The St. Gereon's Basilica is said to be the most beautiful medieval church in Cologne. Though the structure was mentioned in records dating back to 612, the church as seen today was built between 1151 and 1227. St. Gereon's Basilica is known for a unique architectural style where the nave is topped by a decagonal oval dome. The church was dedicated to St Gereon at a later date in June 1920. Archaeological evidence has suggested the existence of an earlier church dating back to the fourth century. The original site was supposedly referred to as Ad Sanctos Aureos i.e. the church of the Golden Saints.
Described by UNESCO as a masterpiece of Gothic architecture, the Cologne Cathedral or the Kölner Dom is an awe-inspiring world heritage site. The construction of this Gothic cathedral started in 1248 and took 632 years to complete. When the church was finally completed in 1880, it was one of the world's tallest buildings. The Dom stands an imposing 157 meters (505 feet) high and while climbing one of the towers may be quite an endeavor, the view from the top is definitely worth the effort. Located within the cathedral is the Treasure Chamber, which is home to significant religious artifacts, including the hooked staff of Saint Peter. The Cologne Cathedral is a well-known historic landmark that can't be missed.
In the mid-19th Century, there was a bridge connecting the two banks of the Rhein near the Kölner Dom. This bridge was jokingly known to the inhabitants of the city as the Muusfall - the Mousetrap. At the beginning of the 20th Century, it had to give way to the Hohenzollern Bridge, a half-timbered arch bridge that was designed to carry the railway. Although the bridge was destroyed in 1945 during the last few days of World War II, it was later rebuilt and is most notable for the thousands of 'love padlocks' that adorn the railings. One of the most photographed landmarks in Cologne, the arches of the bridge light up the night in a beautiful sight to behold.
The Kölner Philharmonie was built in the 1980s and ranks among the most important concert halls in Germany. The Kölner Philharmonie has performances ranging from symphonies, chamber music, jazz, as well as folk and pop music. Orchestras and soloists from around the world have performed here. There is a concert nearly every day, sometimes two. The Kölner Philharmonie has excellent acoustics and the large circular hall ensures that every seat has a great view.
It was Napoleon himself who in 1800 ordered that all burials should take place outside the city walls - in accordance with the burial traditions of Ancient Rome. As a result of this, the new central cemetery, Melaten-Friedhof, was opened on the site of a disused house a decade later. The cemetery contains numerous old trees which are home to all kinds of bird life, and between the trees lie two centuries-worth of graves and tombs, including many of the city's best known inhabitants.
The Rheinpark was established in 1913 and today is a beloved attraction for the citizens of Cologne. The park has several features such as the Claudius-Therme, an exclusive thermal bath, or a play area for the children. The Rheinpark was used as the venue for the national garden show and representative traces of this event remain even today. Sculptures and plastics are on view as you stroll around. The Tanzbrunnen, which is also a part of the garden also entices you with many open-air events and concerts.
The famous Kreuzbergkirche is located on Stationsweg in Poppelsdorf. A place of pilgrimage stood on the site before the Elector Ferdinand allowed the Baroque church to be built there in 1627. The entry-way was first added under Elector Clemens August. The well known builder Balthasar Neumann designed the splendid stone steps which lead to the altar. The church was renovated for around two million Marks in the middle of the nineties, and the partly lost original decoration from 1750 was restored.
The Kletterwald Bonn is a great way to spend a day with the family or friends, challenging yourself and generally having fun in the outdoor. With four courses of varying degrees of difficulty, it's a great way to enjoy nature within easy access to the city. Kids will especially enjoy the Children's course with plenty of fun activities to keep them occupied, one of the most popular being riding the Bobby car over a wobbly bridge will probably make them shout with excitement. The Kletterwald Bonn has special holiday hours and is open from 12.00pm to 8.00pm everyday. Why not make the most of your entrance card? After an exciting day exploring the courses, you can even relax at the Hallen-Freibad Hardtbergbad beach. The price is included in your ticket. For details, visit the website.
The Beck & Eggeling was built in 1994 by Dr.Ute Eggeling and Michael Beck. The art displayed at Beck & Eggeling focuses on Expressionism by artists from the 19th and 20th Century. The gallery also hosts a variety of exhibitions which emphasize on German art development. Artist like Pierre-Auguste Renoir, August Macke, Hermann Max Pechstein have been among the ones who has displayed their notable work at Beck & Eggeling. The gallery also focuses on encouraging young artists and emerging talents not just in Germany but around the globe.
Founded in 1987, Mahn- und Gedenkstätte honors the memory of victims in Düsseldorf during the Nazi regime. The building in the Old Town used to be a prison for political prisoners before being taken over by the German Army in 1934. Besides hosting temporary exhibitions on a variety of topics, the memorial contains a permanent exhibition, entitled Persecution & Resistance.
Along with the Bonner Kunstverein and the Society for Art and Design, the Künstlerforum, which was founded in 1987, is also a part of the art square on the Hochstadenring. It's not only Bonn artists who present their work but international artists also present paintings, sculptures and other projects. If you want an insight into the contemporary art scene then you shouldn't miss out on a visit to the Künstlerforum.
The "Seven Mountains" are located to the east of Bonn, on the right side of the Rhine. From more than 40 hills, these seven are easy to recognize. All the hills are remains of the Siebengebirge volcano, which formed the shape of this area about more than 20 million years ago. The highest mountain in this range is the Große Ölberg, with the TV mast at its summit, but the best known mountain is the Petersberg on whose summit the former guest house of the government is located. Just as well known is the Drachenfels, which is a popular day trip. In addition, the Wolkenburg, Löwenburg, Lohrberg, Nonnenstromberg, Perlenhardt, and the Stenzelberg also belong to the Siebengebirge mountain range.