View source for Cologne

{{Short description|Largest city in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany}}
{{Redirect|Köln|other uses|Köln (disambiguation)|and|Cologne (disambiguation)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2023}}
{{Infobox German place
| name               = Cologne
| German_name        = {{native name|de|Köln}}<br />{{native name|ksh|Kölle}}
| type               = City
| image_skyline      = {{multiple image
  | total_width            = 280
  | border                 = infobox
  | perrow                 = 1/2/2
  | caption_align          = center
  | image1                 = Kranhäuser Cologne, April 2018 -01.jpg
  | alt1                   = Kranhaus
  | caption1               = View of Cologne with the [[Kranhaus|Kranhäuser]], [[Cologne Cathedral]], [[Great St. Martin Church]] and the [[Rhine]]
  | image2                 = Kölner Dom und Hohenzollernbrücke Abenddämmerung (9706 7 8).jpg
  | alt2                   = Cathedral and Bridge
  | caption2               = [[Cologne Cathedral]] and [[Hohenzollern Bridge]]
  | image3                 = St. Gereon Köln - Dekagon-9702.jpg
  | alt3                   = Decagon of a church
  | caption3               = Decagon of [[St. Gereon's Basilica, Cologne|St Gereon's Basilica]]
  | image4                 = Flora - Köln.jpg
  | alt4                   = Botanical Garden
  | caption4               = [[Flora Botanical Garden]]
  | image5                 = St Kunibert Koeln b.jpg
  | alt5                   = St Cunibert's Basilica
  | caption5               = [[Basilica of St. Cunibert, Cologne|Basilica of St. Cunibert]]
  }}
| image_coa          = DEU Koeln COA.svg
| image_flag         = Flagge Köln.svg
| image_plan         = North rhine w K.svg
| plantext           = Cologne within North Rhine-Westphalia
| coordinates        = {{coord|50|56|11|N|6|57|10|E|format=dms|region:DE-NW_type:city(1,100,000)|display=inline,title}}
| state              = Nordrhein-Westfalen
| region             = [[Cologne (region)|Cologne]]
| district           = urban
| elevation          = 37
| area               = 405.15
| pop_metro          = 8,711,712 ([[Rhineland]])
| pop_urban          = 3500000 ([[Cologne Bonn Region|Cologne Bonn]])
| postal_code        = 50441–51149
| area_code          = 0221, 02203 ([[Porz]])
| licence            = K
| Gemeindeschlüssel  = 05 3 15 000
| mayor              = [[Torsten Burmester]]<ref>[https://www.wahlergebnisse.nrw/kommunalwahlen/2025/aktuell/b315000kw2500.shtml Wahlergebnisse in NRW Kommunalwahlen 2025], Land Nordrhein-Westfalen, accessed 7 November 2025.</ref>
| leader_term        = 2025&ndash;30
| Bürgermeistertitel = Lord Mayor
| party              = SPD
| website            = {{URL|https://www.stadt-koeln.de|stadt-koeln.de}}
| year               = 38&nbsp;BC
}}

'''Cologne''' ({{IPAc-en|k|ə|ˈ|l|oʊ|n|audio=Cologne.ogg}} {{respell|kə|LOHN}}; {{langx|de|link=no|Köln}} {{IPA|de|kœln||De-Köln3.ogg}}; {{langx|ksh|Kölle}} {{IPA|ksh|ˈkœ̂lə||Koelle.ogg}}) is the [[List of cities in Germany by population|fourth-most populous city]] of [[Germany]] and the largest city of the [[States of Germany|German state]] of [[North Rhine-Westphalia]] with nearly 1.1&nbsp;million inhabitants in the city proper and over 3.1 million people in the [[Cologne Bonn Region|Cologne Bonn urban region]]. Cologne is also part of the [[Rhine-Ruhr metropolitan region]], the [[List of EU metropolitan regions by GDP#2021 ranking of top four German metropolitan regions|second biggest metropolitan region by GDP]] in the [[European Union]]. Centered on the [[left bank of the Rhine|left (west) bank of the Rhine]], Cologne is located on the River [[Rhine]] ([[Lower Rhine]]), about {{conv|35|km|mi}} southeast of the North Rhine-Westphalia state capital [[Düsseldorf]] and {{conv|22|km|mi}} northwest of [[Bonn]], the former capital of [[West Germany]].

The city's medieval [[Cologne Cathedral]] ({{lang|de|Kölner Dom}}) was the [[History of the world's tallest buildings#Churches and cathedrals: Tallest buildings between the 13th and 20th century|world's tallest building]] from 1880 to 1890 and is today the [[List of tallest church buildings|third-tallest church and tallest cathedral in the world]]. It was constructed to house the [[Shrine of the Three Kings]] and is a globally recognized landmark and one of the most visited sights and pilgrimage destinations in Europe. The cityscape is further shaped by the [[Twelve Romanesque churches of Cologne]]. Cologne is famous for [[Eau de Cologne]], which has been produced in the city since 1709; "cologne" has since come to be a generic term.

Cologne was founded and established in Germanic [[Ubii]] territory in the 1st century AD as the Roman {{lang|la|[[Colonia Claudia Ara Agrippinensium|Colonia Agrippina]]}}, hence its name.<ref name="Cologne History">{{cite web |title= From Ubii village to metropolis |url= http://www.koeln.de/cologne_tourist_information/history/from_ubii_village_metropolis |publisher= City of Cologne |archive-date= 17 April 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120417171004/http://www.koeln.de/cologne_tourist_information/history/from_ubii_village_metropolis}}</ref> {{lang|la|Agrippina}} was later dropped (except in Latin), and {{lang|la|Colonia}} became the name of the city in its own right, which developed into modern German as {{lang|de|Köln}}. {{lang|fr|Cologne}}, the French version of the city's name, has become standard in English as well. Cologne functioned as the capital of the Roman province of {{lang|la|[[Germania Inferior]]}} and as the headquarters of the Roman military in the region until occupied by the [[Ripuarian Franks|Franks]] in 462. During the [[Middle Ages]] the city flourished as being located on one of the most important major [[trade routes]] between eastern and western Europe (including the [[Brabant Road]], [[Via Regia]] and Publica). Cologne was a [[free imperial city]] of the [[Holy Roman Empire]] and one of the major members of the trade union [[Hanseatic League]]. It was one of the largest European cities in medieval and renaissance times.

Prior to [[World War II]], the city had undergone occupations by the French (1794–1815) and the British (1918–1926), and was part of [[Prussia]] beginning in 1815. Cologne was one of the most [[Bombing of Cologne in World War II|heavily bombed]] cities in Germany during World War&nbsp;II.<ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1945/1945%20-%201571.html|title= bomber command – mines laid – flight august – 1946 – 1571 – Flight Archive|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20190704161459/https://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1945/1945%20-%201571.html|archive-date= 4 July 2019}}</ref> The bombing reduced the population by 93% mainly due to evacuation, and destroyed around 80% of the millennia-old city center. The post-war rebuilding has resulted in a mixed cityscape, restoring most major historic landmarks like city gates and churches (31 of them being [[Förderverein Romanische Kirchen Köln|Romanesque]]). The city nowadays consists of around 25% pre World War II buildings and boasts around 9,000 historic buildings.<ref name="zensus2011_de">{{cite web |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240624010059/https://zensus2011.de/SharedDocs/Downloads/DE/Publikationen/Aufsaetze_Archiv/2015_12_NI_GWZ_endgueltig.pdf?__blob=publicationFile&v=4 | title=Zensus 2011 |publisher=Statistische Landesämter |format=PDF |access-date=8 September 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.offenedaten-koeln.de/anfragen/denkmalliste |title=Denkmalliste |language=de |trans-title=List of monuments |website=Offene Daten Köln |access-date=28 December 2023}}</ref>

Cologne is a major cultural center for the [[Rhineland]]; it hosts more than 30 museums and hundreds of galleries. There are many institutions of higher education, most notably the [[University of Cologne]], one of Europe's oldest and largest universities;<ref name="Cologneeconomy">{{cite web |title= Economy |url= http://www.koeln.de/cologne_tourist_information/economy |publisher= KölnTourismus |access-date= 18 April 2011 |archive-date= 1 August 2010 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20100801110519/http://www.koeln.de/cologne_tourist_information/economy |url-status= dead }}</ref> the [[Technical University of Cologne]], Germany's largest university of applied sciences; and the [[German Sport University Cologne]]. It hosts three [[Max Planck Society|Max Planck science institutes]] and is a major research hub for the aerospace industry, with the [[German Aerospace Center]] and the [[European Astronaut Centre]] headquarters. [[Lufthansa]], Europe's largest airline,<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.worldatlas.com/articles/which-are-the-largest-airlines-in-europe.html|title=The Largest Airlines in Europe |last=Pariona |first=Amber |website=WorldAtlas |date=25 April 2017 |access-date=29 August 2019 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210415060311/https://www.worldatlas.com/articles/which-are-the-largest-airlines-in-europe.html |archive-date=15 April 2021}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/lufthansa-traffic-idUSL8N1OK2LR |url-status=live |title=Lufthansa regains place as Europe's biggest airline from Ryanair |date=10 January 2018 |work=Reuters |access-date=29 August 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201205062816/https://www.reuters.com/article/lufthansa-traffic-idUSL8N1OK2LR |archive-date=5 December 2020}}</ref> have their main corporate headquarters in Cologne. It also has a significant chemical and automobile industry. [[Cologne Bonn Airport]] is a regional hub, the main airport for the region being [[Düsseldorf Airport]]. The [[Cologne Trade Fair]] hosts a number of [[trade show]]s.

==History==
{{Main|History of Cologne|Colonia Claudia Ara Agrippinensium|Colonial history of the city of Cologne}}
{{for timeline|Timeline of Cologne}}

===Roman Cologne===
[[File:Wall painting with Dionysian scenes from a luxurious Roman villa excavated to the south of the cathedral, Romisch-Germanisches Museum, Cologne (8119154487).jpg|thumb|Fresco with [[Dionysian Mysteries|Dionysian scenes]] from a Roman villa of Cologne, Germany (site of the ancient city Colonia Claudia Ara Agrippinensium), 3rd century AD, [[Romano-Germanic Museum]]]]

The first urban settlement on the grounds of modern-day Cologne was ''Oppidum Ubiorum'', founded in 38&nbsp;BC by the [[Ubii]], a [[Germani cisrhenani|Cisrhenian]] [[Germanic peoples|Germanic tribe]]. In AD 50, the Romans founded [[Colonia Claudia Ara Agrippinensium]] (Cologne) on the river Rhine,<ref name="Cologne History"/><ref name="Facts and figures"/> a [[Colonia (Roman)|colonia]] which was named after Emperor [[Claudius]] and his wife, who was born here, [[Agrippina the Younger]]. In 85, the city became the provincial capital of [[Germania Inferior]].<ref name="Facts and figures">{{cite web|title=Facts and figures|url=https://www.cologne.de/facts-and-figures.html|publisher=City of Cologne|access-date=3 May 2019|archive-date=3 May 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190503194348/https://www.cologne.de/facts-and-figures.html|url-status=live}}</ref> It was also known as {{lang|la|Augusta Ubiorum}}.<ref>{{cite book |first=Benjamin E. |last=Smith |contribution=Augusta Ubiorum |title=The Century Cyclopedia of Names |location=New York |publisher=Century Co. |year=1895 |volume=1 |edition=2nd |oclc=237135281 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=RXZFAQAAMAAJ&pg=PA96 |page=96 }}</ref> Considerable Roman remains can be found in present-day Cologne, especially near the wharf area, where a 1,900-year-old Roman boat was discovered in late 2007.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.megalithic.co.uk/article.php?sid=18208 |title= Cologne Wharf - Ancient Mine, Quarry or other Industry in Germany in North Rhine-Westphalia | first = C. Michael | last = Hogan | editor-first = Andy | editor-last = Burnham | date = 17 December 2007 | work = The Megalithic Portal | archive-date=21 September 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110921060011/http://www.megalithic.co.uk/article.php?sid=18208 |url-status=live }}</ref> From 260 to 271, Cologne was the capital of the [[Gallic Empire]] under [[Postumus]], [[Marcus Aurelius Marius|Marius]], and [[Victorinus]]. In 310, under emperor [[Constantine I (emperor)|Constantine I]], a bridge was built over the Rhine at Cologne. Roman imperial governors resided in the city and it became one of the most important trade and production centers in the Roman Empire north of the Alps.<ref name="Cologne History"/> Cologne is shown on the 4th century [[Peutinger Map]].

Maternus, who was elected as bishop in 313, was the first known bishop of Cologne. The city was the capital of a Roman province until it was occupied by the [[Ripuarian Franks]] in 462. Parts of the original Roman sewers are preserved underneath the city, with the [[Cologne sewerage system|new sewerage system]] having opened in 1890.

After the destruction of the [[Second Temple]] in the [[Siege of Jerusalem (70 CE)|Siege of Jerusalem]] and the associated [[Jewish diaspora|dispersion (diaspora) of the Jews]], there is evidence of a Jewish community in Cologne. In 321, Emperor Constantine approved the settlement of a Jewish community with all the freedoms of Roman citizens. It is assumed that it was located near the Marspforte within the city wall. The Edict of Constantine to the Jews is the oldest documented evidence in Germany.<ref>{{citation | first = Werner | last = Eck | title = Köln in römischer Zeit: Geschichte einer Stadt im Rahmen des Imperium Romanum | series = Geschichte der Stadt Köln in 13 Bänden | volume = 1 | publisher = Greven | location = Cologne | date = 2004 | pages = 325 ff | isbn = 3-7743-0357-6 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=German Jewish culture through the ages – DW – 02/19/2021 |url=https://www.dw.com/en/celebrating-1700-years-of-jewish-life-in-germany/a-56131698 |access-date=2 August 2023 |website=dw.com |language=en}}</ref>

===Middle Ages===
Early medieval Cologne was part of [[Austrasia]] within the [[Frankish Empire]]. Cunibert, made bishop of Cologne in 623, was an important advisor to the Merovingian King Dagobert I and served with domesticus Pepin of Landen as tutor to the king's son and heir Siegebert III, the future king of Austrasia. In 716, [[Charles Martel]] commanded an army for the first time and suffered the only defeat of his life when [[Chilperic II]], King of [[Neustria]], invaded Austrasia and the city fell to him in the [[Battle of Cologne]]. Charles fled to the [[Eifel]] mountains, rallied supporters and took the city back that same year after defeating Chilperic in the [[Battle of Amblève]]. Cologne had been the seat of a bishop since the Roman period; under [[Charlemagne]], in 795, bishop [[Hildebold of Cologne|Hildebold]] was promoted to [[archbishop]].<ref name="Cologne History"/> In the 843 [[Treaty of Verdun]] Cologne fell into the dominion of [[Lothair I]]'s [[Middle Francia]] – later called [[Lotharingia]] ([[Lower Lorraine]]).

In 953, the archbishops of Cologne first gained noteworthy secular power when bishop [[Bruno I, Archbishop of Cologne|Bruno]] was appointed as duke by his brother [[Otto I, Holy Roman Emperor|Otto I]], [[Kingdom of Germany|King of Germany]].<ref name="Morley-1856">{{Cite book |last=Morley |first=Henry |url=http://archive.org/details/corneliusagripp03morlgoog |title=Cornelius Agrippa: The Life of Henry Cornelius Agrippa Von Nettesheim |date=1856 |publisher=Chapman and Hall |others=New York Public Library |pages=4–6 |language=English |chapter=Born in Cologne}}</ref> In order to weaken the secular nobility, who threatened his power, Otto endowed Bruno and his archiepiscopal successors with the prerogatives of secular princes, thus establishing the [[Electorate of Cologne]], formed by the temporal possessions of the archbishopric and included in the end a strip of territory along the left Bank of the Rhine east of [[Jülich]], as well as the [[Duchy of Westphalia]] on the other side of the Rhine, beyond [[Berg (state)|Berg]] and [[County of Mark|Mark]]. By the end of the 12th century, the Archbishop of Cologne was one of the seven electors of the Holy Roman Emperor. Besides being prince elector, he was [[Archchancellor]] of Italy as well, technically from 1238 and permanently from 1263 until 1803.

