Destination: GERMANY
Things To Know

Old Town
Cafés and Taverns
Karneval and Concerts
Eau de Cologne
Crazy Days
Old Town

Cologne's Old Town (Altstadt) forms a vast semicircle on the west bank of the Rhine (Rhein) river, hemmed in by the Ring, a long boulevard that changes names along its route. It extends along the line of the former city fortifications and passes the old city gates of Eigelseintor, Hahnentor and St. Severinstor. Within this area, the Cathedral (Dom) is the main attraction and, in fact, the most visited monument in Germany. The railroad station and a group of major museums are within easy reach of it.

The Gothic-Renaissance Town Hall (Rathaus) stands at the heart of the Old Town, just south of the Old Market Square; to the east, toward the river, is the 12th-century church of Gross St. Martin, one of 12 wonderful pre-Gothic churches still standing in the city. These sights form the old core. Head across the river via the bridges Deutzer Brücke or Hohenzollern Brücke for a look back at an unrivaled view of historic Cologne.

COUNTRY
Germany
REGION

CITIES
Berlin
Cologne
  Things To Know
  Sights
  Essential Info
  Features
Munich
MAPS
World
Europe
TRAVEL BOOK