History of Cologne
 Cologne in 1945, just after World War II bombings. |
Cologne (German: Köln) is the largest city in the Rhineland region of Germany, with a population of about 1 million. It is located 27km (17 miles) N of Bonn and 188km (117 miles) NW of Frankfurt. Cologne's population is 43% Roman Catholic, 18% Protestant and 39% nonreligious or other.
Cologne is especially known for its magnificent Gothic cathedral, which was once the tallest building in the world. But Cologne is also so rich in antiquity that every time a new foundation is dug, the excavators come up with archaeological finds.
Extensive bombing during World War II seriously damaged nearly all the buildings of the Old Town, but the cloud had a silver lining – reconstruction revealed a period of Cologne's history that had been a mystery for centuries.
Cologne traces its beginnings to 38 BC, when Roman legions set up camp here. As early as 50 AD, the emperor Claudius gave it municipal rights as capital of a Roman province and named the city Colonia Claudia Ara Agrippinensis. In the early Christian era, a number of saints were martyred here, including the patron of the city, St. Ursula (383 AD).
Cologne had a Christian bishop as early as 313 AD, and in 785 became the seat of an archbishop. The Archbishop of Cologne was one of the electors of the Holy Roman Empire and became very powerful. In 1164, Archbishop Rainald von Dassel brought the relics of the Three Magi to the city, making it a major pilgrimage destination. During the Middle Ages, as Cologne became a center for international trade, Romanesque and Gothic churches were built with prosperous merchants' gold.
Today, Cologne is a bustling modern city with much to see, from ancient Roman artifacts to magnificent churches. Cologne also has 31 museums, with exhibits ranging from archeological findings to contemporary art. Most recently, Cologne was the home of the 2005 World Youth Festival, attended by German native Pope Benedict XVI.
Text sources: Frommer's Germany 2005 and CIA World Factbook. Photo under Creative Commons.
