XI. Congress of Montessori Europe 01. - 03.10.2010, Bad Honnef


Sightseeing Bonn

Sightseeing Cologne

 

Please find below some examples for interesting places to visit.

 

Further information:

http://www.koeln.de/Cologne_tourist_information

http://www.cologne-tourism.com  

 

 

 

Cologne Cathedral "Kölner Dom"

The Cologne Cathedral "Kölner Dom" is a cathedral of the superlative, landmark and heart of the metropolis on the Rhine. Its size is emphasized by a gigantic pair of towers that dominated the city panorama since their completion in 1880. Still today, the Cathedral is the highest building after the telecommunications tower.

 

 

Dompropstei, Margarethenkloster 5

D - 50667 Köln

Tel.+49 (0) 221.17 94 01 00       Fax+49 (0) 221.17 94 01 99

dompropstei@metropolitankapitel-koeln.de / http://www.koelner-dom.de

 

Opening and Operating Hours

November to April: Mon - Sun 06:00 a.m. - 07:30 p.m.

May to October: Mon - Sun 06:00 a.m. - 10:00 p.m.

During services it is not possible to visit the Cathedral.

 

Admission Fees in Euro

Cathedral admission is free. Below fees refer to tower ascent.

Adults   4.00

Reduced fee      2.00

Combi-ticket Treasury / tower ascent      5.00

Reduced fee      2.50

 

 

 

             The old town

 

During World War II approximately 72 percent of the city area of Cologne was destroyed. The city centre, full of rubble, resembled a horrible battlefield - the picturesque part of the Old Town was destroyed nearly completely and had to be rebuild in drudgingly precious work.

 

The Rhine panorama of the Old Town with the Cathedral, the Roman church Groß St. Martin (Great St. Martin) and the historical Town Hall has become quite popular around the world over the years. A stroll through the narrow, cobble-stoned alleys will take you back to times long ago.

 

Or why not take a break and enjoy the lovely scenery? Or sit down in one of the traditional breweries, called "Brauhaus" in German, and savour a "Kölsch" and a good and solid German meal?

 

To get to the Old town use one of the nearby underground/tram stations: Heumarkt, Hauptbahnhof

 

 

Roman Cologne

           
Praetorium
The foundations of the residence of the city's Roman governor (1st - 4th century) were uncovered under the Rathaus (city hall). A visit is like "taking an elevator back to Roman times". From the entrance to the Kleine Budengasse, there is also access to an old sewer system, exemplifying the engineering skills of Roman builders. Opening hours: daily except on Monday 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Roman Tower
The Roman Tower is an excellent example for the Roman fortifications and formed the northwest corner of the Roman Cologne. The northwestern corner tower was build in the first century a.D.. It is also famous for its well-preserved mosaic decoration.
Römisch-Germanisches Museum
The Römisch-Germanisches Museum gives an impressive account of the history of the Romans along the Rhine. The Roman mosaic with scenes from the world of Dionysos (around 220/230 A.D.) and the reconstructed tomb of the legionary Poblicius (around 40 A.D.) are probably its best known exhibits.
Weidener Grabkammer
The Burial Chamber in the West of Cologne was a Roman family Mausoleum on the road to Aix-la-Chapelle. The two-storied burial chamber, dating from the 2nd century, contains very elaborate funishings that are still extant. It shows busts with portraits of a married couple and a young woman or for example two in limestone copied basket chairs. Open Tuesday to Thursday 10 a.m. - 1 p.m., Fridays 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.

 

Medieval Cologne


   

Romanesque Churches
Cologne is a city of churches. As in no other German city, twelve large Roman are located in the confined area within the boundaries of the mediaeval city wall. These churches rank among the most important in Western Europe: Groß St. Martin, St. Maria Lyskirchen, St. Severin, St. Kunibert, St. Gereon, St. Pantaleon, St. Maria im Kapitol, St. Aposteln, St. Andreas, St. Ursula, St. Cäcilien and St. Georg.
In the smallest and oldest remaining church in Cologne, the "Krieler Dömchen" erected around the year 900, three Carolingian memorial stones from the cemetery tell of a church that previously stood on the same site and was destroyed by the Normans. www.romanische-Kirchen-Koeln.de (German site)
City Hall, Hansasaal (city map)
The city hall was built in 1330, with the Renaissance arcade (16th century) and tower (15th century) being added later. The building complex suffered extensive damage during the Second World War and underwent reconstruction until 1972. In the foreground the canopy of the Jewish cult bath, the Mikwe (approx. 1170 A.D.).
City Gates
With the Severinstor (city map) , the Eigelsteintor (city map) and the Hahnentor (city map) , three of the total of twelve city gates from the mediaeval city fortifications (1180 - 1220) have been preserved and are still used today for various purposes. The smaller Ulrepforte (city map) and restored sections of the city walls are found along the Sachsenring circular boulevard.
Overstolzenhaus (city map)
The Romanesque patrician's house was built in the twenties of the 13th Century. A solid wall perpendicular to the road divide the house from the basement to the roof framing in two unequal parts. In the cellar this wall is dissolved by four round arches. 1843 the bourse and the Chamber of Commerce was displaced into this house. Today, the house is used by the Cologne Media College.
Old Town Houses/Fish Market (city map)
Town houses (14th - 17th centuries) in and around the Old Market Square and the Martinsviertel (historic centre) with its wonderful Romanesque church, Groß St. Martin (1151-1240), build the impressive panorama. Near the pittoreske fish market Cologne people enjoy the recreation area at the Rhine banks
Gürzenich Hall (city map)
The Guerzenich became the representative and dance hall of the citizen of Cologne (15th century). After the renovation in 1997, the Gürzenich with its varied history and dignified overall impression, provides a festive setting for stylish festivities and events ranging from a social occasion to an international congress. The name is derived from its former owner.
Zeughaus (city map)
The urban arsenal was built between 1594 and 1606 in the style of the Netherlands renaissance. The 23.6 m high stair tower on the west is one of the last one of a whole number of the especial latemedieval towers. Today the "Goldener Vogel " by the Cologne artist HA Schult is now placed up there. Formerly used as a municipal arsenal (1594-1606) the Zeughaus, now houses the Cologne City Museum.