Following the [[Battle of Worringen]] in 1288, Cologne gained its independence from the archbishops and became a [[Free Imperial City|Free City]]. Archbishop [[Sigfried II von Westerburg]] was forced to reside in [[Bonn]].<ref name="Catholic Encyclopedia">Harry de Quetteville. "[http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/04116a.htm History of Cologne] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110805024052/http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/04116a.htm |date=5 August 2011 }}". ''The Catholic Encyclopedia'', 28 November 2009.</ref> The archbishop nevertheless preserved the right of capital punishment. Thus the municipal council (though in strict political opposition towards the archbishop) depended upon him in all matters concerning criminal justice. This included torture, the sentence for which was only allowed to be handed down by the episcopal judge known as the greve. This legal situation lasted until the French conquest of Cologne.{{citation needed|date=September 2013}}

Besides its economic and political significance Cologne also became an important centre of medieval pilgrimage, when Cologne's archbishop, [[Rainald of Dassel]], gave the relics of the [[Three Wise Men]] to Cologne's cathedral in 1164 (after they had been taken from [[Milan]]). Besides the three magi Cologne preserves the relics of [[Saint Ursula]] and [[Albertus Magnus]].<ref>Joseph P. Huffman, ''Family, Commerce, and Religion in London and Cologne'' (1998) covers from 1000 to 1300.</ref>

Cologne's location on the river Rhine placed it at the intersection of the major [[trade route]]s between east and west as well as the main south–north Western Europe trade route, Venice to Netherlands; even by the mid-10th century, merchants in the town were already known for their prosperity and luxurious standard of living due to the availability of trade opportunities.<ref name="Morley-1856" /> The intersection of these trade routes was the basis of Cologne's growth. By the end of the 12th century, Archbishop [[Phillip von Heinsberg]] enclosed the entire city with [[Defensive wall|walls]].<ref name="Morley-1856" /> By 1300 the city population was 50,000–55,000.<ref>''The Population of European Cities'', Bairoch</ref> Cologne was a member of the [[Hanseatic League]] in 1475, when [[Frederick III, Holy Roman Emperor|Frederick III]] confirmed the city's imperial immediacy.<ref name="Cologne History"/> Cologne was so influential in regional commerce that its systems of weights and measurements (e.g. the [[Cologne mark]]) were used throughout Europe.<ref name="Morley-1856" />

[[File:Cologn1411.jpg|thumb|upright=2.5|center|Cologne {{Circa|1411|lk=no}}]]

===Early modern history===
[[File:Panorama Köln.jpg|thumb|Panorama of Cologne in 1531]]
[[File:Dankaerts-Historis-9364.tif|thumb|Attack on [[Deutz, Cologne|Deutz]] by the [[Swedish intervention in the Thirty Years' War|Swedish army]] during the [[Thirty Years' War]] in 1632]]
[[File:Rekonstruktion der Stadt Köln im 17. Jahrhundert.webm|thumb|Reconstruction of Cologne in the 17th century (German, English subtitles available)]]
The economic structures of medieval and early modern Cologne were characterised by the city's status as a major harbour and transport hub on the Rhine. Craftsmanship was organised by self-administering guilds, some of which were exclusive to women.

As a [[free imperial city]], Cologne was a self-ruling state within the [[Holy Roman Empire]], an [[imperial estate]] with seat and vote at the [[Imperial Diet (Holy Roman Empire)|Imperial Diet]], and as such had the right (and obligation) to contribute to the defense of the Empire and maintain its own military force. As they wore a red uniform, these troops were known as the ''Rote Funken'' (red sparks). These soldiers were part of the Army of the Holy Roman Empire ("Reichskontingent"). They fought in the wars of the 17th and 18th century, including the wars against revolutionary France in which the small force was almost completely wiped out in combat. The tradition of these troops is preserved as a military persiflage by Cologne's most outstanding carnival society, the ''Rote Funken''.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.rote-funken.de/ |title=Rote Funken – Kölsche Funke rut-wieß vun 1823 e.V. – Rote Funken Koeln |publisher=Rote-funken.de |access-date=5 May 2009 |archive-date=12 April 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090412051505/http://www.rote-funken.de/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

The Free Imperial City of Cologne must not be confused with the [[Electorate of Cologne]], which was a state of its own within the Holy Roman Empire. Since the second half of the 16th century, the majority of archbishops were drawn from the Bavarian [[House of Wittelsbach|Wittelsbach dynasty]]. Due to the free status of Cologne, the archbishops were usually not allowed to enter the city. Thus they took up residence in [[Bonn]] and later in [[Brühl, North Rhine-Westphalia|Brühl]] on the Rhine. As members of an influential and powerful family, and supported by their outstanding status as [[Prince-elector|electors]], the archbishops of Cologne repeatedly challenged and threatened the free status of Cologne during the 17th and 18th centuries, resulting in complicated affairs, which were handled by diplomatic means and propaganda as well as by the supreme courts of the Holy Roman Empire.

===From the 19th century until World War I===

[[File:Hängebrücke - Köln (1).tif|thumb|Deutzer Suspension bridge]]
Cologne lost its status as a [[Free Imperial City|free city]] during the French period. According to the [[Treaty of Lunéville]] (1801) all the territories of the [[Holy Roman Empire]] on the left bank of the Rhine were officially incorporated into the [[French First Republic|French Republic]] (which had already occupied Cologne in 1794). Thus this region later became part of [[Napoleon I of France|Napoleon]]'s Empire. Cologne was part of the French [[Department (administrative division)|Département]] [[Roer (department)|Roer]] (named after the river [[Roer]], German: Rur) with [[Aachen]] (French: Aix-la-Chapelle) as its capital. The French modernised public life, for example by introducing the [[Napoleonic Code]] and removing the old elites from power. The Napoleonic code remained in use on the left bank of the Rhine until 1900, when a unified civil code (the ''[[Bürgerliches Gesetzbuch]]'') was introduced in the [[German Empire]]. In 1815 at the [[Congress of Vienna]], Cologne was made part of the [[Kingdom of Prussia]], first in the [[Province of Jülich-Cleves-Berg]] and then the [[Rhine Province]].

The permanent tensions between the Catholic [[Rhineland]] and the overwhelmingly Protestant Prussian state repeatedly escalated with Cologne being in the focus of the conflict. In 1837 the archbishop of Cologne, [[Clemens August von Droste-Vischering]], was arrested and imprisoned for two years after a dispute over the legal status of marriages between Catholics and Protestants (''Mischehenstreit''). In 1874, during the [[Kulturkampf]], Archbishop [[Paul Melchers]] was imprisoned before taking asylum in the Netherlands. These conflicts alienated the Catholic population from Berlin and contributed to a deeply felt anti-Prussian resentment, which was still significant after World War II, when the former mayor of Cologne, [[Konrad Adenauer]], became the first West German chancellor.

During the 19th and 20th centuries, Cologne absorbed numerous surrounding towns, and by World War&nbsp;I had already grown to 700,000 inhabitants. Industrialisation changed the city and spurred its growth. Vehicle and engine manufacturing was especially successful, though the heavy industry was less ubiquitous than in the [[Ruhr area]]. The [[Cologne Cathedral|cathedral]], started in 1248 but abandoned around 1560, was eventually finished in 1880 not just as a place of worship but also as a German national monument celebrating the newly founded [[German empire]] and the continuity of the German nation since the Middle Ages. Some of this urban growth occurred at the expense of the city's historic heritage with much being demolished (for example, the city walls or the area around the cathedral) and sometimes replaced by contemporary buildings.

Cologne was designated as one of the [[Fortresses of the German Confederation]].<ref name=USM>[https://books.google.com/books?id=B77POH6Wgk4C&dq=%22Federal+Fortress+on+the+Upper+Rhine%22&pg=PA254 United Services Magazine] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230503065948/https://books.google.com/books?id=B77POH6Wgk4C&dq=%22Federal+Fortress+on+the+Upper+Rhine%22&pg=PA254 |date=3 May 2023 }}, December 1835</ref> It was turned into a heavily armed fortress (opposing the French and Belgian fortresses of [[Verdun]] and [[Liège]]) with two fortified belts surrounding the city, the remains of which can be seen to this day.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.altearmee.de/zwischenwerk/index.htm |title=Festung Köln |access-date=1 April 2011 |archive-date=11 August 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110811112103/http://www.altearmee.de/zwischenwerk/index.htm |url-status=live }}</ref> The military demands on what became Germany's largest fortress presented a significant obstacle to urban development, with forts, bunkers, and wide defensive dugouts completely encircling the city and preventing expansion; this resulted in a very densely built-up area within the city itself.

During [[World War&nbsp;I]] Cologne was the target of several minor air raids but suffered no significant damage. Cologne was occupied by the [[British Army of the Rhine]] until 1926, under the terms of the Armistice and the subsequent [[Peace Treaty of Versailles|Versailles Peace Treaty]].<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20080524105305/http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,721598,00.html Cologne Evacuated], ''[[Time (magazine)|Time]]'', 15 February 1926</ref> In contrast with the harsh behaviour of the French occupation troops in Germany, the British forces were more lenient to the local population. [[Konrad Adenauer]], the mayor of Cologne from 1917 until 1933 and later a West German chancellor, acknowledged the political impact of this approach, especially since Britain had opposed French demands for a permanent Allied occupation of the entire Rhineland.

As part of the demilitarisation of the [[Rhineland]], the city's fortifications had to be dismantled. This was an opportunity to create two green belts (''Grüngürtel'') around the city by converting the fortifications and their fields of fire into large public parks. This was not completed until 1933. In 1919 the [[University of Cologne]], closed by the French in 1798, was reopened. This was considered to be a replacement for the loss of the [[University of Strasbourg]] on the west bank of the Rhine, which reverted to France with the rest of [[Alsace]]. Cologne prospered during the [[Weimar Republic]] (1919–33), and progress was made especially in public governance, city planning, housing and social affairs. Social housing projects were considered exemplary and were copied by other German cities. Cologne competed to host the Olympics, and a modern sports stadium was erected at Müngersdorf. When the British occupation ended, the prohibition of civil aviation was lifted and [[Cologne Butzweilerhof Airport]] soon became a hub for national and international air traffic, second in Germany only to [[Tempelhof International Airport|Berlin Tempelhof Airport]].

The democratic parties lost the local elections in Cologne in March 1933 to the [[Nazi Party]] and other extreme-right parties. The Nazis then arrested the [[KPD|Communist]] and [[Social Democratic Party of Germany|Social Democrats]] members of the city assembly, and Mayor Adenauer was dismissed. Compared to some other major cities, however, the Nazis never gained decisive support in Cologne. (Significantly, the number of votes cast for the Nazi Party in [[Reichstag (Weimar Republic)|Reichstag]] elections had always been the national average.)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://weimarer-wahlen.de/de/index.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080211085633/http://weimarer-wahlen.de/de/index.html |archive-date=11 February 2008 |title=Weimarer Wahlen |date=11 February 2008 |access-date=24 July 2009}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.wahlen-in-deutschland.de/wrtwkoelnaachen.htm |title=Voting results 1919–1933 Cologne-Aachen |publisher=Wahlen-in-deutschland.de |access-date=8 August 2010 |archive-date=19 July 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110719113427/http://www.wahlen-in-deutschland.de/wrtwkoelnaachen.htm |url-status=live }}</ref> By 1939, the population had risen to 772,221 inhabitants.<ref>{{Cite web |title=NS-Dokumentationszentrum Köln - During the war |url=https://museenkoeln.de/NS-DOKUMENTAtionszentrum/default.aspx?s=784#:~:text=At%20a%20census%20in%20March,people%20were%20registered%20in%20Cologne. |access-date=2024-06-06 |website=museenkoeln.de |publisher=NS-Documentation Center of the City of Cologne}}</ref>

===World War II===
[[File:Koeln 1945.jpg|thumb|The devastation of Cologne, 1945]]
During World War II, Cologne was a Military Area Command Headquarters ({{lang|de|Militärbereichshauptkommandoquartier}}) for [[Wehrkreis VI]] (headquartered at [[Münster]]). Cologne was under the command of Lieutenant-General Freiherr Roeder von Diersburg, who was responsible for military operations in [[Bonn]], [[Siegburg]], [[Aachen]], [[Jülich]], [[Düren]], and [[Monschau]]. Cologne was home to the 211th Infantry Regiment and the 26th Artillery Regiment.

The Allies dropped 44,923.2 tons of bombs on the city during World War II, destroying 61% of its built-up area. During the [[Bombing of Cologne in World War II]], Cologne endured 262 air raids<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.koelnarchitektur.de/pages/de/home/news_archiv/823.htm |title=on the reconstruction of Cologne | work=Koelnarchitektur |date=15 July 2003 |access-date=24 July 2009 |archive-date=1 February 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220201103749/http://www.koelnarchitektur.de/pages/de/home/news_archiv/823.htm |url-status=live }}</ref> by the Western [[Allies of World War II|Allies]], which caused approximately 20,000 civilian casualties and almost completely wiped out the central part of the city. During the night of 31 May 1942, Cologne was the target of "[[Operation Millennium]]", the first 1,000 bomber raid by the [[Royal Air Force]] in World War&nbsp;II. 1,046 heavy bombers attacked their target with 1,455 tons of explosives, approximately two-thirds of which were incendiary.<ref>Tourtellot, Arthur B. et al. ''Life's Picture History of World War&nbsp;II'', p. 237. ''Time'', Inc., New York, 1950.</ref> This raid lasted about 75 minutes, destroyed {{convert|600|acre|ha|0}} of built-up area (61%),<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/education/worldwar2/theatres-of-war/western-europe/investigation/hamburg/sources/docs/6/|title=The National Archives &#124; World War II &#124; Western Europe 1939–1945: Hamburg &#124; Why did the RAF bomb cities?|first=The National|last=Archives|website=www.nationalarchives.gov.uk|access-date=28 January 2021|archive-date=7 February 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210207102245/https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/education/worldwar2/theatres-of-war/western-europe/investigation/hamburg/sources/docs/6/|url-status=live}}</ref> killed 486 civilians and made 59,000 people homeless. The devastation was recorded by [[Hermann Claasen]] from 1942 until the end of the war, and presented in his exhibition and book of 1947 ''Singing in the furnace. Cologne – Remains of an old city''.<ref>{{Citation | last1=Claasen | first1= Hermann | author-link1 = Hermann Claasen | last2=Hoyer | first2 = Franz A. | title=Gesang im feuerofen : Köln; überreste einer alten deutschen stadt | date=1949 | language = de | publisher=L. Schwann | edition=[2. aufl.] | url=https://trove.nla.gov.au/work/14736437 | access-date=6 September 2018 | archive-date=28 July 2020 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200728173754/https://trove.nla.gov.au/work/14736437 | url-status=live }}</ref>

