until Weiberfastnacht (Women's Carnival) or, in dialect, Wieverfastelovend, the Thursday before Ash Wednesday, which is the beginning of the street carnival. Zülpicher Strasse and its surroundings, Neumarkt square, Heumarkt and all bars and pubs in the city are crowded with people in costumes dancing and drinking in the streets. Hundreds of thousands of visitors flock to Cologne during this time. Generally, around a million people celebrate in the streets on the Thursday before Ash Wednesday.

Cuisine

Cologne is shaped by a long culinary tradition that has been enriched with imported and sometimes exotic elements. Because of its prominent role in international trade, the local cuisine incorporated herring, mussels, and many spices very early on. In the Middle Ages, when salmon (usually called Salm in Cologne) and allis shad (Maifisch) were still abundant in the Rhine, these fish were considered poor people’s food, while herring was very popular in bourgeois households. The Rhenish herring salad (Heringsstipp) with apples, onions, and cream still bears witness to this tradition. Mussels “Rhenish style” are now a staple of local gastronomy.

As is typical in the Rhineland, sweet and savory flavors are often combined. The fertile soil and favorable climate also make vegetables a major part of Cologne’s cuisine. A sweet-and-sour specialty is Rheinischer Sauerbraten (Rhenish pot roast), which was originally made with horse meat, as well as the simpler Himmel un Ääd (Heaven and Earth)—a mix of mashed potatoes and apple sauce—served with fried blood sausage (Flönz). Savoy cabbage and asparagus are also commonly offered as seasonal vegetables.

A special role in Cologne is played by the Brauhäuser (brewpubs). These establishments were originally created for serving beer from Cologne’s breweries but have since become key venues for traditional, hearty cuisine. In addition to the dishes mentioned, one can find filling meals such as Krüstchen (breaded pork cutlet with egg), Eisbein (“Hämchen”, boiled pork knuckle), Hachse (roasted pork knuckle), and potato pancakes (Reibekuchen or Rievkooche). Because they require considerable preparation, the latter are often available only on certain days. Popular accompaniments to Kölsch—the local beer, served fresh from the barrel in these brewpubs—include steak tartare (Tatar), blood sausage (Flönz), or Halver Hahn (a rye roll with cheese and mustard).

Local pastry specialties include Mutze, Muzemandeln, and doughnuts (Krapfen), along with a wide variety of open and covered cakes, most commonly topped with apples or plums. Sweetening is sometimes done with sugar beet syrup (Rübenkraut), which is also used as a bread spread.

Rivalry with Düsseldorf

Main article: Rivalry between Cologne and Düsseldorf

Cologne and Düsseldorf have a "fierce regional rivalry", which includes carnival parades, ice hockey, football, and beer. People in Cologne prefer Kölsch while people in Düsseldorf prefer Altbier ("Alt"). Waiters and patrons will "scorn" and make a "mockery" of people who order Alt beer in Cologne or Kölsch in Düsseldorf. The rivalry has been described as a "love–hate relationship". The Köln Guild of Brewers was established in 1396. The Kölsch beer style first appeared in the 1800s and in 1986 the breweries established an appellation under which only breweries in the city are allowed to use the term Kölsch.

Museums

Main article: List of museums in Cologne

• Farina Fragrance Museum – birthplace of Eau de Cologne
• Römisch-Germanisches Museum (Roman-Germanic Museum) – ancient Roman and Germanic culture
• Wallraf-Richartz Museum – European painting from the 13th to the early 20th century
• Museum Ludwig – modern art
• Museum Schnütgen – medieval art
• Museum für Angewandte Kunst – applied art
• Kolumba Kunstmuseum des Erzbistums Köln (art museum of the Archbishopric of Cologne) – modern art museum built around medieval ruins of St. Kolumba, Cologne, completed 2007
• Cathedral Treasury "Domschatzkammer" – historic underground vaults of the Cathedral
• German Sports and Olympic Museum – exhibitions about sports from antiquity until the present
• Imhoff-Schokoladenmuseum – Chocolate Museum
• Geomuseum of the University of Cologne – the exhibition includes fossils (such as dinosaur bones and the skeleton of an Eryops), stones and minerals
• Forum for Internet Technology in Contemporary Art – collections of Internet-based art, corporate part of (NewMediaArtProjectNetwork):cologne, the experimental platform for art and New Media
• Flora und Botanischer Garten Köln – the city's formal park and main botanical garden
• Forstbotanischer Garten Köln – an arboretum and woodland botanical garden

Music fairs and festivals

The city was home to the internationally famous Ringfest, and now to the C/o pop festival.