                         

 

Modern Cologne

 

     

 

Hansahochhaus (city map)
At the time of its construction (1920), it was the tallest "skyscraper" in Europe; today it is a commercial and administration building. Among other occupants, it houses the department store with the widest selection of audio media in Europe (Saturn).

Flora/Zoo (city map)
The gardens were landscaped in 1863 according to designs by Peter Josef Lenné and Joseph Maria Olbrich. The botanical garden was added in 1914. The site, which was destroyed during the Second World War, has completely been restored, and now has a stock of plants including approx. 12 000 species. At the centre of the spacious park of the Botanical Gardens stands the historical banqueting house dating from 1864 , which has been restored according to old plans. The Cologne Zoo is located adjacent to the gardens. Starting from the Zoo one can cross over into the Rheinpark on Europe's only cable car traversing the Rhine. Former site of Germany's Federal Garden Show, the park is an oasis of flowers and bushes surrounded by open green spaces, which serves as an ideal spot to relax in fine weather.

4711 House(city map)
The New Gothic head office of the famous "Eau de Cologne" manufacturer with a carillon that chimes every hour - opposite the opera house. The number "4711" refers to the house-numbering system adopted by the French occupying power in 1795 whereall private houses were numbered sequentially from 1 - 7 404. (Glockengasse). Webcam and Homepage

Opera house/theatre(city map)
Both buildings (1957-1962) on the Offenbachplatz were built by Wilhelm Riphahn, the Cologne architect, and can accommodate 1,400 and 920 visitors respectively. Starting from 2008 the opera house will be renovated. The Cologne architect built miscellaneous edifices in his hometown as the "Bastei" near the Rhine or some dwellings in the urban area.

Exhibition halls/Rheinpark/Tanzbrunnen (city map)
The Cologne exhibition center reopened 2006 with a new look. Four new multipurpose trade fair halls have been built to replace the historic Rhineside Halls. Lying adjacent to it is the Rheinpark, a green area designed in pure 50's style for the 1957 Federal Garden Show with a sculpture park, Tanzbrunnen fountain and the Sternwellenzelt by the Architect Frei Otto, who was also responsible for Munich Olympia Stadium. The Rheinseilbahn (Rhine cable car) at the end of the park leads over to the flora, Cologne zoo and the sculpture park by the donor couple Eleonore and Michael Stoffels on the other side of the Rhine.

Ludwig Museum /Philharmonic Orchestra (city map)
The historic centre of Cologne was completely redesigned in the eighties with the construction of the museum and the Philharmonic Orchestra building. Each year more than 600,000 people can attend about 400 live concets that are held there. In addition to the "resident orchestras", the Gürzenich Orchestra and the Cologne WDR Symphony Orchestra, the principal international orchestras, ensembles and soloists also make guest appearances. The Ludwig Museum designed by the architects Peter Busmann and Godfried Haberer was opened in 1986. It is located between the Cathedral, the Rhine river and the Central Station.

WDR Arcades/Broadcasting House on Wallraff-Platz/Vierscheibenhaus(city map)
This building houses the Radio and television production studios of the largest German broadcasting station. The WDR-Arkaden are architecturally one of the most interesting buildings in Cologne. The shopping arcade was designed by Gottfried Böhm.

Park/Cinedom (city map)
The Media Park on the area of the former Gereon goods station combines media companies and cultural and leisure facilities. The photographic collection of the SK Stiftung Kultur cultural foundation and the Cologne House of literature can be found here, in addition to the Cinedom, one of the most successful German cinemas. The Köln Turm is a new landmark, housing a restaurant at an altitude of 100 metres.

Weltstadthaus (city map)
The "Weltstadthaus" designed by Italian architect Renzo piano can be seen as a whale or as a waterfall - always a question of the point of view. The building is a real masterpiece, which found its place in the city centre. The glass dome rests weightlessly on the gigantic roofridge. 4,900 square meters glass carry themselves and mediate the airiness of the building.

Rheinauhafen (city map)
The Rheinauhafen close to the old part of town and the Rhine gardens extend on a length of approximately two kilometers - into the range of the popular Cologne southern part of the town. It is a true contrast between monument-protected environment and newest technologies. The character of the old, 1898 built port of transshipment, is preserved after the change, in addition three "crane houses" are shared to great cranes. They are an extraordinary eyecatcher. The Museum of Chocolate and the German sport and Olympia museum are located in this area as well.

Cologne Triangle(city map)
The tower on the right bank of the Rhine is 103 metres high and has 29 floors and a viewing balcony from where one has a great view over Cologne, especially of the Cathedral and the Old Town. Because of its height, the Unsesco had once considered not to grant the Cathredral the title of a World Heritage Site.

 

    

 

 

 

Cologne Museums

Being an internationally renowned cultural metropolis, Cologne boasts 36 museums and far more than 100 art galleries.

 

Whether municipal, ecclesiastical, company-owned, or private museum - the wide array of displayed exhibits ranges from Roman, medieval via non-European to contemporary art.

Find an introduction of selected diverse museums here.

http://www.cologne-tourism.com/attractions-culture/museums.html