Cologne travel guide — Cologne tourism and travel information

Welcome to Cologne (Köln) Travel Guide, extensive source of tourist information and travel services offer related to Cologne and Germany. Book cheap hotels, cheap flights and get car rental. We also offer Cologne travel guide books and maps and atlases. Please visit Germany travel guide for more travel and tourism iformation and attractions in the Germany.

our Cologne travel guide — Cologne tourism and travel information content

Cologne travel and tourist guide
Cologne travel services
Cologne travel books
- Cologne travel guide books
- Cologne maps and atlases

latest Cologne and Germany discussion posts

Join our comprehensive travel discussion board! Share your Cologne and Germany travel experience! Our Ask and Answer forum is geographically divided, the team of editors world-wide is ready to answer your questions.

insert new comment or question »

Cologne travel guide

about Cologne

Cologne (German: Köln [ˈkœln]) (population 965,954 as of December 31, 2003), is the fourth largest city in Germany and largest city of the North Rhine-Westphalia state. It is one of the most important German inland ports, and considered the economic, cultural, and historic capital of the Rhineland.

Its location at the intersection of the Rhine (German Rhein) river with one of the major trade routes between eastern and western Europe was the foundation of Cologne's commercial importance. In the Middle Ages it also became an ecclesiastical center of significance and an important center of art and learning. Cologne was badly damaged during World War II.

Today, it is the seat of a university, which is renowned for its economics faculty and the archbishop and cardinal. Cologne cathedral, the largest Gothic church in northern Europe, was designated a World Heritage site in 1996; it is the city's major landmark and unofficial symbol. The city is 43% Roman Catholic, 18% Protestant and 39% other religions. Until World War II and the following stream of refugees arriving from Eastern Germany, Roman Catholicism had a wide majority in Cologne.

Cologne geography

The city covers about 405.15 km² (about 156 miles²), is located at 50° 56′33" North 06° 57′32" East and is between 37.5 and 118.04 m m above sea level.

Cologne history

Cologne is the oldest major city in Germany; it became a city in 50 A.D. It got a bishop early, and in 785 became the seat of an archbishop. The Archbishop of Cologne was one of the seven Electors of the Holy Roman Empire. He ruled a large area as a secular lord in the Middle Ages, but in 1288 he was defeated by the Cologne citizens and forced to move to Bonn. Cologne was a member of the Hanseatic League, but became a free city officially only by 1475.

Cologne lost its free status (and regained its archbishop) during the French period, and in 1815 at the Congress of Vienna was made part of the kingdom of Prussia. Cologne became an industrial city, and the cathedral, started in 1248 but abandoned in the mid-1500s, was finally finished in 1880.

During the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, Cologne incorporated numerous surrounding towns, and by the time of World War I had already grown to 600,000 inhabitants. In World War II, it was repeatedly bombed, and much of the city was in ruins. It took some time to rebuild the city, but afterward it grew again, and 1975 reached 1 million inhabitants for about one year.

Near cities to Cologne

Near webcams to Cologne

Cologne travel services

choose from our international travel services offer:

cheap flights to Cologne

City Travel Guide is exclusive partner of four main cheap airline tickets and cheap flights online booking systems. We are happy to offer cheap airline tickets Cologne, cheap flights Cologne, also available cheap airline tickets to Germany and to the whole world. Up to date cheap flights Cologne deals also available.

cheap Cologne hotels

City Travel Guide is exclusive partner of main cheap hotels and accommodation online booking systems. We are happy to offer cheap hotels in Cologne, Germany hotel guide and cheap hotels and accommodation in lot of other world-wide destinations. Up to date cheap Cologne hotel deals and discount accommodation tips also available.

cheap Cologne vacations

City Travel Guide is exclusive partner of main cheap vacations online booking systems. We are happy to offer cheap vacations in Cologne, Germany vacation rentals and cheap vacations in lot of other destinations world-wide. Up to date Cologne vacation deals also available.

cheap car rentals in Cologne

City Travel Guide is exclusive partner of main car rentals online booking systems. We are happy to offer car rentals in Cologne, car hire in Germany and cheap car rental in lot other world-wide destinations. Up to date cheap Cologne car hire deals also available.

Cologne travel insurance

City Travel Guide is exclusive partner of Essential Travel Ltd., leading online travel insurance company, we can offer you health travel insurance for Cologne, accident health Cologne travel insurance, all using our online Cologne travel insurance form. We also offer travel insurance for other cities in Germany. This offer is available for UK residents only.

Cologne real estate

City Travel Guide comes with Cologne real estate guide with several tips on home valuation, realtors comparison, secrets on finding the "right" home, loans guide and other helpful real estate advices. Our partners also maintain Cologne property for sale and rental listings, real estate laws and reviews. We will try to help you with buying property in Germany, choosing real estate agents, property finders, relocation help, and information for English speakers wanting to buy real estate in Cologne.

Cologne travel books

Cologne travel guide books

Cologne maps and atlases

This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Cologne".

Europe

North America

South America

Asia

Australia

Africa

world city travel guides

Europe city travel guide

Germany city travel guide

Cologne, Germany travel guide