Cologne was taken by the American [[First United States Army#World War II|First Army]] in early March 1945 during the [[Western Allied invasion of Germany|Invasion of Germany]] after a [[Battle of Cologne (1945)|battle]].<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=gYDN-UfehEEC&pg=PA1644|title=World War Two in Europe|last=Zabecki|first=David T.|date=1 January 1999|publisher=Taylor & Francis|isbn=978-0-8240-7029-8|language=en}}</ref><ref name="Knight-2015">{{cite web |title=Cologne Cathedral is perhaps the single most famous tank duel? |url=https://www.warhistoryonline.com/war-articles/cologne-cathedral-tank-duel.html |first=Jack |last=Knight |publisher=War History Online |date=21 August 2015 |access-date=15 October 2019 |archive-date=15 October 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191015034716/https://www.warhistoryonline.com/war-articles/cologne-cathedral-tank-duel.html |url-status=live }}</ref> By the end of the war, the population of Cologne had been reduced by 95%. This loss was mainly caused by a massive evacuation of the people to more rural areas. The same happened in many other German cities in the last two years of war. By the end of 1945, however, the population had already recovered to approximately 450,000.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.britannica.com/place/Cologne-Germany |title=Cologne – History |website=Encyclopedia Britannica |access-date=9 June 2020 |archive-date=24 June 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200624090051/https://www.britannica.com/place/Cologne-Germany |url-status=live }}</ref> By the end of the war, essentially all of Cologne's pre-war Jewish population of 11,000 had been deported or killed by the Nazis.<ref>Kirsten Serup-Bilfeld, Zwischen Dom und Davidstern. Jüdisches Leben in Köln von den Anfängen bis heute. Köln 2001, page 193</ref> The six synagogues of the city were destroyed. The [[Roonstrasse Synagogue|synagogue on Roonstraße]] was rebuilt in 1959.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.sgk.de/index.php/historie.html |title=Synagogen-Gemeinde Köln |publisher=Sgk.de |date=26 June 1931 |access-date=8 August 2010 |archive-date=29 June 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160629113231/http://www.sgk.de/index.php/historie.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

===Post-war and Cold War eras===
[[File:Cologne by Sentinel-2, 2020-05-07.jpg|thumb|Cologne, seen from ESA Sentinel-2]]
Despite Cologne's status as the largest city in the region, nearby [[Düsseldorf]] was chosen as the political capital of the [[States of Germany|federated state]] of [[North Rhine-Westphalia]]. With [[Bonn]] being chosen as the provisional federal capital (''provisorische Bundeshauptstadt'') and seat of the government of the Federal Republic of Germany (then informally [[West Germany]]), Cologne benefited by being sandwiched between two important political centres. The city became–and still is–home to a number of federal agencies and organizations. After reunification in 1990, Berlin was made the capital of Germany.

In 1945 architect and urban planner [[Rudolf Schwarz (architect)|Rudolf Schwarz]] called Cologne the "world's greatest heap of rubble". Schwarz designed the master plan for reconstruction in 1947, which included the construction of several new thoroughfares through the city centre, especially the ''Nord-Süd-Fahrt'' ("North-South-Drive"). The master plan took into consideration the fact that even shortly after the war a large increase in automobile traffic could be anticipated. Plans for new roads had already, to a certain degree, evolved under the Nazi administration, but the actual construction became easier when most of the city centre was in ruins.

The destruction of 95% of the city centre, including the famous [[Twelve Romanesque churches of Cologne|Twelve Romanesque churches]] such as [[St. Gereon's Basilica|St.&nbsp;Gereon]], [[Great St. Martin Church|Great St.&nbsp;Martin]], [[St.&nbsp;Maria im Kapitol]] and several other monuments in World War&nbsp;II, meant a tremendous loss of cultural treasures. The rebuilding of those churches and other landmarks such as the Gürzenich event hall was not undisputed among leading architects and art historians at that time, but in most cases, civil intention prevailed. The reconstruction lasted until the 1990s, when the Romanesque church of [[St. Kunibert (Cologne)|St.&nbsp;Kunibert]] was finished.

In 1959, the city's population reached pre-war numbers again. It then grew steadily, exceeding 1&nbsp;million for about one year from 1975. It remained just below that until mid-2010, when it exceeded 1&nbsp;million again.
[[File:2013-08-10 07-18-55 Ballonfahrt über Köln EH 0626.jpg|thumb|left|Cologne in 2013]]

===Post-reunification===
[[File:1983 09 15 to 23 Envelope of the Letter from Odessa to Cuba.jpg|thumb|Soviet letter's envelope in honor of the Internationale Philatelic Exhibition ''LUPOSTA'' in Cologne in 1983]]
In the 1980s and 1990s Cologne's economy prospered for two main reasons. The first was the growth in the number of media companies, both in the private and public sectors; they are especially catered for in the newly developed Media Park, which creates a strong visual focal point in Cologne's city centre and includes the ''KölnTurm'', one of Cologne's most prominent high-rise buildings. The second was the permanent improvement of the diverse traffic infrastructure, which made Cologne one of the most easily accessible metropolitan areas in Central Europe.

Due to the economic success of the [[Cologne Trade Fair]], the city arranged a large extension to the fair site in 2005. At the same time the original buildings, which date back to the 1920s, were rented out to [[Mediengruppe RTL Deutschland|RTL]], Germany's largest private broadcaster, as their new corporate headquarters.

Cologne was the focus of the [[2015-16 New Year's Eve sexual assaults in Germany]], with over 500 women reporting that they were sexually assaulted by persons of African and Arab appearance.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/jan/06/tensions-rise-in-germany-over-handling-of-mass-sexual-assaults-in-cologne|title=Tensions rise in Germany over handling of mass sexual assaults in Cologne|last=Connolly|first=Kate|newspaper=The Guardian|date=7 January 2016|access-date=12 January 2016|archive-date=12 January 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160112044027/http://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/jan/06/tensions-rise-in-germany-over-handling-of-mass-sexual-assaults-in-cologne|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="Westdeutsche Allgemeine Zeitung-2016">{{cite web|url=https://www.derwesten.de/politik/1075-anzeigen-nach-koelner-silvesternacht-73-verdaechtige-id11567004.html|title=1075 Anzeigen nach Kölner Silvesternacht – 73 Verdächtige|trans-title=1,075 assaults by Cologne New Year's Eve – 73 suspects|work=[[Westdeutsche Allgemeine Zeitung]]|date=15 February 2016|language=de|access-date=15 February 2016|archive-date=16 February 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160216101356/http://www.derwesten.de/politik/1075-anzeigen-nach-koelner-silvesternacht-73-verdaechtige-id11567004.html|url-status=dead}}</ref>

==Geography==
The metropolitan area encompasses over {{convert|405|km2|0|abbr=off}}, extending around a central point that lies at 50° 56' 33 latitude and 6° 57' 32 longitude. The city's highest point is {{convert|118|m|ft|0|abbr=on}} [[Above mean sea level|above sea level]] (the [[Monte Troodelöh]]) and its lowest point is {{convert|37.5|m|ft|0|abbr=on}} above sea level (the [[Worringer Bruch]]).<ref>Bezirksregierung Köln: Topografische Karte 1:50.000 (TK 50), Blatt L 5108 Köln-Mülheim. Köln 2012, {{ISBN|978-3-89439-422-6}}.</ref> The city of Cologne lies within the larger area of the [[Cologne Lowland]], a cone-shaped area of the central [[Rhineland]] that lies between [[Bonn]], [[Aachen]] and [[Düsseldorf]].

===Districts===
{{Main|Districts of Cologne}}
Cologne is divided into 9 boroughs (''Stadtbezirke'') and 85 districts (''Stadtteile''):<ref name="Cologneglance">{{cite web|title=Cologne at a glance|url=http://www.koeln.de/cologne_tourist_information/cologne_a_glance|publisher=City of Cologne|access-date=17 April 2011|archive-date=25 May 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120525020636/http://www.koeln.de/cologne_tourist_information/cologne_a_glance|url-status=dead}}</ref>

{| class="toccolours" style="margin:0 auto;"
| style="padding-right:1em;" |
; [[Innenstadt, Cologne|Innenstadt]] (Stadtbezirk 1)
: Altstadt-Nord, Altstadt-Süd, Neustadt-Nord, Neustadt-Süd, [[Deutz, Cologne|Deutz]]
; [[Rodenkirchen]] (Stadtbezirk 2)
: [[Bayenthal]], Godorf, Hahnwald, Immendorf, Marienburg, Meschenich, Raderberg, Raderthal, Rodenkirchen, Rondorf, Sürth, Weiß, [[Zollstock]]
; [[Lindenthal, Cologne|Lindenthal]] (Stadtbezirk 3)
:  Braunsfeld, [[Junkersdorf]], Klettenberg, Lindenthal, Lövenich, Müngersdorf, [[Sülz]], Weiden, Widdersdorf
; [[Ehrenfeld, Cologne|Ehrenfeld]] (Stadtbezirk 4)
: Bickendorf, Bocklemünd/Mengenich, Ehrenfeld, Neuehrenfeld, Ossendorf, Vogelsang
; [[Nippes, Cologne|Nippes]] (Stadtbezirk 5)
: Bilderstöckchen, Longerich, Mauenheim, [[Niehl, Cologne|Niehl]], Nippes, Riehl, Weidenpesch
| [[File:Koeln bezirke1.png|300px]]
|
; [[Chorweiler]] (Stadtbezirk 6)
: Blumenberg, Chorweiler, Esch/Auweiler, Fühlingen, Heimersdorf, Lindweiler, Merkenich, Pesch, Roggendorf/Thenhoven, Seeberg, Volkhoven/Weiler, [[Worringen]]
; [[Porz]] (Stadtbezirk 7)
: [[Eil, Cologne|Eil]], Elsdorf, Ensen, Finkenberg, Gremberghoven, Grengel, Langel, Libur, Lind, [[Poll, Cologne|Poll]], Porz, Urbach, Wahn, Wahnheide, Westhoven, [[Zündorf]]
; [[Kalk, Cologne|Kalk]] (Stadtbezirk 8)
: Brück, Höhenberg, Humboldt/Gremberg, Kalk, Merheim, Neubrück, Ostheim, [[Rath/Heumar]], Vingst
; [[Mülheim, Cologne|Mülheim]] (Stadtbezirk 9)
: Buchforst, Buchheim, Dellbrück, Dünnwald, Flittard, Höhenhaus, Holweide, Mülheim, [[Stammheim, Cologne|Stammheim]]
|}

===Climate===
Located in the [[Rhine-Ruhr]] area, Cologne is one of the warmest cities in Germany. It has a [[Temperateness|temperate]]–[[oceanic climate]] ([[Köppen climate classification|Köppen: ''Cfb'']]) with cool winters and warm summers. It is also one of the cloudiest cities in Germany, with just 1,567.5 hours of sun a year. Its average annual temperature is {{convert|10.7|°C|0|abbr=on}}: {{convert|15.4|°C|0|abbr=on}} during the day and {{convert|6.1|°C|0|abbr=on}} at night. In January, the mean temperature is {{convert|3.0|°C|0|abbr=on}}, while the mean temperature in July is {{convert|19.0|°C|0|abbr=on}}. The record high temperature of {{convert|40.3|°C|0|abbr=on}} happened on 25 July 2019 during the [[July 2019 European heat wave]] in which Cologne saw three consecutive days over {{convert|38.0|°C|0|abbr=on}}. Especially the inner urban neighbourhoods experience a greater number of hot days, as well as significantly higher temperatures during nighttime compared to the surrounding area (including the airport, where temperatures are classified).<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.dwd.de/DE/klimaumwelt/klimaforschung/klimawirk/stadtpl/stadtklimaprojekte/projekt_koeln/start_klima_koeln21.html|title=Wetter und Klima – Deutscher Wetterdienst – Stadtklima Köln – Klimawandelgerechte Metropole Köln – Strategie zur Anpassung an den Klimawandel (KÖLN_21)|website=www.dwd.de|access-date=20 January 2021|archive-date=4 June 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210604131150/https://www.dwd.de/DE/klimaumwelt/klimaforschung/klimawirk/stadtpl/stadtklimaprojekte/projekt_koeln/start_klima_koeln21.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Still temperatures can vary noticeably over the course of a month with warmer and colder weather. Precipitation is spread evenly throughout the year with a light peak in summer due to showers and thunderstorms.

{{Weather box
| location     = Cologne ([[Cologne Bonn Airport]], 1991–2020, extremes 1957–present)
|metric first = Yes
|single line = Yes
|Jan record high C = 16.2
|Feb record high C = 21.0
|Mar record high C = 25.3
|Apr record high C = 30.8
|May record high C = 34.4
|Jun record high C = 36.8
|Jul record high C = 40.3
|Aug record high C = 38.8
|Sep record high C = 33.1
|Oct record high C = 27.6
|Nov record high C = 20.2
|Dec record high C = 16.7
|year record high C = 
| Jan avg record high C  = 13.1
| Feb avg record high C  = 14.5
| Mar avg record high C  = 19.7
| Apr avg record high C  = 24.7
| May avg record high C  = 28.2
| Jun avg record high C  = 31.7
| Jul avg record high C  = 33.2
| Aug avg record high C  = 32.7
| Sep avg record high C  = 27.4
| Oct avg record high C  = 22.3
| Nov avg record high C  = 16.8
| Dec avg record high C  = 13.2
| year avg record high C = 35.4
|Jan high C = 5.9
|Feb high C = 7.2
|Mar high C = 11.4
|Apr high C = 16.1
|May high C = 19.7
|Jun high C = 22.7
|Jul high C = 24.9
|Aug high C = 24.5
|Sep high C = 20.4
|Oct high C = 15.2
|Nov high C = 9.8
|Dec high C = 6.5
|year high C = 
|Jan mean C = 3.0
|Feb mean C = 3.6
|Mar mean C = 6.7
|Apr mean C = 10.4
|May mean C = 14.1
|Jun mean C = 17.1
|Jul mean C = 19.0
|Aug mean C = 18.5
|Sep mean C = 14.8
|Oct mean C = 10.8
|Nov mean C = 6.7
|Dec mean C = 3.8
|year mean C = 
|Jan low C = 0.0
|Feb low C = 0.1
|Mar low C = 2.0
|Apr low C = 4.5
|May low C = 8.1
|Jun low C = 11.2
|Jul low C = 13.3
|Aug low C = 12.8
|Sep low C = 9.7
|Oct low C = 6.8
|Nov low C = 3.5
|Dec low C = 1.0
|year low C = 
|Jan avg record low C=  -9.1
|Feb avg record low C=  -8.0
|Mar avg record low C= -5.3
|Apr avg record low C= -3.1
|May avg record low C= 0.9
|Jun avg record low C= 5.2
|Jul avg record low C= 7.7
|Aug avg record low C= 6.9
|Sep avg record low C= 3.7
|Oct avg record low C= -0.8
|Nov avg record low C= -3.8
|Dec avg record low C= -7.1
|year avg record low C= -11.8
|Jan record low C = -23.4
|Feb record low C = -19.2
|Mar record low C = -13.4
|Apr record low C = -8.8
|May record low C = -2.9
|Jun record low C = -0.5
|Jul record low C = 2.9
|Aug record low C = 1.9
|Sep record low C = -1.3
|Oct record low C = -6.0
|Nov record low C = -10.4
|Dec record low C = -18.0
|year record low C = 
| precipitation colour = green	
|Jan precipitation mm = 	61.7
|Feb precipitation mm = 	53.8
|Mar precipitation mm = 	55.0
|Apr precipitation mm = 	48.2
|May precipitation mm = 	62.1
|Jun precipitation mm = 	86.3
|Jul precipitation mm = 	87.4
|Aug precipitation mm = 	83.3
|Sep precipitation mm = 	66.9
|Oct precipitation mm = 	64.7
|Nov precipitation mm = 	63.5
|Dec precipitation mm = 	69.2
| year precipitation mm =	802.1
| unit precipitation days = 1.0 mm
|Jan precipitation days = 	17.2
|Feb precipitation days = 	16.3
|Mar precipitation days = 	16.0
|Apr precipitation days = 	13.0
|May precipitation days = 	14.4
|Jun precipitation days = 	14.4
|Jul precipitation days = 	15.4
|Aug precipitation days = 	14.5
|Sep precipitation days = 	14.2
|Oct precipitation days = 	15.6
|Nov precipitation days = 	17.4
|Dec precipitation days = 	19.1
|year precipitation days = 	187.6
|Jan sun = 	54.3
|Feb sun = 	74.8
|Mar sun = 	124.8
|Apr sun = 	172.6
|May sun = 	198.7
|Jun sun = 	201.3
|Jul sun = 	207.2
|Aug sun = 	196.6
|Sep sun = 	149.5
|Oct sun = 	104.6
|Nov sun = 	58.9
|Dec sun = 	45.3
|year sun = 	1588.6
|Jan humidity = 	81.8
|Feb humidity = 	78.4
|Mar humidity = 	72.9
|Apr humidity = 	67.2
|May humidity = 	68.9
|Jun humidity = 	70.8
|Jul humidity = 	70.9
|Aug humidity = 	73.0
|Sep humidity = 	77.8
|Oct humidity = 	81.5
|Nov humidity = 	83.7
|Dec humidity = 	83.9
|unit snow days = 1.0 cm
|Jan snow days = 	4.0
|Feb snow days = 	3.3
|Mar snow days = 	0.8
|Apr snow days = 	0.1
|May snow days = 	0
|Jun snow days = 	0
|Jul snow days = 	0
|Aug snow days = 	0
|Sep snow days = 	0
|Oct snow days = 	0
|Nov snow days = 	0.3
|Dec snow days = 	2.1
|year snow days = 	
| source 1 = [[World Meteorological Organization]]<ref name=WMO>{{cite web
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20231012161345/https://www.nodc.noaa.gov/archive/arc0216/0253808/1.1/data/0-data/Region-6-WMO-Normals-9120/Germany/CSV/Koeln-Bonn_10513.csv
| archive-date = 12 October 2023
| url = https://www.nodc.noaa.gov/archive/arc0216/0253808/1.1/data/0-data/Region-6-WMO-Normals-9120/Germany/CSV/Koeln-Bonn_10513.csv
| title = World Meteorological Organization Climate Normals for 1991–2020
| work = World Meteorological Organization Climatological Standard Normals (1991–2020)
| publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
| access-date = 12 October 2023}}</ref>
|source 2 = Data derived from [[Deutscher Wetterdienst]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.dwd.de/DE/klimaumwelt/cdc/cdc_node.html|title=Wetter und Klima – Deutscher Wetterdienst – CDC (Climate Data Center)|website=www.dwd.de|access-date=20 January 2021|archive-date=19 June 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220619232425/https://www.dwd.de/DE/klimaumwelt/cdc/cdc_node.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
 |date=20 January 2021
}}

