Tourist Attractions in Cologne

Southwest of the Cologne Cathedral, in the street called An der Rechtschule, is the Museum of Applied Art, with a collection of applied and decorative art from the medieval period onwards. The museum moved to these premises, previously occupied by the Wallraf-Richartz Museum, in 1988.

To the south of the Cathedral in Cologne stands the Old Town Hall (Altes Rathaus), with a Renaissance portico. In the Hansasaal (Hanseatic Hall) are Gothic figures of eight prophets and the nine "good heroes" (pagan, Jewish and Christian). There is a carillon in the tower.

Southeast of the Neumarkt in Cologne, in the old church of St Cecilia, is the Schnütgen Museum (sacred art). On the west side of the museum is the Josef Haubrich Kunsthalle (exhibitions).

To the northwest of the Arsenal in Cologne is St Gereon's, the city's most unusual Romanesque church, with a long choir (11th C.) built on to a ten-sided domed structure dating from Roman times (enlarged in 1227).

Near the south end of the Hohe Strasse in Cologne is the church of St Maria im Kapitol (11th-13th C.), built on the site of a Roman temple. In the nave are two beautifully carved early medieval doors (1050-65). Under the choir is a large crypt.

In the extreme southwest of the central area in Cologne stands the church of St Pantaleon (10th-17th C.; restored), with the tomb of the Empress Theophano (d. 991), wife of Otto II.

From the Hohe Strasse, near the Gürzenich in Cologne, Schildergasse (pedestrian zone) runs west to the Neumarkt, on the far side of which is the Late Romanesque church of the Holy Apostles (11th-13th C.).
The tower with its helm roof was built in the 12th C.

To the south of the Cologne Cathedral, close to the Rhine, stands the church of Gross St Martin (consecrated 1172), with a massive tower over the crossing, a trilobate choir and richly articulated walls.

South of the Praetorium in Cologne is the Gürzenich, the city's most important old secular building (1437-44), originally a warehouse and banqueting hall. It has been restored and is now used for a variety of events and occasions.

In the Zeughausstrasse in Cologne is the Regierungsgebäude (1951-52; government offices), opposite which is the rebuilt Zeughaus (Arsenal), now housing the Municipal Museum (material on the history of Cologne, including a large model of the town).

At the end of Zeughausstrasse, on left, is the Römerturm (Roman Tower; first century A.D.), a relic of the Roman town walls.

Southwest of the Town Hall in Cologne is a 12th C. Jewish ritual bath (mikve). Under the Spanischer Bau are remains of the Roman Praetorium (Governor's Palace; open to visitors).

West of the Cologne Cathedral, in Komödienstrasse, is the 15th C. church of St Andreas (Andrew). In the crypt, in a re-used Roman sarcophagus, are the remains of St Albertus Magnus.

Visit the house of the famous perfume, eau de Cologne, at 4711 House on Glockengasse. Of note are the carillons that chime every hour.

Below the level of the Roncalliplatz in Cologne is the Philharmonic Hall, with seating for 2,000 rising in concentric segments of a circle.

This scenic rail trip features beautiful mountain scenery.

This scenic rail trip features beautiful mountains and scenery.

Between the Cathedral and the Rhine is Cologne's Cultural Center, inaugurated in 1986 with the opening of the new Wallraf-Richartz Museum, Ludwig Museum and Philharmonic Hall.

Nearby Cologne's Roman-Germanic Museum, at Roncalliplatz 2, is the Diocesan Museum, with sacred art from Cologne and the Lower Rhineland. Also in the museum are several tombs and reliquaries.

The Lothar Huebel, located at Breite Str. 118-120, is not only valuable as a commercial area, but also as an historical area. The display includes rare African, Asian, and Polynesian artifacts. It also includes charms, sculptures, jewelry, and more.

The Imhoff-Stollwerck-Museum presents and intriguing display on the history of chocolate.

As with a number of German cities, Cologne lost its opera house to Allied bombs during the war. The Grosses Haus of the Oper der Stadt Köln, which seats 1,346, was a controversial building when it opened in 1957 with its five jutting balconies in a trapeze-shaped building made of concrete, glass and brick. The season basically runs from September until early July. A schedule can be ordered by writing to the box office. Vorverkaufskasse-Oper der Stadt Köln, Offenbachplatz, 5000 Köln 1, Germany

Cologne becomes a cultural haven between May and September every year. Street theater, dance performances and open-air concerts are held throughout the city, especially in the Rheinpark, the main festival venue.

6 km/4mi north of Cologne is Altenberg Cathedral (also known as the Bergischer Dom), one of the finest examples of the Early Gothic of the Rhineland (1255-1379). It has a richly furnished interior (Gothic stained glass, tombs of princes and abbots, a beautiful "Annunciation").

15km/9mi northeast of Cologne lies Bergisch Gladbach (pop. 104,000), the main feature of interest in which is the Bergisches Museum (mining, industry, craft production), with displays illustrating country life and buildings, a reconstruction of a mine shaft, traditional craft techniques, etc.