Cologne Germany - Kölsch beer and carnival in Germany

Cologne Germany looks back on a long history that started in 50 A.D. whithin the borders of the Roman Empire. Today Cologne (Köln) is Germany's fourth biggest city with over a million inhabitants, situated in the state of North Rhine-Westphalia (Nordrhein-Westfalen) at the river Rhine.

In the "Fifth season" Cologne Germany and its neighbouring town Düsseldorf become the center of Germany when both cities get truely crazy and thousands of spectators line the streets to watch the parade of over 100 Cologne carnival associations. As Cologne boasts some 24 breweries, more than any other city in the world, you can imagine what's happening those days of carnival when people get the taste of the typical "Kölsch beer"...

If you like to o see more pictures of Cologne Germany and the Cologne Cathedral please klick on "PLAY" at right.

The most taken picture of Cologne Germany is the Cologne Cathedral the biggest cathedral in Germany

However, every year thousands of visitors come to see its main attraction - the magnificent twin-spired cathedral "Kölner Dom" which got the title of a World Heritage site in 1996. What many tourists don't know is the fact, that Germany's biggest cathedral was one of the few historic buildings which survived the bombs on Cologne Germany during the Second World War. So be prepared of a odd sight: a huge gothic masterpiece of the Middle Ages in the heart of a modern city, surrounded by buildings not much older than fifty years - right next to the hectic central station. But the place gets nice in christmas time when the christmas market opens just in front of the cathedral.

Once you're in Cologne thinking of a nice day trip it's a good idea to visit another World Heritage: Augustusburg Castle and park in Brühl. It's a worthwile destination just 15km away from the tourist crowds of Cologne Germany.