The progressing climate change can be seen by looking at the climate data of the previous decade with lower mean temperatures.

{{Weather box
| location     = Cologne/Bonn Airport 1981–2010
| collapsed = yes
|metric first = Yes
|single line = Yes
|Jan high C = 5.4
|Feb high C = 6.7
|Mar high C = 10.9
|Apr high C = 15.1
|May high C = 19.3
|Jun high C = 21.9
|Jul high C = 24.4
|Aug high C = 24.0
|Sep high C = 19.9
|Oct high C = 15.1
|Nov high C = 9.5
|Dec high C = 5.9
|year high C = 14.8
| Jan avg record high C  = 12.5
| Feb avg record high C  = 14.0
| Mar avg record high C  = 19.0
| Apr avg record high C  = 23.7
| May avg record high C  = 27.7
| Jun avg record high C  = 30.8
| Jul avg record high C  = 32.3
| Aug avg record high C  = 32.0
| Sep avg record high C  = 26.4
| Oct avg record high C  = 21.9
| Nov avg record high C  = 16.4
| Dec avg record high C  = 12.8
| year avg record high C = 34.1
|Jan mean C = 2.6
|Feb mean C = 2.9
|Mar mean C = 6.3
|Apr mean C = 9.7
|May mean C = 14.0
|Jun mean C = 16.6
|Jul mean C = 18.8
|Aug mean C = 18.1
|Sep mean C = 14.5
|Oct mean C = 10.6
|Nov mean C = 6.3
|Dec mean C = 3.3
|year mean C = 10.3
|Jan low C = -0.6
|Feb low C = -0.7
|Mar low C = 2.0
|Apr low C = 4.2
|May low C = 8.1
|Jun low C = 11.0
|Jul low C = 13.2
|Aug low C = 12.6
|Sep low C = 9.8
|Oct low C = 6.7
|Nov low C = 3.1
|Dec low C = 0.4
|year low C = 5.8
|Jan avg record low C=  -10.3
|Feb avg record low C=  -8.9
|Mar avg record low C= -5.2
|Apr avg record low C= -3.2
|May avg record low C= 1.3
|Jun avg record low C= 4.7
|Jul avg record low C= 7.6
|Aug avg record low C= 6.8
|Sep avg record low C= 3.5
|Oct avg record low C= -0.8
|Nov avg record low C= -4.2
|Dec avg record low C= -8.3
|year avg record low C= -13.0
|precipitation colour = green
|Jan precipitation mm = 62.1
|Feb precipitation mm = 54.2
|Mar precipitation mm = 64.6
|Apr precipitation mm = 53.9
|May precipitation mm = 72.2
|Jun precipitation mm = 90.7
|Jul precipitation mm = 85.8
|Aug precipitation mm = 75.0
|Sep precipitation mm = 74.9
|Oct precipitation mm = 67.1
|Nov precipitation mm = 67.0
|Dec precipitation mm = 71.1
|year precipitation mm = 838.6
|source 1 = Data derived from [[Deutscher Wetterdienst]]<ref>{{cite web
  |url=http://www.dwd.de/bvbw/appmanager/bvbw/dwdwwwDesktop?_nfpb=true&_pageLabel=_dwdwww_klima_umwelt_klimadaten_deutschland&T82002gsbDocumentPath=Navigation%2FOeffentlichkeit%2FKlima__Umwelt%2FKlimadaten%2Fkldaten__kostenfrei%2Fausgabe__monatswerte__node.html%3F__nnn%3Dtrue
  |title=Ausgabe der Klimadaten: Monatswerte
  |accessdate=}}</ref>
}}

===Flood protection===
[[File:Bundesarchiv Bild 102-10776, Köln, Hochwasser.jpg|right|thumb|The 1930 flood in Cologne]]
Cologne is regularly affected by flooding from the Rhine and is considered the most flood-prone European city.<ref name="Reinhard Vogt">{{cite web|url=http://www.hrwallingford.co.uk/Mitch/Workshop2/Papers/Gocth_Vogt.pdf|title=Flood Forecasting and Flood Defence in Cologne|first1=Martin | last1= Gocht|first2=Reinhard | last2 = Vogt|publisher=Mitigation of Climate Induced Natural Hazards (MITCH)|access-date=20 March 2009|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090324213456/http://www.hrwallingford.co.uk/Mitch/Workshop2/Papers/Gocth_Vogt.pdf|archive-date=24 March 2009}}</ref> A city agency (''Stadtentwässerungsbetriebe Köln'',<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.steb-koeln.de/management0.html|title=Stadtentwässerungsbetriebe Köln : Flood Management|publisher=Steb-koeln.de|access-date=7 July 2009|archive-date=17 February 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130217220207/http://www.steb-koeln.de/management0.html|url-status=live}}</ref> "Cologne Urban Drainage Operations") manages an extensive flood control system which includes both permanent and mobile [[flood wall]]s, protection from rising waters for buildings close to the river banks, monitoring and forecasting systems, pumping stations and programmes to create or protect [[floodplain]]s, and river embankments.<ref name="Reinhard Vogt"/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.hochwasserschutz.de/en/pdf/IBS_Koeln_Rhein.pdf|title=Flood Defence Scheme City of Cologne|access-date=20 March 2009|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090324213456/http://www.hochwasserschutz.de/en/pdf/IBS_Koeln_Rhein.pdf|archive-date=24 March 2009}}</ref> The system was redesigned after a 1993 flood, which resulted in heavy damage.<ref name="Reinhard Vogt"/>

==Demographics==
{{Main|Demographics of Cologne}}
{|class="wikitable floatright" style="max-width: 22em;"
|+ Largest groups of foreign residents<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.stadt-koeln.de/ |title=Stadt Köln |access-date=4 November 2020 |archive-date=3 November 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201103015131/https://www.stadt-koeln.de/ |url-status=bot: unknown }} › ...PDF
Statitstisches Jahrbuch Köln 2020</ref>
|-
! From country || Population (2022)
|-
|{{flag|Turkey}} ||57,135
|-
|{{flag|Italy}} ||21,351
|-
|{{flag|Ukraine}} ||12,634
|-
|{{flag|Poland}} ||9,766
|-
|{{flag|Iraq}} ||8,631
|-
|{{flag|Syria}} ||8,074
|-
|{{flag|Bulgaria}} ||7,916
|-
|{{flag|Greece}} ||5,841
|-
|{{flag|Iran}} ||4,910
|-
|{{flag|Serbia}} ||4,837
|-
|{{flag|Romania}} ||4,786
|-
|{{flag|Russia}} ||4,651
|-
|{{flag|Spain}} ||3,954
|-
|{{flag|Bosnia and Herzegovina}} ||3,830
|-
|{{flag|Croatia}} ||3,539
|-
|{{flag|Portugal}} ||3,263
|-
|{{flag|France}} ||3,043
|-
|{{flag|Kosovo}} ||2,586
|-
|{{flag|Netherlands}} ||2,523
|-
|{{flag|Morocco}} ||2,418
|-
|{{flag|Austria}} ||2,394
|-
|{{flag|China}} ||2,328
|-
|{{flag|United Kingdom}} ||2,287
|}
{{historical populations|1430|40000|1801|42024|1840|75858|1880|144722|1900|372229|1910|516527|1920|657175|1930|740082|1940|733500|1950|603283|1960|803616|1970|847037|1980|976694|1990|953551|2001|967940|2011|1005775|2022|1017355|footnote=Population size may be affected by changes in administrative divisions.}}In the Roman Empire, the city was large and rich with a population of 40,000 in 100–200&nbsp;AD.<ref name="google">{{cite book|title=Traffic and Congestion in the Roman Empire|author=van Tilburg, C.|date=2007|publisher=Taylor & Francis|isbn=978-1-134-12975-1|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=0i5LHy4b6kgC|page=42|access-date=5 October 2014}}</ref> The city was home to around 20,000 people in 1000&nbsp;AD, growing to 50,000 in 1200&nbsp;AD. The [[Rhineland]] metropolis still had 50,000 residents in 1300&nbsp;AD.<ref name="books.google.dk">{{cite book|title=Ecologies and Economies in Medieval and Early Modern Europe: Studies in Environmental History for Richard C. Hoffmann|author=Bruce, S.G.|date=2010|publisher=Brill|isbn=978-90-04-18007-9|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=9aoklkGrf-8C|page=48|access-date=5 October 2014}}</ref><ref name="harvard">{{cite web|url=http://isites.harvard.edu/fs/docs/icb.topic599385.files/venice_seminar_MIT_R1a.pdf|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150903230511/http://isites.harvard.edu/fs/docs/icb.topic599385.files/venice_seminar_MIT_R1a.pdf|url-status=dead|archive-date=3 September 2015|date=30 November 2009|title=International trade and institutional change: A death in Venice|author=Diego Puga & Daniel Trefler|access-date=5 October 2014}}</ref>

Cologne is the fourth-largest city by population in Germany after [[Berlin]], Hamburg and [[Munich]]. As of 31 December 2021, there were 1,079,301 people registered as living in Cologne in an area of {{convert|404.99|km2|sqmi|abbr=on}}, which makes Cologne the third largest city by area.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.stadt-koeln.de/mediaasset/content/pdf15/statistik-jahrbuch/statistisches_jahrbuch__k%C3%B6ln_2021_ksn_3_2022_job.pdf |title=Kölner Statistische Nachrichten 3/2022 – Statistisches Jahrbuch 2021 |publisher=stadt-koeln.de |access-date=13 December 2022 |archive-date=13 December 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221213150044/https://www.stadt-koeln.de/mediaasset/content/pdf15/statistik-jahrbuch/statistisches_jahrbuch__k%C3%B6ln_2021_ksn_3_2022_job.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref> The population density was {{convert|2700|PD/sqkm|PD/sqmi|abbr=on}}.<ref name="stadt-koeln.de">{{cite web |url=https://www.stadt-koeln.de/mediaasset/content/pdf15/statistik-jahrbuch/statistisches_jahrbuch__k%C3%B6ln_2021_ksn_3_2022_job.pdf |title=Statistisches Jahrbuch 2022 |publisher=stadt-koeln.de |access-date=13 December 2022 |archive-date=13 December 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221213150044/https://www.stadt-koeln.de/mediaasset/content/pdf15/statistik-jahrbuch/statistisches_jahrbuch__k%C3%B6ln_2021_ksn_3_2022_job.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref> Cologne first reached the population of 1,000,000 in 1975 due to the incorporation of [[Wesseling]], however this was reversed after public opposition. In 2009 Cologne's population again reached 1,000,000 and it became one of the four cities in Germany with a population exceeding 1 Million. The metropolitan area of the [[Cologne Bonn Region]] is home to 3,573,500 living on {{convert|4415|PD/sqkm|PD/sqmi|abbr=on}}.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.region-koeln-bonn.de/de/region/zahlen-daten-fakten/index.html |title=Region Köln Bon |publisher=region-koeln-bonn.de |year=2013 |access-date=25 September 2017 |archive-date=1 October 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171001074447/http://www.region-koeln-bonn.de/de/region/zahlen-daten-fakten/index.html |url-status=live }}</ref> It is part of the polycentric megacity region [[Rhine-Ruhr]] with a population of over 11,000,000 people.

There were 551,528 women and 527,773 men in Cologne. In 2021, there were 11,127 births in Cologne; 5,844 marriages and 1,808 divorces, and 10,536 deaths. In the city, the population was spread out, with 16.3% under the age of 18, and 17.8% were 65 years of age or older. 203 people in Cologne were over the age of 100.<ref name="stadt-koeln.de"/>

According to the Statistical Office of the City of Cologne, the number of people with a migrant background is at 40.5% (436,660). 2,254 people acquired German citizenship in 2021.<ref name="stadt-koeln.de"/> In 2021, there were 559,854 households, of which 18.4% had children under the age of 18; 51% of all households were made up of singles. 8% of all households were single-parent households. The average household size was 1.88.<ref name="stadt-koeln.de"/>

===Residents with foreign citizenship===
Cologne residents with a foreign citizenship as of 31 December 2021 is as follows:<ref name="stadt-koeln.de"/>
{|class="wikitable"
! style="background:#efefef;"|Citizenship
! style="background:#efefef;"|Number
! style="background:#efefef;"|% 
|-
|Total||436,660||100%
|-
|Europe||283,960||65%
|-
|[[European Union]]||138,961||31.8%
|-
|[[Asian people|Asian]]||78,235||17.9%
|-
|[[African people|African]]||29,552||6.8%
|-
|[[Americas|American]]||13,786||3.2%
|-
|Australian and Oceanian||666||0.2%
|-
|}

===Turkish community===
Cologne is home to 90,000 people of Turkish origin and is the second largest German city with Turkish population after [[Berlin]]. Cologne has a Little Istanbul in Keupstraße that has many Turkish restaurants and markets. Famous Turkish-German people like rapper [[Eko Fresh]] and TV presenter [[Nazan Eckes]] were born in Cologne.

