Germany from A to Z: Cologne

It is one of the most popular travel destinations in Germany: before the coronavirus pandemic some 20,000 people visited it — every day. Cologne Cathedral is over 700 years old, and it took just as many more years to build it in the first place. This Gothic architecture masterpiece has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1996.

Cologne's old town center was almost completely destroyed during World War II. Many historical house fronts were reconstructed on functional 1960s buildings, like the Fischmarkt pictured here. In the alleyways of the old town center you'll find a huge choice of cosy taverns, restaurants and brewery houses.

People here enjoy their glass of Kölsch beer. This can only be brewed in Cologne and its environs. It is served in a "Kölschstange" — a tall, narrow 0.2 liter glass. It is best accompanied by hearty local specialties like "Himmel und Äad" - the local dialect for heaven and earth — a dish that combines mashed potato, apple sauce and blood sausage.

Art and culture lovers have their work cut out for them in Cologne as there are a myriad of galleries and exhibitions to choose from. The Museum Ludwig for instance presents contemporary art as well as pop art and expressionistic works. In Cologne everyone will find "their" museum as they cover everything from Roman times to technology and chocolate.

Cologne in the Middle Ages was the German speaking world's biggest city and an important ecclesiastical center. To this day many sacral buildings bear witness to Cologne's former religious significance including 12 Romanesque churches. St. Maria im Kapitol is the largest of them and is located on the site of an ancient Roman Capitoline temple. The present church was built in the 11th century.

Opposite the Cathedral, on the shores of the Rhine you find the 40 hectare Rheinpark. It was created in 1912 and in 2007 it was named Germany's best park. Extensive lawns in the summer serve as playgrounds for football matches and BBQ evenings. The Rhine cable cars take you from here across the river to Cologne Zoo.

For one week every year, the city is an exceptional place to be — Cologne's Carnival is one of the biggest and best-known street carnivals in the world. Important words to know are "Alaaf" - a carnival greeting, which can be shouted out at all times and "Kamelle" - the sweet treats thrown during the street parades. Cologne wants to celebrate carnival in 2021 despite the coronavirus epidemic.

Cologne is known globally as a trade fair city — at Gamescom, the annual fair for computer and video games, companies from around the world present new hard- and software. Artworks for all budgets are sold and exhibited at Art Cologne — the world's oldest art fair. Photokina, one of the world's most important photography trade fairs, takes place every two years.

Metropolitan and tolerant — that's what Cologne stands for — so no surprise that the city on the Rhine is a gay stronghold. Once a year ColognePride takes place, an event to support the rights of gay and transgender people — the biggest of its kind in Europe. The party highlight is the Christopher Street Day parade — which this year has been postponed until autumn due to the coronavirus crisis.

One of Cologne's many bonuses' is its river location - and what a wonderful waterway it is! The Rhine is Germany's longest river. Romans knew how convenient the location was when they founded a settlement here in 19 BC. Take an excursion on a river boat to fully appreciate the cityscape of the old town center with the cathedral — or why not grab a paddle and row out onto the river yourself?