Information on Cologne
FEICA Annual Conference & General Assembly 1998
24-25 September 1998, Cologne, Germany
Cologne is the oldest of the major German cities. Its name goes back to the Romans, who gave their city the name of Colonia in 50 AD. To experience. Marked by 2,000 years of history from the Romans to the present was Cologne an important Hanseatic city far back in the Middle Ages, it was the destination of millions of traders, pilgrims and tourists; nothing has changed since then. The roman also brought Christianity to Cologne and it quickly became a diocesan town. The city’s landmark is the Gothic cathedral, which, in 1998, will be the focal point of the "Gothic Year of Cologne". The cause for celebration is the 750th anniversary of the laying of the cathedral’s foundation stone in 1248. Cologne’s unique churches, the remains of its city walls and numerous civic buildings (town hall, Gürzenich, Overstolzenhaus and many more) as well as countless works of art are living proof of the riches and the devoutness of Hilligen Köln (Holy Cologne).
As a matter of fact: Cologne is always celebrating, and not only its Carnival – Cologne’s "fifth season" - world famous for being a colourful, joyous celebration that annually attracts around one million visitors into the city.
Through the history, a great deal has happened in the largest city on the Rhine, metropolis of art and culture, a central location for shopping, leisure, sport and business, a media and trade fair centre.
Rembrandt and Andy Warhol are regular features of the Cologne cultural scene with around 30 museums (for example the Wallraf-Richartz-Museum, the Roman-Germanic-Museum, the Schnütgen-Museum and the Imhoff-Stollwerck Museum (chocolate museum) around 120 art galleries and numerous music, theatre, and opera halls. A broad programme await the music-lover at Cologne’s Philharmonic, the new subterranean concert hall under the Cathedral Hill accommodating 2,000 guests.
Unique in the world: A city has got its own beer. "Kölsch", after the Kölsch-Konvention, is only allowed to be brewed in the cologne area. At the moment 24 breweries are producing Kölsch. Kölsch is a top fermented beer as, for example, "Alt" or "Weizenbier" (wheat beer).
For further info, visit the official home-page of Cologne.