===Language===
{{See also|Colognian dialect}}
'''Colognian''' or '''Kölsch''' ({{IPA|ksh|kœɫːʃ}}) (natively ''Kölsch Platt'') is a small set of very closely related dialects, or variants, of the [[Ripuarian language|Ripuarian]] [[Central German]] group of languages. These dialects are spoken in the area covered by the Archdiocese and former [[Electorate of Cologne]] reaching from [[Neuss]] in the north to just south of [[Bonn]], west to [[Düren]] and east to [[Olpe, Germany|Olpe]] in the North-West of Germany. Kölsch is one of the very few city dialects in Germany, which also include the [[Berlinerisch dialect|dialect]] spoken in [[Berlin]], for example.

===Religion===
{{see also|History of the Jews in Cologne}}
As of 2015, 35.5% of the population belonged to the [[Catholic Church]], the largest religious body, and 15.5% to the [[Protestant Church in Germany|Protestant Church]].<ref name="stadt-koeln.de-2016">{{cite web|url=http://www.stadt-koeln.de/politik-und-verwaltung/statistik/jahrbuecher|title=Statistisches Jahrbuch 2016|date=1 February 2016|publisher=stadt-koeln.de|access-date=25 September 2017|archive-date=7 October 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171007090926/http://www.stadt-koeln.de/politik-und-verwaltung/statistik/jahrbuecher/|url-status=live}}</ref> [[Irenaeus|Irenaeus of Lyons]] claimed that Christianity was brought to Cologne by Roman soldiers and traders at an unknown early date. It is known that in the early second century it was a bishop's seat. The first historical Bishop of Cologne was [[Maternus of Cologne|Saint Maternus]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.knight.org/cathen/04116a.htm|title=CATHOLIC ENCYCLOPEDIA: Cologne|website=knight.org|access-date=20 April 2019|archive-date=20 April 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190420132843/http://www.knight.org/cathen/04116a.htm|url-status=live}}</ref> [[Thomas Aquinas]] studied in Cologne in 1244 under [[Albertus Magnus]]. Cologne is the seat of the [[Archdiocese of Cologne]].

According to the 2011 census, 2.1% of the population was [[Eastern Orthodox Church|Eastern Orthodox]], 0.5% belonged of an [[Evangelicalism|Evangelical Free Church]] and 4.2% belonged to further religious communities officially recognized by the state of North Rhine-Westphalia (such as [[Jehovah's Witnesses]]).<ref name="Census_2011_Reli">{{cite web |url=https://ergebnisse.zensus2011.de/#StaticContent:053150000000,BEG_4_2_6,m,table |title=Zensus 2011: Bevölkerung im regionalen Vergleich nach Religion (ausführlich) in % |access-date=22 August 2019 |archive-date=21 June 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130621101339/https://ergebnisse.zensus2011.de/#StaticContent:053150000000,BEG_4_2_6,m,table |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.personenstandsrecht.de/Webs/PERS/DE/informationen/religionsgemeinschaften/_documents/kirche_nrw.html |title=Nordrhein-Westfalen: Religions- und Weltanschauungsgemeinschaften, die auf Landesebene den Status "Körperschaft des öffentlichen Rechts" besitzen. |access-date=22 August 2019 |archive-date=22 August 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190822191707/https://www.personenstandsrecht.de/Webs/PERS/DE/informationen/religionsgemeinschaften/_documents/kirche_nrw.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

There are several mosques, including the [[Cologne Central Mosque]] run by the [[Turkish-Islamic Union for Religious Affairs]]. In 2011, about 11.2% of the population was [[Muslim]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://kartenseite.files.wordpress.com/2017/04/brd_muslime_in_den_grossstaedten_beim_zensus2011_sortiert_nach_regionalschluessel1.pdf |title=Muslime in den Großstädten beim Zensus 2011 |access-date=19 December 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181219230456/https://kartenseite.files.wordpress.com/2017/04/brd_muslime_in_den_grossstaedten_beim_zensus2011_sortiert_nach_regionalschluessel1.pdf |archive-date=19 December 2018 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

Cologne also has one of the oldest and largest Jewish communities in Germany.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.dw-world.de/dw/article/0,,1684525,00.html|title=Cologne: Germany's Oldest Jewish Community|last=Serup-Bilfeldt|first=Kirsten|date=19 August 2005|newspaper=[[Deutsche Welle]]|access-date=6 September 2011}}</ref> In 2011, 0.3% of Cologne's population was Jewish.<ref name="Census_2011_Reli"/>

On 11 October 2021, the Mayor of Cologne, [[Henriette Reker]], announced that all of Cologne's 35 mosques would be allowed to broadcast the [[Adhan]] (prayer call) for up to five minutes on Fridays between noon and 3 p.m. She commented that the move "shows that diversity is appreciated and loved in Cologne".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://wincountry.com/2021/10/11/germanys-largest-mosque-to-broadcast-call-to-prayer-on-fridays/|title=Germany's largest mosque to broadcast call to prayer on Fridays|date=11 October 2021|work=wincountry.com|access-date=11 October 2021|archive-date=11 October 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211011161244/https://wincountry.com/2021/10/11/germanys-largest-mosque-to-broadcast-call-to-prayer-on-fridays/|url-status=live}}</ref>

==Government and politics==
{{See also|Cologne City Hall}}
The city's administration is headed by the [[List of mayors of Cologne|mayor]] and the three deputy mayors.

===Political traditions and developments===
The long tradition of a free imperial city, which long dominated an exclusively Catholic population and the age-old conflict between the church and the bourgeoisie (and within it between the patricians and craftsmen) have created its own political climate in Cologne. Various interest groups often form networks beyond party boundaries. The resulting web of relationships, with political, economic, and cultural links with each other in a system of mutual favours, obligations and dependencies, is called the 'Cologne coterie'. This has often led to an unusual proportional distribution in the city government and degenerated at times into corruption: in 1999, a "waste scandal" over kickbacks and illegal campaign contributions came to light, which led not only to the imprisonment of the entrepreneur Hellmut Trienekens, but also to the downfall of almost the entire leadership of the ruling Social Democrats.

===Mayor===
The incumbent [[List of mayors of Cologne|Lord Mayor of Cologne]] is [[Torsten Burmester]] of the [[Social Democratic Party of Germany|SPD]]. He received 53.51% of the vote at the runoff election.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Wahlenübersicht |url=https://wahlen.stadt-koeln.de/prod/KW2025/05315000/praesentation/index.html |access-date=2025-10-21 |website=wahlen.stadt-koeln.de |language=de}}</ref>

The most recent mayoral election was held on 14 September 2025, with a runoff held on 28 September, and the results were as follows:

{{election table}}
! rowspan=2 colspan=2| Candidate
! rowspan=2| Party
! colspan=2| First round
! colspan=2| Second round
|-
! Votes
! %
! Votes
! %
|-
| bgcolor={{party color|Alliance 90/The Greens}}| 
| align=left| Berivan Aymaz
| align=left| [[Alliance 90/The Greens|The Greens]]
| 128,932
| 28.1
| 166,996
| 46.5
|-
| bgcolor={{party color|Social Democratic Party of Germany}}| 
| align=left| Torsten Burmester
| align=left| [[Social Democratic Party of Germany|Social Democratic Party]]
| 97,791
| 21.3
| 192,198
| 53.5
|-
| bgcolor={{party color|Christian Democratic Union of Germany}}| 
| align=left| Markus Greitemann
| align=left| [[Christian Democratic Union of Germany|CDU]]
| 89,263
| 19.5
|-
| bgcolor={{party color|Alternative for Germany}}| 
| align=left| Matthias Büschges
| align=left| [[Alternative for Germany]]
| 38,882
| 8.5
|-
| bgcolor={{party color|The Left (Germany)}}| 
| align=left| Heiner Kockerbeck
| align=left| [[The Left (Germany)|The Left]]
| 28,054
| 6.12
|-
| bgcolor={{party color|Die PARTEI}}| 
| align=left| Mark Bennecke
| align=left| [[Die PARTEI]]
| 16,197
| 3.5
|-
| bgcolor={{party color|Independent politician}}| 
| align=left| Hans Mörtter
| align=left| [[Independent politician|Independent]]
| 15,830
| 3.5
|-
| bgcolor={{party color|Free Democratic Party (Germany)}}| 
| align=left| Volker Görzel
| align=left| [[Free Democratic Party (Germany)|Free Democratic Party]]
| 13,552
| 3.0
|-
|
| align=left| Roberto Champione
| align=left| Cologne City Society
| 11,656
| 2.5
|-
| bgcolor={{party color|Volt Europa}}| 
| align=left| Lars Wolfram
| align=left| [[Volt Europa#Germany|Volt Germany]]
| 11,585
| 2.5
|-
|
| align=left| Inga Feuser
| align=left| Good & Climate Friends
| 3,303
| 0.7
|-
| bgcolor={{party color|Party of Progress (Germany)}}| 
| align=left| Heike Herden
| align=left| [[Party of Progress (Germany)|Party of Progress]]
| 2,513
| 0.6
|-
| bgcolor={{party color|Independent politician}}| 
| align=left| Ali Güçlü
| align=left| [[Independent politician|Independent]]
| 915
| 0.2
|-
! colspan=3| Valid votes
! 458,473
! 99.3
! 359,194
! 99.4
|-
! colspan=3| Invalid votes
! 3,044
! 0.7
! 1,964
! 0.5
|-
! colspan=3| Total
! 461,517
! 100.0
! 361,158
! 100.0
|-
! colspan=3| Electorate/voter turnout
! 809,416
! 57.02
! 807,675
! 44.72
|-
| colspan=7| Source: City of Cologne ([https://wahlen.stadt-koeln.de/prod/KW2025/05315000/praesentation/index.html])
|}

===City council===
The Cologne city council (''Kölner Stadtrat'') governs the city alongside the mayor. It serves a term of five years.<ref name="Election 1">{{cite web|title=Wahlperiode|url=http://www.stadt-koeln.de/1/wahlen/abisz/03612/|access-date=15 April 2011|publisher=City of Cologne|language=de|archive-date=15 June 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110615182240/http://www.stadt-koeln.de/1/wahlen/abisz/03612/|url-status=live}}</ref> The most recent city council election was held on 14 September 2025, and the results were as follows:

{{election table}}
! colspan=2| Party
! Votes
! %
! +/-
! Seats
! +/-
|-
| bgcolor={{party color|Alliance 90/The Greens}}| 
| align=left| [[Alliance 90/The Greens]] (Grüne)
| 114,881
| 25.0
| {{decrease}} 3.5
| 22
| {{decrease}} 4
|-
| bgcolor={{party color|Christian Democratic Union of Germany}}| 
| align=left| [[Christian Democratic Union of Germany|Christian Democratic Union]] (CDU)
| 91,326
| 19.89
| {{decrease}} 1.6
| 18
| {{decrease}} 1
|-
| bgcolor={{party color|Social Democratic Party of Germany}}| 
| align=left| [[Social Democratic Party of Germany|Social Democratic Party]] (SPD)
| 91,283
| 19.88
| {{decrease}} 1.7
| 18
| {{decrease}} 1
|-
| bgcolor={{party color|The Left (Germany)}}| 
| align=left| [[The Left (Germany)|The Left]] (Die Linke)
| 49,703
| 10.8
| {{increase}} 4.4
| 10
| {{increase}} 4
|-
| bgcolor={{party color|Alternative for Germany}}| 
| align=left| [[Alternative for Germany]] (AfD)
| 41,828
| 9.1
| {{increase}} 4.7
| 8
| {{increase}} 4
|-
| bgcolor={{party color|Volt Europa}}| 
| align=left| [[Volt Germany]] (Volt)
| 23,081
| 5.0
| ±0
| 5
| {{increase}} 1
|-
| bgcolor={{party color|Free Democratic Party (Germany)}}| 
| align=left| [[Free Democratic Party (Germany)|Free Democratic Party]] (FDP)
| 17,779
| 3.9
| {{decrease}} 1.4
| 3
| {{decrease}} 2
|-
| bgcolor={{party color|Sahra Wagenknecht Alliance}}| 
| align=left| [[Sahra Wagenknecht Alliance]] (BSW)
| 8.933
| 2.0
| New
| 2
| New
|-
| bgcolor={{party color|Die PARTEI}}| 
| align=left| [[Die PARTEI]] (PARTEI)
| 8,136
| 1.8
| {{decrease}} 0.7
| 2
| ±0
|-
| 
| align=left| Cologne City Society (KSG)
| 5,948
| 1.3
| New
| 1
| New
|-
|
| align=left| Good & Climate Friends (GUT&KLIMA)
| 5,481
| 1.2
| New
| 1
| New
|-
| colspan=7 bgcolor=lightgrey|
|-
| bgcolor={{party color|Grassroots Democratic Party of Germany}}| 
| align=left| [[Grassroots Democratic Party of Germany]] (dieBasis)
| 455
| New
| 0
| New
|-
| bgcolor={{party color|Liberal Democrats (Germany)}}| 
| align=left| [[Liberal Democrats (Germany)|Liberal Democrats]] (LD)
| 122
| 0.0
| New
| 0
| New
|-
| bgcolor={{party color|German Communist Party}}|
| align=left| [[German Communist Party]] (DKP)
| 54
| 0.0
| New
| 0
| New
|-
| 
| align=left| Independent Yan
| 30
| 0.0
| New
| 0
| New
|-
| 
| align=left| Independent Güçlü
| 26
| 0.0
| New
| 0
| New
|-
| 
| align=left| Independent Przybylski
| 23
| 0.0
| New
| 0
| New
|-
! colspan=2| Valid votes
! 459,089
! 99.4
! 
! 
! 
|-
! colspan=2| Invalid votes
! 2,575
! 0.6
! 
! 
! 
|-
! colspan=2| Total
! 461,664
! 100.0
! 
! 90
! ±0
|-
! colspan=2| Electorate/voter turnout
! 809,416
! 57.0
! {{increase}} 5.6
! 
! 
|-
| colspan=7| Source: [https://wahlen.stadt-koeln.de/prod/KW2025/05315000/praesentation/ergebnis.html?wahl_id=54&stimmentyp=0&id=ebene_3_id_1 City of Cologne]
|}

===State Landtag===
[[File:2022 North Rhine-Westphalia state election in Cologne - Stimmbezirke.svg|thumb|350px|Results of the [[2022 North Rhine-Westphalia state election|2022 state election]] in Cologne]]
In the [[Landtag of North Rhine-Westphalia]], Cologne is divided among seven constituencies. After the [[2022 North Rhine-Westphalia state election]], the composition and representation of each was as follows:

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
! Constituency
! Area
! colspan=2| Party
! Member
|-
| 13 Köln I
| Rodenkirchen and part of Innenstadt
| bgcolor={{party color|Alliance 90/The Greens}}| 
| [[Alliance 90/The Greens|Grüne]]
| Eileen Woestmann
|-
| 14 Köln II
| Lindenthal
| bgcolor={{party color|Alliance 90/The Greens}}| 
| [[Alliance 90/The Greens|Grüne]]
| Frank Jablonski
|-
| 15 Köln III
| Ehrenfeld and part of Nippes
| bgcolor={{party color|Alliance 90/The Greens}}| 
| [[Alliance 90/The Greens|Grüne]]
| Arndt Klocke
|-
| 16 Köln IV
| Chorweiler and most of Nippes
| bgcolor={{party color|Social Democratic Party of Germany}}| 
| [[Social Democratic Party of Germany|SPD]]
| Lena Teschlade
|-
| 17 Köln V
| Porz and the east of Kalk
| bgcolor={{party color|Christian Democratic Union of Germany}}| 
| [[Christian Democratic Union of Germany|CDU]]
| [[Florian Braun]]
|-
| 18 Köln VI
| Most of Innenstadt and the west of Kalk
| bgcolor={{party color|Alliance 90/The Greens}}| 
| [[Alliance 90/The Greens|Grüne]]
| Berivan Aymaz
|-
| 19 Köln VII
| Mülheim
| bgcolor={{party color|Social Democratic Party of Germany}}| 
| [[Social Democratic Party of Germany|SPD]]
| Carolin Kirsch
|}

