About Cologne in Germany

Situated on the Rhine River north of Bonn in the western Germany, Cologne is the fourth largest city in the country, after Berlin, Hamburg, and Munich. It is one of the largest European metropolitan areas with over 1.8 million residents. Cologne is the commercial, financial, industrial and cultural center of the Rhineland Region and one of Europe's important inland ports. Cologne is aslo well known for its beer.

Cologne boasts numerous museums, churches and galleries. The Cologne Cathedral is the largest church in northern Europe and a World Heritage site, which houses the relics of the Wise Men of the East and the paintings of Stephen Lochner. The Romanesque Churches are distinct examples of medieval sacral architecture. Fragrance-Museum Farina House is the birthplace of Eau de Cologne. The Schokoladen Museum is devoted solely to the process of chocolate making and methods. Cologne University is one of Europe's oldest universities and world famous for its subjects of economics and computer science. Other historic buildings include St. Maria im Kapitol, St. Gereon, the Holy Apostles, and St. Andreas, which are the Romanesque churches. The Gothic and Renaissance city hall was formerly a meeting venue of the merchants. The Opera House is regarded as one of the masterpieces in modern architecture.