In addition, Cologne enjoys a thriving Christmas Market (Weihnachtsmarkt) presence with several locations in the city.

Economy

Cologne is a big city in Germany with many jobs and businesses. It is especially known for insurance and media, with companies like Westdeutscher Rundfunk, RTL Television, and Deutschlandradio based there. The city is also home to important research centers and many company offices.

Cologne has many famous businesses, including Ford Europe, which has a big factory there, and Toyota Motorsport GmbH, which works on racing cars. The city has big ports and an important airport, Cologne Bonn Airport, which helps it stay connected to the world. Cologne is also a place where many new businesses start up, and it cares a lot about taking care of the environment.

Transport

Main article: Transport in Cologne

Cologne has many ways to get around, including roads, railways, buses, and even boats on the River Rhine. In the 1920s, Cologne built its first limited-access road, and today it has many motorways, including the Bundesautobahn 555. The city also has a large network of train services, with fast ICE trains connecting it to cities like Amsterdam, Brussels, and Paris.

Cologne has a busy airport called Cologne/Bonn Airport, named after Konrad Adenauer, a former mayor and chancellor of Germany. There are also many buses and a light rail system called the Cologne Stadtbahn that helps people travel around the city and nearby areas.

Education

Cologne has many universities and colleges, with around 72,000 students. The oldest university, the University of Cologne, was founded in 1388 and is the largest university in Germany. The Cologne University of Applied Sciences is the largest university of Applied Sciences in the country, and the Cologne University of Music and Dance is the largest conservatory in Europe. There are also places where people who are not from Germany can learn the German language.

A Jewish school called Lauder Morijah School (German: Lauder-Morijah-Schule) in Cologne closed for a time but reopened in 2002 after more people from Russia moved to the area and increased the Jewish population.

Media

Cologne is one of Germany’s biggest centers for media, with thousands of people working in this field. The city has many television and radio stations, big publishing companies, and lots of businesses that support the media industry.

Important media companies in Cologne include Westdeutscher Rundfunk, Germany’s largest public broadcaster, and RTL Deutschland, Europe’s biggest private television company. The city also has many radio stations, music television channels, and famous publishing houses. The MediaPark in central Cologne is a key spot for media companies, with many offices and studios.

Sports

Cologne is a city with many sports teams and events. The football club 1. FC Köln plays in the Bundesliga, the top league in Germany, and their home games are at RheinEnergieStadion. This stadium was also used for some matches during the 2006 FIFA World Cup.

The city has other sports teams too, like the ice hockey team Kölner Haie and many cycling and running events such as the Cologne Marathon and the Rund um Köln race. Cologne has also hosted big international sports competitions, including the 2006 FIFA World Cup, the 2007 World Men's Handball Championship, and the 2017 Ice Hockey World Championships.

Notable people

Cologne has been home to many famous people over the years. Some well-known names include Jacques Offenbach, a composer, and Heinrich Böll, a writer who won the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1972. Other notable individuals from Cologne are Udo Kier, an actor, and Angela Gossow, a singer who was the lead vocalist for the band Arch Enemy.

More recently, Cologne has seen rising stars such as Nils Politt, a professional cyclist, and Leon Draisaitl, an ice hockey player. Young talents like Marie Reim, a singer, and Justin Diehl, a professional footballer, are also making their mark.

Twin towns – sister cities

See also: List of twin towns and sister cities in Germany

Cologne is twinned with several cities around the world, showing friendship and cooperation between them.

Former twin towns

• [Volgograd], Russia (1988) - this partnership was paused in 2022.