=== Federal parliament ===
In the [[Bundestag]], Cologne is divided among four constituencies. In the [[List of members of the 21st Bundestag|21st Bundestag]], elected [[2021 German federal election|23 February 2025]], the composition and representation of each was as follows:

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
! Constituency
! Area
! colspan=2| Party
! Member
|-
| 92 [[Cologne I]]
| Porz, Kalk, and part of Innenstadt
| bgcolor={{party color|Social Democratic Party of Germany}}| 
| [[Social Democratic Party of Germany|SPD]]
| [[Sanae Abdi]]
|-
| 93 [[Cologne II]]
| Rodenkirchen, Lindenthal, and part of Innenstadt
| bgcolor={{party color|Alliance 90/The Greens}}| 
| [[Alliance 90/The Greens|Grüne]]
| [[Sven Lehmann]]
|-
| 94 [[Cologne III]]
| Ehrenfeld, Nippes, and Chorweiler
| bgcolor={{party color|Alliance 90/The Greens}}|
| [[Alliance 90/The Greens|Grüne]]
| [[Katharina Dröge]]
|-
| 100 [[Leverkusen – Cologne IV]]
| Mülheim (and the city of [[Leverkusen]])
| bgcolor={{party color|Social Democratic Party of Germany}}| 
| [[Social Democratic Party of Germany|SPD]]
| [[Karl Lauterbach]]
|}

==Cityscape==
{{wide image|Cologne - Panoramic Image of the old town at dusk.jpg|1000px|Panoramic view of the city at night as seen from [[Deutz, Cologne|Deutz]]; '''from left to right''': Deutz Bridge; [[Great St.&nbsp;Martin Church]]; [[Cologne Cathedral]]; and [[Hohenzollern Bridge]]}}

The inner city of Cologne was largely destroyed during World War&nbsp;II. The reconstruction of the city followed the style of the 1950s, while respecting the old layout and naming of the streets. Thus, the city centre today is characterized by [[modern architecture]], with a few interspersed pre-war buildings which were [[reconstruction (architecture)|reconstructed]] due to their historical importance. Some buildings of the "Wiederaufbauzeit" (era of reconstruction), for example, the opera house by [[Wilhelm Riphahn]], are nowadays regarded as classics of modern architecture.{{Citation needed|date=April 2018}} Nevertheless, the uncompromising style of the [[Cologne Opera]] house and other modern buildings has remained controversial.{{citation needed|date=August 2022}}

The districts outside the city center consist mostly of 19th and 20th century buildings.<ref name="zensus2011_de" /> Around 25% of Cologne was built before 1945.<ref name="zensus2011_de" />

Green areas account for over a quarter of Cologne, which is approximately {{convert|75|m2|2|abbr=on}} of public green space for every inhabitant.<ref>{{cite web|title=Green Cologne|url=http://www.koeln.de/cologne_tourist_information/exploring_city/green_cologne|publisher=KölnTourismus|access-date=17 April 2011|archive-date=18 January 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120118104751/http://www.koeln.de/cologne_tourist_information/exploring_city/green_cologne|url-status=dead}}</ref>

<gallery>
File:Kemmerlingshof, Köln-Junkersdorf Dürener Str 437.jpg|[[Junkersdorf]] old town
File:Köln Bayenthalgürtel 9.jpg|upright|[[Art Nouveau]] villa on Bayenthal-gürtel
File:Neptunbad, Köln-Ehrenfeld-8466.jpg|[[Gründerzeit]] building in [[Ehrenfeld, Cologne]]
File:Hansahochhaus Köln - Gesamtansicht (0308-10).jpg|[[Hansahochhaus]], a building in the style of [[Brick Expressionism]]
</gallery>

==Wildlife==
The dominant wildlife of Cologne is insects, small rodents, and several species of birds. Pigeons are the most often seen animals in Cologne, although the number of birds is augmented each year by a growing population of [[Feral organism|feral]] exotics, most visibly parrots such as the [[rose-ringed parakeet]]. The sheltered climate in southeast [[Northrhine-Westphalia]] allows these birds to survive through the winter, and in some cases, they are displacing native species. The plumage of Cologne's green parrots is highly visible even from a distance, and contrasts starkly with the otherwise muted colours of the cityscape.<ref>{{cite web|title=In NRW behaupten sich immer mehr exotische Vögel|date=4 March 2007|url=http://www.rp-online.de/wissen/leben/in-nrw-behaupten-sich-immer-mehr-exotische-voegel-1.2313710|publisher=RP Online|access-date=16 January 2013|archive-date=17 May 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130517180155/http://www.rp-online.de/wissen/leben/in-nrw-behaupten-sich-immer-mehr-exotische-voegel-1.2313710|url-status=live}}</ref>

Hedgehogs, rabbits and squirrels are common in parks and the greener parts of town. In the outer suburbs foxes and wild boar can be seen, even during the day.

==Tourism==
Cologne had 5.8&nbsp;million overnight stays booked and 3.35&nbsp;million arrivals in 2016.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.cologne-tourism.com/newsroom/press-releases/press-release/article/tourism-results-for-2016-moderate-decrease-in-visitor-numbers-due-to-difficult-general-conditions.html |title=Tourism results for 2016: Moderate decrease in visitor numbers due to difficult general conditions |publisher=KölnTourismus |date=21 February 2017 |access-date=13 September 2017 |archive-date=13 September 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170913190906/https://www.cologne-tourism.com/newsroom/press-releases/press-release/article/tourism-results-for-2016-moderate-decrease-in-visitor-numbers-due-to-difficult-general-conditions.html |url-status=live }}</ref>
[[File:Köln Cathedral on the banks of Rhine 01.jpg|thumb|Köln Cathedral on the banks of Rhine]]

===Landmarks===

====Churches====
* [[Cologne Cathedral]] (German: ''Kölner Dom'') is the city's most famous monument and the Cologne residents' most loved landmark. It is a [[gothic architecture|Gothic]] church, started in 1248, and completed in 1880. In 1996, it was designated a [[World Heritage Site]]; it houses the [[Shrine of the Three Kings]], which supposedly contains the [[relic]]s of the [[Biblical Magi|Three Magi]] (see also<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.koelner-dom.de/index.php?id=dreikoenigenschrein |title=Offizielle Webseite des Kölner Doms &#124; Bedeutende Werke |publisher=Koelner-dom.de |access-date=5 May 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090703064357/http://www.koelner-dom.de/index.php?id=dreikoenigenschrein |archive-date=3 July 2009 |url-status=dead }}</ref>). Residents of Cologne sometimes refer to the cathedral as "the eternal construction site" (''die ewige Baustelle'').
* [[Twelve Romanesque churches of Cologne|Twelve Romanesque churches]]: These buildings are outstanding examples of early medieval church architecture. The origins of some of these churches go back as far as [[Roman Empire|Roman times]]. [[St. Gereon's Basilica, Cologne|St. Gereon]], for example, was originally a huge mausoleum in a Roman graveyard, and [[St. Maria im Kapitol]] was built on the substructure of a Roman temple. [[Great St. Martin Church]] stands on the site of Roman warehouses and previously a sports field with a swimming pool, the walls of which can be seen in the basement of the church. With the exception of St. Maria Lyskirchen all of these churches were very badly damaged during World War&nbsp;II. Reconstructions of the last ones were only finished in the 1990s.

<gallery heights="80" perrow="6">
Kdom.jpg|[[Cologne Cathedral]]
Cologne, Germany. Basilica of St. Gereon.jpg|[[St. Gereon's Basilica, Cologne|St. Gereon's Basilica]]
Köln st maria im kapitol dreikonchenanlage 251204.jpg|[[St. Maria im Kapitol]]
Köln - Groß St. Martin vom Dom.jpg|[[Great St. Martin Church]]
Severeinskirche aus Severinstorburg 2009.jpg|[[Basilica of St. Severin]]
Koeln mariae himmelfahrt 001.jpg|Church of the Assumption
Trinitatiskirche Koeln2007.jpg|Trinity Church
</gallery>

====Medieval houses====
The Cologne City Hall (''Kölner Rathaus''), founded in the 12th century, is the oldest [[city hall]] in Germany still in use.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://cologne.strategicmanagement.net/tuesday.php |title=Strategic Management Society – Cologne Conference – Cologne Information |publisher=Cologne.strategicmanagement.net |date=14 October 2008 |access-date=26 July 2010 |archive-date=24 July 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110724083513/http://cologne.strategicmanagement.net/tuesday.php |url-status=dead }}</ref> The Renaissance-style loggia and tower were added in the 15th century. Other famous buildings include the Gürzenich, Haus Saaleck and the Overstolzenhaus.
<gallery heights="80" perrow="6">
File:Keoln Maerz 2009 PD 20090327 028.JPG|[[Cologne City Hall]]
File:Köln gürzenich.jpg|Gürzenich
File:Overstolzenhaus-Rheingasse-Köln.JPG|Overstolzenhaus
</gallery>

====Medieval city gates====
[[File:A Plan of the City of Cologne, 1800, John Stockdale-9832.jpg|thumb|upright=1.0 | A plan published in 1800 shows the medieval city wall still intact, locating 16 gates (Nr. 36–51 in the legend), e.g., 47:&nbsp;Eigelsteintor, 43:&nbsp;Hahnentor, 39:&nbsp;Severinstor.]]
Of the twelve medieval [[city gate]]s that once existed, only the Eigelsteintorburg at Ebertplatz, the Hahnentor at Rudolfplatz and the Severinstorburg at Chlodwigplatz still stand today.
<gallery heights="80" perrow="6">
File:Köln eigelsteintorburg.jpg|Eigelsteintor
File:Hahnentorburg.jpg|Hahnentor
File:Severinstorburg Köln-0410.jpg|Severinstor
</gallery>
{{^|[[File:Dropped cone Cologne.jpg|thumb|208x208px]]}}

===Streets===
{{Main|Streets in Cologne}}
* The [[Cologne Ring]] boulevards (such as ''Hohenzollernring'', ''Kaiser-Wilhelm-Ring'', ''Hansaring'') with their medieval city gates (such as ''Hahnentorburg'' on ''Rudolfplatz'') are also known for their night life.
* [[Hohe Straße]] (literally: ''High Street'') is one of the main shopping areas and extends past the cathedral in an approximately southerly direction. The street contains many gift shops, clothing stores, fast food restaurants and electronic goods dealers.
* [[Schildergasse]] – connects ''Neumarkt'' square at its western end to the ''Hohe Strasse'' shopping street at its eastern end and has been named the busiest shopping street in Europe with 13,000 people passing through every hour, according to a 2008 study by [[GfK]].
* Ehrenstraße – the shopping area around ''Apostelnstrasse'', ''Ehrenstrasse'', and ''Rudolfplatz'' is a little more on the quirky and stylish side.

===Bridges===
[[File:Bridge in Cologne over the Rhine River.jpg|thumb|left |Bridge in Cologne over the Rhine River]] [[File:Rhine River at Cologne, Germany.jpg|thumb|right|Rhine River at Cologne]]
Several bridges cross the Rhine in Cologne. They are (from south to north): the [[Cologne Rodenkirchen Bridge|Rodenkirchen Bridge]], [[South Bridge (Cologne)|South Bridge]] (railway), [[Severin Bridge]], [[Deutz Bridge]], [[Hohenzollern Bridge]] (railway), {{ill|Zoo Bridge|de|Zoobrücke}} (''Zoobrücke'') and [[Cologne Mülheim Bridge|Mülheim Bridge]]. In particular the iron [[tied arch bridge|tied arch]] Hohenzollern Bridge (''Hohenzollernbrücke'') is a dominant landmark along the river embankment. A Rhine crossing of a special kind is provided by the [[Cologne Cable Car]] (German: ''Kölner Seilbahn''), a cableway that runs across the river between the [[Cologne Zoological Garden]] in Riehl and the [[Rheinpark]] in Deutz.

===High-rise structures===
Cologne's tallest structure is the [[Colonius]] telecommunication tower at {{convert|266|m|ft|0|abbr=on|disp=or}}. The observation deck has been closed since 1992. A selection of the tallest buildings in Cologne is listed below. Other tall structures include the Hansahochhaus (designed by architect Jacob Koerfer and completed in 1925 – it was at one time Europe's tallest office building), the Kranhaus buildings at [[Rheinauhafen]], and the [[Messeturm Köln]] ("trade fair tower").

{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center; background:#fefef6; width:80%;"
|-
! Skyscraper
!class="unsortable"| Image
! Height in metres
! Floors
! Year
! Address
!class="unsortable"| Notes
|-
| align=left| [[KölnTurm]]
| [[File:Koeln-Turm 001.jpg|60px]]
| 148.5
| 43
| 2001
| align=left| [[MediaPark]] 8, Neustadt-Nord
| align=left| (literally: ''Cologne Tower''), Cologne's second tallest building at {{convert|165.48|m|ft|2}} in height, second only to the Colonius telecommunication tower. The 30th floor of the building has a restaurant and a terrace with 360° views of the city.
|-
| align=left| [[Colonia-Hochhaus]]
| [[File:Colonia-Haus.jpg|60px]]
| 147
| 45
| 1973
| align=left| An der Schanz 2, [[Riehl, Cologne|Riehl]]
| align=left| [[List of tallest buildings in Germany|tallest building in Germany]] from 1973 to 1976. Today, it is still the country's second tallest residential building.
|-
| align=left|Rheintower
| [[File:Hochhaus Deutsche Welle Köln-3588.jpg|60px]]
| 138
| 34
| 1980
| align=left| Raderberggürtel, Marienburg
| align=left| former headquarters of [[Deutsche Welle]], since 2007 under renovation with the new name ''Rheintower Köln-Marienburg''.
|-
| align=left| Uni-Center<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.unicenterkoeln.de/site/unser_haus/index.php |title=Homepage of the Uni-Center |publisher=Unicenterkoeln.de |access-date=8 August 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100327143823/http://www.unicenterkoeln.de/site/unser_haus/index.php |archive-date=27 March 2010}}</ref>
| [[File:Uni-Center-Koeln.jpg|60px]]
| 133
| 45
| 1973
| align=left| Luxemburger Straße, [[Sülz]]
| align=left|
|-
| align=left| [[TÜV Rheinland]]
| [[File:TÜV Rheinland, Köln-Poll.jpg|60px]]
| 112
| 22
| 1974
| align=left| Am Grauen Stein, [[Poll, Cologne|Poll]]
| align=left|
|-
| align=left| [[Ringturm, Cologne|Ringturm]]
| [[File:Grünanlage Theodor-Heuss-Ring Köln mit Ringturm-8184.jpg|60px]]
| 109
| 26
| 1973
| align=left| [[Ebertplatz]], [[Neustadt-Nord, Cologne|Neustadt-Nord]]
| align=left|
|-
| align=left| [[Justizzentrum Köln]]
| [[File:Ballonfahrt über Köln - Justizzentrum-RS-4013.jpg|60px]]
| 105
| 25
| 1981
| align=left| Luxemburger Straße, [[Sülz]]
| align=left|
|-
| align=left| [[KölnTriangle]]
| [[File:KölnTriangle (0684).jpg|60px]]
| 103
| 29
| 2006
| align=left| Ottoplatz 1, [[Deutz, Cologne|Deutz]]
| align=left| opposite to the cathedral with a {{convert|103|m|ft|0|abbr=on}} high viewing platform and a view of the cathedral over the Rhine.
|-
| align=left| Herkules-Hochhaus
| [[File:Herkulesbuilding.jpg|60px]]
| 102
| 31
| 1969
| align=left| Graeffstraße 1, [[Ehrenfeld, Cologne|Ehrenfeld]]
| align=left|
|-
| align=left| Deutschlandfunk-Turm
| [[File:Dlf2.jpg|60px]]
| 102
| 19
| 1975
| align=left| Raderberggürtel, Marienburg
| align=left|
|}

==Culture==
{{Main|History of theatre in Cologne}}
[[File:Kolumba Köln - Innenhof.jpg|thumb|Courtyard of the [[Kolumba]] museum in 2007, designed by [[Peter Zumthor]]]]
[[File:Skulptur Der Tauzieher Koeln2007 straight.JPG|thumb|''[[Tauzieher]]'', a [[limestone]] sculpture by Nikolaus Friedrich, 1911]]
Cologne has [[List of museums in Cologne|numerous museums]]. The famous [[Roman-Germanic Museum]] features art and architecture from the city's distant past; the [[Museum Ludwig]] houses one of the most important collections of [[modern art]] in Europe, including a [[Picasso]] collection matched only by the museums in [[Museu Picasso|Barcelona]] and [[Musée Picasso|Paris]]. The [[Museum Schnütgen]] of religious art is partly housed in St.&nbsp;Cecilia, one of Cologne's [[Twelve Romanesque churches of Cologne|Twelve Romanesque churches]]. Many art galleries in Cologne enjoy a worldwide reputation like e.g. [[Galerie Karsten Greve]], one of the leading galleries for postwar and contemporary art.

