Cologne is situated along the Rhine River on the western side of Germany and is the country’s fourth largest city. The people of Cologne have a distinct pride in their city.

The city is famous for its grandiose Cologne Cathedral. Climb up the tower to where you will find the most spectacular view of the city and the Rhine River. Don’t leave the city without taking a boat tour down the Rhine River! Legend has it that in 1164 the archbishop of Cologne brought the bones of the three wise men to the church. It was thought that the church was too small which led to the grand church that stands there today. A shrine which houses these bones sits in the Cologne Cathedral.

Cologne is sometimes better known as a generic term for fragrance but the history of ‘cologne’ started right in this very city. In 1709 an Italian perfumer by the name of Giovanni Maria Farina moved to Cologne and made a fragrance that reminded him of the scent of the mountains and the flowers after a spring rain in Italy. He named this comforting fragrance after his new hometown, Cologne. Today you can visit the oldest fragrance factory on Obenmarspforten Street. You need not be in Cologne to experience the beauty and the diversity of its name because today, Eau de Cologne can be enjoyed by nearly anyone, anywhere in the world for this is what we know today as ‘eau de cologne.’ What better place to experience the beauty of Cologne than in the museum of this ancient essence.

Cologne is home to a thriving arts scene and is also well known for its cultural center with more than 30 museums and hundreds of galleries. There are many events that take place such as the Cologne Carnival which occupies the streets and spills over into the local bars and clubs. The Cologne Comedy Festival is also held in the city and is the largest festival of its kind in Europe.

There are many zoned cycling areas in Germany. Contrary to what one may think, German lifestyle consists of many outdoor activities such as cycling, walking and backpacking. So strap on your helmet, grab a map and enjoy the paved trails to experience Cologne on two wheels. In fact, Cologne has a unique system called “Call a Bike” whereby you can rent a bike at one of the city’s bike stations and pay by the minute by simply entering your credit card information and off you go.

After your cycling tour you may like to reward yourself with a glass of German brew. Cologne is well known for its top-fermented beer called Kölsch. This light coloured, hoppy tasting beer has been enjoyed in Cologne since 1906 and was officially given the Kölsch name in 1918. Stop in at one of the many ‘bier stubas’ to enjoy a cold one. The official unit of currency in Cologne is the Euro which is divided into 100 cents. ATMs are available most everywhere and major credit cards are accepted. The climate of Cologne in north-western Germany is considered mild and temperate. The hottest time of the year is in July and the coldest is February. It rarely snows in this region. June is the month with the most precipitation. Cologne has hot sunny, summer weather and averages 20°C from May to September. In the winter it is relatively cold with temperatures dipping to 5°C or freezing. Cologne/Bonn Airport is an international airport located in the Wahner Heide nature reserve which is 15 km southeast of Cologne city centre and 16 km northeast of Bonn.

Düsseldorf International Airport (DUS) is about a 40 minute train ride from Cologne.

Frankfurt am Rhein Main International Airport (FRA) is the largest airport in Germany. Inter City Express high speed trains link Frankfurt Airport and Cologne central station and it takes less then one hour. Cologne operates at 220 volts, 50Hz. The official language in Cologne is German of course, but it is very easy to find information in French and English. As you get further away from the main cities in Germany you will find that English is less and less understood and that regardless of where you may be the older generations speak very limited to no English at all. A typical flight between Toronto or Montreal and Cologne would have a flying time of about 7 ¾ hours. Flying from Calgary would take approximately 9 ¼ hours and from Vancouver about 10 hours. The closest Consulate of Canada to Cologne is in Dusseldorf, Germany.
Address: Benrather Strasse 8
D-40213 Dusseldorf, Germany
Tel: (011 49 211) 17 21 70
Fax: (011 49 211) 35 91 65
Web Site: www.Germany.gc.ca
Email: ddorf@international.gc.ca GMT +1 (GMT +2 between the last Sunday in March and the last Sunday in October).