Köln, Nordrhein Westfalen

 Köln (Cologne in English) can trace its roots to the Roman colony Colonia Agrippinensis. Under Charlemagne it became the seat of an archbishop and during the Middle Ages it already was one of the leading cities in Germany and a member of the Hanseatic League. During the second World War a large portion of the Altstadt was destroyed by numerous air raids. The Kölner Dom, located on the left bank of the Rhein, is a masterpiece of the High Gothic style and one of the largest cathedrals in Europe [144m long, 61m wide, towers 157m high]. In 1164 when Friedrich Barbarossa offered relics of the Magi Kings brought back from Milan to the archbishopric of Cologne, pilgrims flocked to the town. By 1248 a new cathedral was needed and thus the first Gothic church in the Rheinland came to be built, its design influenced by buildings in Picardy. Construction started in 1248 as one of the largest and grandest building projects of the Middle Ages. It remained standing incomplete since the beginning of the 16th century and was only completed 1842-1880. The bombing dammage of WWII was extensive but it was faithfully restored. In the grand interior (6166 square meter with 56 columns) you will find beautiful stained glass windows, the shrine of the three Magi (12 -13th cent.) and the famous Stefan Lochner altarpiece Adoration of the Magi (around 1440). The Domschatzkammer (cathedral treasures) are also of particular note.

The Kölner Karneval, one of the most famous in Germany, reaches its height in a large processional pageant just before Ash Wednesday. From the Thursday before Shrove Tuesday the Women's Carnival with its clown processions begins to disorganise all business life; the following Sunday each city quarter organises its own masked procession; Rosenmontag is when the fun reaches its climax with dancing, fanfare large processions etc.