Cologne has more than 60 music venues and the third-highest density of music venues of Germany's four largest cities, after Munich and Hamburg and ahead of Berlin.<ref name="Faze Magazin-2021">{{Cite web |url=https://www.fazemag.de/clubstudie-2021-initiative-musik-legt-einzelauswertungen-der-bundeslaender-vor/ |title=Clubstudie 2021: Initiative Musik legt Einzelauswertungen der Bundesländer vor |trans-title=Club Study 2021: Initiative Musik presents individual evaluations of the German federal states |work=Faze Magazin |language=German |date=20 September 2021 |access-date=6 January 2022 |archive-date=3 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220103024902/https://www.fazemag.de/clubstudie-2021-initiative-musik-legt-einzelauswertungen-der-bundeslaender-vor/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="clubstudy_2021">{{Cite web |url=https://www.initiative-musik.de/clubstudie/clubstudie-bundeslaender |title=Clubstudie 2021: Einzelauswertungen der Bundesländer |trans-title=Club Study 2021: Individual evaluations of the German federal states |work=Initiative Musik |language=German |date=20 September 2021 |access-date=6 January 2022 |archive-date=3 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220103211440/https://www.initiative-musik.de/clubstudie/clubstudie-bundeslaender/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

Several orchestras are active in the city, among them the [[Gürzenich Orchestra]], which is also the orchestra of the [[Cologne Opera]] and the [[WDR Symphony Orchestra Cologne]] (''German State Radio Orchestra''), both based at the Cologne Philharmonic Orchestra Building ([[Kölner Philharmonie]]).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.koelner-philharmonie.de/en/00_home/00_home.php?Style=eb281b060898acfab42beae0870f44f6  |title=Kölner Philharmonie |date=11 December 2007 |access-date=8 August 2010 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20071211142559/http://www.koelner-philharmonie.de/en/00_home/00_home.php?Style=eb281b060898acfab42beae0870f44f6 |archive-date = 11 December 2007}}</ref> Other orchestras are the [[Musica Antiqua Köln]], the [[WDR Rundfunkorchester Köln]] and [[WDR Big Band]], and several choirs, including the [[WDR Rundfunkchor Köln]]. Cologne was also an important hotbed for electronic music in the 1950s (Studio für elektronische Musik, [[Karlheinz Stockhausen]]) and again from the 1990s onward. The public radio and TV station [[Westdeutscher Rundfunk|WDR]] was involved in promoting musical movements such as [[Krautrock]] in the 1970s; the influential [[Can (band)|Can]] was formed there in 1968. There are several centres of nightlife, among them the ''Kwartier Latäng'' (the student quarter around the Zülpicher Straße) and the nightclub-studded areas around [[Hohenzollernring]], Friesenplatz and Rudolfplatz.

[[File:Water feature in Cologne, Germany.jpg|thumb|left|Water feature in Cologne, summer 2017]]
{{anchor|lit.COLOGNE|Silberschweinpreis|phil.cologne}}The large annual literary festival {{ill|lit.COLOGNE|de}} with its {{ill|Silberschweinpreis|de}} features regional and international authors. The main literary figure connected with Cologne is the writer [[Heinrich Böll]], winner of the [[Nobel Prize for Literature]]. Since 2012, there is also an annual international festival of philosophy called {{ill|phil.cologne|de}}.

The city also has the most pubs per capita in Germany.<ref name="Nightlife">{{cite web|title=Nightlife|url=http://www.cologne.de/what-to-do/nightlife|publisher=KölnTourismus|access-date=13 September 2017|archive-date=13 September 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170913011256/http://www.cologne.de/what-to-do/nightlife|url-status=live}}</ref> Cologne is well known for its beer, called [[Kölsch (beer)|Kölsch]]. [[Colognian dialect|Kölsch]] is also the name of the local dialect. This has led to the common joke of Kölsch being the only language one can drink.

Cologne is also famous for [[Eau de Cologne]] (German: ''Kölnisch Wasser''; lit: "Water of Cologne"), a perfume created by Italian expatriate [[Johann Maria Farina]] at the beginning of the 18th century. During the 18th century, this perfume became increasingly popular, was exported all over Europe by the Farina family and ''Farina'' became a household name for ''Eau de Cologne''. In 1803 Wilhelm Mülhens entered into a contract with an unrelated person from Italy named Carlo Francesco Farina who granted him the right to use his family name and Mühlens opened a small factory at Cologne's Glockengasse. In later years, and after various court battles, his grandson [[Ferdinand Mülhens]] was forced to abandon the name ''Farina'' for the company and their product. He decided to use the house number given to the factory at Glockengasse during the French occupation in the early 19th century, [[4711 (brand)|4711]]. Today, original Eau de Cologne is still produced in Cologne by both the [[Johann Maria Farina gegenüber dem Jülichs-Platz|Farina family]], in the eighth generation, and by [[Mäurer & Wirtz]] who bought the 4711 brand in 2006.

===Carnival===
The [[Cologne carnival]] is one of the largest street festivals in Europe. In Cologne, the carnival season officially starts on 11 November at 11 minutes past 11&nbsp;a.m. with the proclamation of the new Carnival Season, and continues until [[Ash Wednesday]]. However, the so-called "Tolle Tage" (crazy days) do not start until ''Weiberfastnacht'' (Women's Carnival) or, in dialect, ''Wieverfastelovend'', the Thursday before Ash Wednesday, which is the beginning of the street carnival. Zülpicher Strasse and its surroundings, Neumarkt square, Heumarkt and all bars and pubs in the city are crowded with people in costumes dancing and drinking in the streets. Hundreds of thousands of visitors flock to Cologne during this time. Generally, around a million people celebrate in the streets on the Thursday before Ash Wednesday.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.stadt-koeln.de/en/koelntourismus/karneval/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080125230206/http://www.stadt-koeln.de/en/koelntourismus/karneval/ |archive-date=25 January 2008 |title=Carnival – Cologne's "fifth season" – Cologne Sights & Events – Stadt Köln |date=26 January 2008 |access-date=24 July 2009}}</ref>

=== Cuisine ===
[[File:Rheinische Muscheln.jpg|thumb|Mussels, Rhineland style]]
[[File:Sauerbraten.jpg|thumb|Rhenish ''Sauerbraten'' of horse meat in raisin sauce with dumplings and [[Apple sauce|applesauce]]]]
Cologne is shaped by a long culinary tradition that has been enriched with imported and sometimes exotic elements. Because of its prominent role in international trade, the local cuisine incorporated herring, mussels, and many spices very early on. In the Middle Ages, when [[Atlantic salmon|salmon]] (usually called ''Salm'' in Cologne) and [[allis shad]] (''Maifisch'') were still abundant in the Rhine, these fish were considered poor people’s food, while herring was very popular in bourgeois households. The Rhenish [[Atlantic herring|herring]] salad (''Heringsstipp'') with apples, onions, and cream still bears witness to this tradition. [[Mussel|Mussels]] “Rhenish style” are now a staple of local gastronomy.

As is typical in the [[Rhineland]], sweet and savory flavors are often combined. The fertile soil and favorable climate also make vegetables a major part of Cologne’s cuisine. A sweet-and-sour specialty is ''Rheinischer [[Sauerbraten]]'' (Rhenish pot roast), which was originally made with horse meat, as well as the simpler ''[[Himmel und Erde|Himmel un Ääd]]'' (Heaven and Earth)—a mix of mashed potatoes and apple sauce—served with fried blood sausage (''[[Flönz]]''). [[Savoy cabbage]] and asparagus are also commonly offered as seasonal vegetables.<ref>{{Cite web |title=9 Dinge, die man in Köln gegessen haben sollte |url=https://www.koeln.de/tourismus/ll/9-dinge-die-man-in-koeln-gegessen-haben-sollte/ |access-date=13 November 2025 |website=koeln.de}}</ref>

A special role in Cologne is played by the ''Brauhäuser'' (brewpubs). These establishments were originally created for serving beer from Cologne’s breweries but have since become key venues for traditional, hearty cuisine. In addition to the dishes mentioned, one can find filling meals such as ''Krüstchen'' (breaded pork cutlet with egg), ''[[Eisbein]]'' (“Hämchen”, boiled pork knuckle), ''Hachse'' (roasted pork knuckle), and potato pancakes (''[[Reibekuchen]]'' or ''Rievkooche''). Because they require considerable preparation, the latter are often available only on certain days. Popular accompaniments to ''[[Kölsch (beer)|Kölsch]]''—the local beer, served fresh from the barrel in these brewpubs—include [[steak tartare]] (''Tatar''), blood sausage (''Flönz''), or ''Halver Hahn'' (a rye roll with cheese and mustard).

Local pastry specialties include ''Mutze'', ''Muzemandeln'', and doughnuts (''Krapfen''), along with a wide variety of open and covered cakes, most commonly topped with apples or plums. Sweetening is sometimes done with [[Sugar beet|sugar beet syrup]] (''Rübenkraut''), which is also used as a bread spread.

===Rivalry with Düsseldorf===
{{main|Rivalry between Cologne and Düsseldorf}}

Cologne and [[Düsseldorf]] have a "[[Rivalry between Cologne and Düsseldorf|fierce regional rivalry]]",<ref name="Rivalry">{{cite news|title=Giving Beer A Home in the Rhineland|url=http://www.thelocal.de/society/20110728-36597.html|access-date=28 July 2011|newspaper=[[The Local]]|date=28 July 2011|archive-date=28 October 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111028121120/http://www.thelocal.de/society/20110728-36597.html|url-status=live}}</ref> which includes [[Carnival in Germany, Switzerland and Austria|carnival]] parades, [[ice hockey]], [[Association football|football]], and beer.<ref name="Rivalry"/> People in Cologne prefer [[Kölsch (beer)|Kölsch]] while people in Düsseldorf prefer [[Altbier]] ("Alt").<ref name="Rivalry"/> Waiters and patrons will "scorn" and make a "mockery" of people who order Alt beer in Cologne or Kölsch in Düsseldorf.<ref name="Rivalry"/> The rivalry has been described as a "love–hate relationship".<ref name="Rivalry"/> The Köln Guild of Brewers was established in 1396. The Kölsch beer style first appeared in the 1800s and in 1986 the breweries established an appellation under which only breweries in the city are allowed to use the term Kölsch.<ref>{{Cite web|date=21 August 2009|title=A Quick Visit to Cologne: Kolsch Anyone?|url=http://lyke2drink.blogspot.com/2009/08/quick-visit-to-cologne-kolsch-anyone.html|url-status=live|website=Lyke2Drink|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111104203549/http://lyke2drink.blogspot.com/2009/08/quick-visit-to-cologne-kolsch-anyone.html |archive-date=4 November 2011 }}</ref>

===Museums===
{{Main|List of museums in Cologne}}

[[File:Museum Ludwig Köln - Südeingang - Schriftzug.jpg|thumb|The Museum Ludwig houses one of the most important collections of [[modern art]].]]
[[File:Dionysusmozaïek 17-02-2009 10-51-23.JPG|thumb|Roman [[Excavation (archaeology)|excavation]] in Cologne: [[Dionysus]] Mosaic on display at Römisch-Germanisches Museum]]
* [[Fragrance Museum|Farina Fragrance Museum]] – birthplace of [[Eau de Cologne]]
* [[Romano-Germanic Museum|Römisch-Germanisches Museum]] (Roman-Germanic Museum) – ancient Roman and Germanic culture
* [[Wallraf-Richartz Museum]] – European painting from the 13th to the early 20th century
* [[Museum Ludwig]] – modern art
* [[Museum Schnütgen]] – medieval art
* [[Museum für Angewandte Kunst (Cologne)|Museum für Angewandte Kunst]] – [[applied art]]
* [[Kolumba|Kolumba Kunstmuseum des Erzbistums Köln]] ([[art museum]] of the Archbishopric of Cologne) – modern art museum built around medieval ruins of [[St. Kolumba, Cologne]], completed 2007
* Cathedral Treasury "Domschatzkammer" – historic underground vaults of the Cathedral
* [[EL-DE Haus]] – former local headquarters of the [[Gestapo]] houses a museum documenting [[Nazi]] rule in Cologne with a special focus on the persecution of political dissenters and minorities
* German Sports and Olympic Museum – exhibitions about sports from antiquity until the present
* [[Imhoff-Schokoladenmuseum]] – Chocolate Museum
* Geomuseum of the University of Cologne – the exhibition includes fossils (such as dinosaur bones and the skeleton of an [[Eryops]]), [[Rock (geology)|stones]] and [[minerals]]
* Forum for Internet Technology in Contemporary Art – collections of Internet-based art, corporate part of (NewMediaArtProjectNetwork):cologne, the experimental platform for art and New Media
* [[Flora und Botanischer Garten Köln]] – the city's formal park and main [[botanical garden]]
* [[Forstbotanischer Garten Köln]] – an [[arboretum]] and woodland [[botanical garden]]

===Music fairs and festivals===
The city was home to the internationally famous [[Ringfest]], and now to the C/o pop festival.<ref name="C/o pop">{{cite web
| url=http://www.c-o-pop.de/home.4.en.html
| title=C/o Pop Official Website
| access-date=2 May 2010
| archive-date=13 December 2010
| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101213161504/http://c-o-pop.de/home.4.en.html
| url-status=dead
}}</ref>

In addition, Cologne enjoys a thriving Christmas Market (''Weihnachtsmarkt'') presence with several locations in the city.

