Attractions of Cologne - Discover all the Old Town with the famous Cologne Cathedral

That town 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 and its neighbouring town Düsseldorfget truely crazy and thousands of spectators line the streets to watch the parade of over 100 carnival associations. As it 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"...

Attractions Cologne: the famous Cathedral is the biggest cathedral in Germany

However, every year thousands of visitors come to see the main attraction of Cologne - 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 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 here thinking of a nice day trip it's a good idea to visit another World Heritage attraction near Cologne: Augustusburg Castle and park in Brühl. It's a worthwile destination just 15km away from the tourist crowds of Cologne Germany.

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