Cologne is the fourth biggest city in Germany, located on the Rhine River in North Rhine-Westphalia. It has a population of around one million people. It is one of the nation’s media, tourist, and business hubs, as well as one of Germany’s most liberal cities.
Cologne has a rich history dating back to the ancient Roman Empire, when it was built, and has been a continuously populated major regional center since then. In comparison to other German and European cities, ancient and medieval Cologne was relatively large, covering most of the modern-day city center, and as a result, a wealth of architectural heritage can be found throughout the city, ranging from pre-Christian times to strikingly modern buildings, with a high concentration of Romanesque and Gothic architecture culminating in the magnificent Cathedral (Dom).
Cologne, on the other hand, is not simply a tourist attraction, but also a major economic center, a worldwide significant trade fair venue, a cultural and media hotspot, and a key transit hub. This equal mix of duties and responsibilities permeates the city, bringing in a steady influx of tourists as well as a fairly diversified demographic mix. All of this culminates in the annual Karneval, which makes Cologne one of Germany’s most popular tourist attractions.