==Economy==
[[File:Koelnmesse Nordeingang.jpg|thumb|North entrance to [[Koelnmesse]], 2008]]
[[File:Rheinauhafen - The Bench - Rheinseite (1828-30).jpg|thumb|Modern office building at [[Rheinauhafen]], [[Electronic Arts|EA Games]] headquarters]]
As the largest city in the [[Rhine-Ruhr metropolitan region|Rhine-Ruhr]] metropolitan region, Cologne benefits from a large [[market structure]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.stadt-koeln.de/mediaasset/content/pdf80/cbg_2009_bfrei_deutsch.pdf|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20101215031037/http://www.stadt-koeln.de/mediaasset/content/pdf80/cbg_2009_bfrei_deutsch.pdf|title=Cologne Business Guide|archivedate=15 December 2010|website=www.stadt-koeln.de}}</ref> In competition with [[Düsseldorf]], the economy of Cologne is primarily based on insurance and [[Mass media|media industries]],<ref>{{cite encyclopedia|url=https://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/125964/Cologne/61370/Economy|title=Cologne|encyclopedia=Encyclopædia Britannica|access-date=2 June 2022|archive-date=2 February 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120202134125/http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/125964/Cologne/61370/Economy|url-status=live}}</ref> while the city is also an important cultural and research centre and home to a number of [[corporate headquarters]].

Among the largest media companies based in Cologne are [[Westdeutscher Rundfunk]], [[RTL (German TV channel)|RTL Television]] (with subsidiaries), [[n-tv]], [[Deutschlandradio]], [[Brainpool TV]] and publishing houses like J.&nbsp;P. Bachem, [[Taschen]], [[Tandem Verlag]], and [[M.&nbsp;DuMont Schauberg]]. Several clusters of media, arts and communications agencies, TV production studios, and state agencies work partly with private and government-funded cultural institutions. Among the insurance companies based in Cologne are Central, DEVK, DKV, [[Generali Deutschland]], [[Gen Re]], [[Gothaer Group|Gothaer]], HDI Gerling and national headquarters of [[Axa]] Insurance, [[Mitsui Sumitomo Insurance Group]] and [[Zurich Insurance Group|Zurich Financial Services]].

The German flag carrier [[Lufthansa]] and its subsidiary [[Lufthansa CityLine]] have their main corporate headquarters in Cologne.<ref name="FI">{{cite news | title= Directory: World Airlines | work= [[Flight International]] | page= 107 | date= 3 April 2007}}</ref> The largest employer in Cologne is [[Ford of Europe|Ford Europe]], which has its European headquarters and a factory in [[Niehl, Cologne|Niehl]] ([[Ford Germany|Ford-Werke GmbH]]).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ford.de/UeberFord|title=Über Ford – Standorte|work=Ford Germany|access-date=20 June 2009|language=de|archive-date=29 June 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090629212610/http://www.ford.de/UeberFord|url-status=live}}</ref> [[Toyota Gazoo Racing Europe|Toyota Motorsport GmbH]] (TMG), [[Toyota]]'s official motorsports team, responsible for Toyota rally cars, and then [[Formula One]] cars, has its headquarters and workshops in Cologne. Other large companies based in Cologne include the [[REWE Group]], [[Technischer Überwachungsverein|TÜV Rheinland]], [[Deutz AG]] and a number of [[Kölsch (beer)|Kölsch]] breweries. The largest three Kölsch breweries of Cologne are Reissdorf, Gaffel, and Früh.

{| class="wikitable"
! style="text-align:left;"| Brewery
! valign=bottom | Established
! valign=bottom | Annual output ''in hectoliters''
|-
| [[Heinrich Reissdorf]]
| 1894
| 650,000
|-
| [[Gaffel Becker & Co]]
| 1908
| 500,000
|-
| [[Cölner Hofbräu Früh]]
| 1904
| 440,000
|}

Historically, Cologne has always been an important trade city, with land, air, and sea connections.<ref name="Cologneeconomy"/> The city has five Rhine ports,<ref name="Cologneeconomy"/> the second largest [[inland port]] in Germany and one of the largest in Europe. [[Cologne Bonn Airport]] is the second largest freight terminal in Germany.<ref name="Cologneeconomy"/> Today, the [[Koelnmesse|Cologne trade fair]] (''Koelnmesse'') ranks as a major European trade fair location with over 50 trade fairs<ref name="Cologneeconomy"/> and other large cultural and sports events. In 2008 Cologne had 4.31&nbsp;million overnight stays booked and 2.38&nbsp;million arrivals.<ref name="Cologneglance"/> Cologne's largest daily newspaper is the ''[[Kölner Stadt-Anzeiger]]''.

Cologne shows a significant increase in [[Startup company|startup companies]], especially when considering digital business.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Institut der deutschen Wirtschaft Kölm|title=Kölner Digitalwirtschaft gut aufgestellt|url=http://www.iwkoeln.de/presse/pressemitteilungen/beitrag/start-up-szene-koelner-digitalwirtschaft-gut-aufgestellt-290107|access-date=28 October 2016|archive-date=28 October 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161028215433/http://www.iwkoeln.de/presse/pressemitteilungen/beitrag/start-up-szene-koelner-digitalwirtschaft-gut-aufgestellt-290107|url-status=dead}}</ref>

Cologne has also become the first German city with a population of more than a million people to declare climate emergency.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Deutsche Welle|title=Cologne becomes first big German city to declare climate emergency|website=[[Deutsche Welle]]|url=https://www.dw.com/en/cologne-becomes-first-big-german-city-to-declare-climate-emergency/a-49532684-0|access-date=18 July 2019|archive-date=11 July 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190711162909/https://www.dw.com/en/cologne-becomes-first-big-german-city-to-declare-climate-emergency/a-49532684-0|url-status=live}}</ref>

==Transport==
{{Main|Transport in Cologne}}

===Roads===
[[File:Koelner Ring.png|thumb|left|Major [[List of streets in Cologne|roads through and around Cologne]]]]
Road building had been a major issue in the 1920s under the leadership of mayor [[Konrad Adenauer]]. The first German limited-access road was constructed after 1929 between Cologne and [[Bonn]]. Today, this is the [[Bundesautobahn 555]]. In 1965, Cologne became the first German city to be fully encircled by a motorway ring road. Roughly at the same time, a city centre bypass (''Stadtautobahn'') was planned, but only partially put into effect, due to opposition by environmental groups. The completed section became ''Bundesstraße ("Federal Road") B 55a'', which begins at the ''Zoobrücke'' ("Zoo Bridge") and meets with [[Bundesautobahn 4|A&nbsp;4]] and [[Bundesautobahn 3|A&nbsp;3]] at the interchange Cologne East. Nevertheless, it is referred to as ''Stadtautobahn'' by most locals. In contrast to this, the ''Nord-Süd-Fahrt'' ("North-South-Drive") was actually completed, a new four/six-lane city centre through-route, which had already been anticipated by planners such as [[Fritz Schumacher (architect)|Fritz Schumacher]] in the 1920s. The last section south of ''Ebertplatz'' was completed in 1972.

In 2005, the first stretch of an eight-lane motorway in [[North Rhine-Westphalia]] was opened to traffic on [[Bundesautobahn&nbsp;3]], part of the eastern section of the [[Cologne Beltway]] between the interchanges Cologne East and Heumar.

===Cycling===
Compared to other German cities, Cologne has a traffic layout that is not very [[bicycle-friendly]]. It has repeatedly ranked among the worst in an independent evaluation<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.adfc.de/fahrradklima-test/adfc-startet-fahrradklima-test/adfc-fahrradklima-test-2014 |title=ADFC &#124; Wie fahrradfreundlich ist Ihre Stadt? |access-date=10 March 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150304204535/http://www.adfc.de/fahrradklima-test/adfc-startet-fahrradklima-test/adfc-fahrradklima-test-2014 |archive-date=4 March 2015}}</ref> conducted by the [[Allgemeiner Deutscher Fahrrad-Club]]. In 2014, it ranked 36th out of 39 German cities with a population greater than 200,000.

===Railway===
[[File:4517Bensberg.jpg|thumb|right|Cologne Stadtbahn at [[Bensberg (KVB)|Bensberg station]]]]
[[File:146 019-5 Rheinexpressinkoelnhbf.jpg|thumb|right|Train at Köln Hauptbahnhof]]
Cologne has a railway service with {{Lang|de|[[Deutsche Bahn]]|italic=no}} [[InterCity]] and [[InterCityExpress|ICE]]-trains stopping at [[Köln Hauptbahnhof]] (Cologne Main Station), [[Köln Messe/Deutz station|Köln Messe/Deutz]] and [[Cologne/Bonn Airport station|Cologne/Bonn Airport]]. ICE and [[Thalys|TGV Thalys]] high-speed trains link Cologne with [[Amsterdam]], Brussels (in 1h47, 9 departures/day) and Paris (in 3h14, 6 departures/day). There are frequent ICE trains to other German cities, including [[Frankfurt am Main]] and Berlin. ICE trains to [[London]] via the [[Channel Tunnel]] were planned for 2013.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/travel/travel-news/highspeed-trains-to-link-england-and-germany-20111013-1lmq8.html |title=High-speed trains to link England and Germany |work=Brisbane Times |date=16 October 2011 |access-date=26 January 2012 |archive-date=21 June 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120621035917/http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/travel/travel-news/highspeed-trains-to-link-england-and-germany-20111013-1lmq8.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

The [[Cologne Stadtbahn]] operated by [[Kölner Verkehrs-Betriebe|Kölner Verkehrsbetriebe]] (KVB)<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.kvb-koeln.de/ |title=Kölner Verkehrsbetriebe (KVB) |publisher=Kvb-koeln.de |access-date=24 July 2009 |archive-date=21 April 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080421184337/http://www.kvb-koeln.de/ |url-status=live }}</ref> is an [[List of Cologne KVB stations|extensive]] [[light rail]] system that is partially underground and serves Cologne and a number of neighbouring cities. It evolved from the tram system. Nearby [[Bonn]] is linked by both the Stadtbahn and main line railway trains, with occasional recreational boats on the Rhine. [[Düsseldorf]] is also linked by [[S-Bahn]] trains, which are operated by {{lang|de|Deutsche Bahn|italic=no}}.

The [[Rhine-Ruhr S-Bahn]] has 5 lines which cross Cologne. The S13/S19 runs 24/7 between Cologne Hbf and Cologne/Bonn airport.

===Buses===
There are frequent buses covering most of the city and surrounding suburbs, and [[Eurolines]] coaches to London via [[Brussels]].

===Water===
[[Stadtwerke Köln|Häfen und Güterverkehr Köln]] (Ports and Goods traffic Cologne, HGK) is one of the largest operators of [[inland port]]s in Germany.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.hgk.de/neu/english/contents/HGK_ports_cargo-handling-points.html |title=Häfen und Güterverkehr Köln AG |publisher=Hgk.de |access-date=8 August 2010 |archive-date=19 July 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110719040316/http://www.hgk.de/neu/english/contents/HGK_ports_cargo-handling-points.html |url-status=live }}</ref> Ports include Köln-Deutz, Köln-Godorf and Köln-Niehl&nbsp;I and II.

===Air===
Cologne's international airport is [[Cologne Bonn Airport|Cologne/Bonn Airport]] (CGN). It is also called ''Konrad Adenauer Airport'' after Germany's first post-war Chancellor [[Konrad Adenauer]], who was born in the city and was [[mayor of Cologne]] from 1917 until 1933. The airport is shared with the neighbouring city of [[Bonn]]. Cologne is headquarters to the [[European Aviation Safety Agency]] (EASA).

==Education==
Cologne is home to numerous universities and colleges,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://wissensdurst-koeln.de/category/wissenschaft-forschung/hochschulen/ |title=Hochschulen – Wissensdurst KĂśln – Das KĂślner Wissenschaftsportal |publisher=Wissensdurst-koeln.de |access-date=26 July 2010 |archive-date=19 July 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100719011744/http://www.wissensdurst-koeln.de/category/wissenschaft-forschung/hochschulen/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://wissensdurst-koeln.de/wp-content/uploads/2010/04/flyer-spitzenforschung.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110719114109/http://wissensdurst-koeln.de/wp-content/uploads/2010/04/flyer-spitzenforschung.pdf |archive-date=19 July 2011 |url-status=live |title=Forschungsschwerpunkte |publisher=Wissensdurst-koeln.de}}</ref> and host to some 72,000 students.<ref name="Cologneeconomy"/> Its oldest university, the [[University of Cologne]] (founded in 1388)<ref name="Cologne History"/> is the largest university in Germany, as the [[Cologne University of Applied Sciences]] is the largest [[Fachhochschule|university of Applied Sciences]] in the country. The Cologne University of Music and Dance is the largest [[Music school|conservatory]] in Europe.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.goethe.de/Ins/th/prj/nbc/edu/sch/enindex.htm |title=goethe.de |publisher=goethe.de |access-date=8 August 2010 |archive-date=26 July 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110726184629/http://www.goethe.de/Ins/th/prj/nbc/edu/sch/enindex.htm |url-status=live }}</ref> Foreigners can have German lessons in the VHS (Adult Education Centre).<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.stadt-koeln.de/en/5/00215/ |title=Cologne Adult Education Centre – City of Cologne |publisher=Stadt-koeln.de |access-date=16 November 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121104190033/http://www.stadt-koeln.de/en/5/00215/ |archive-date=4 November 2012}}</ref>
{|
|-
|valign=top|
* Public and state universities:
** [[University of Cologne]] (''Universität zu Köln'');
** [[German Sport University Cologne]] (''Deutsche Sporthochschule Köln'').
* Public and state colleges:
** [[Cologne University of Applied Sciences]] (''"Technology, Arts, Sciences TH KöLN" Technische Hochschule Köln'');
** [[Köln International School of Design]];
** [[Hochschule für Musik Köln|Cologne University of Music and Dance]] ({{Lang|de|Hochschule für Musik und Tanz Köln}});
** [[Academy of Media Arts Cologne]] (''Kunsthochschule für Medien Köln'');
* Private colleges:
** Catholic University of Applied Sciences (''Katholische Hochschule Nordrhein-Westfalen'');
** [[Cologne Business School]];
** [[international filmschool cologne]] (''internationale filmschule köln'');
** Rhenish University of Applied Sciences (''Rheinische Fachhochschule Köln'')
** University of Applied Sciences Fresenius (''Hochschule Fresenius'')
|valign=top|
* Research institutes:
** [[German Aerospace Centre]] (''Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt'');
** [[European Astronaut Centre]] (''EAC'') of the [[European Space Agency]];
** [[European College of Sport Science]] (''ECSS'');
** [[Max Planck Institute for the Biology of Ageing]] (''Max-Planck-Institut für die Biologie des Alterns'');
** [[Max Planck Institute for the Study of Societies]] (''Max-Planck-Institut für Gesellschaftsforschung'');
** Max Planck Institute for Neurological Research (''Max-Planck-Institut für neurologische Forschung'');
** [[Max Planck Institute for Plant Breeding Research]] (''Max-Planck-Institut für Züchtungsforschung'').
** CologneAMS – Centre for Accelerator Mass Spectrometry, Institute for Nuclear Physics, University of Cologne
Former colleges include:
* The [[Cologne Art and Crafts Schools]] (''Kölner Werkschulen'');
* The Cologne Institute for Religious Art (''Kölner Institut für religiöse Kunst'')
|}

Lauder Morijah School ({{langx|de|link=no|Lauder-Morijah-Schule}}), a Jewish school in Cologne, previously closed. After Russian immigration increased the Jewish population, the school reopened in 2002.<ref>{{cite web|last=Lipshiz|first=Cnaan|url=https://www.jta.org/2018/12/10/global/soviet-immigration-once-a-bane-of-germanys-jews-has-become-their-salvation|title=Soviet immigration, once a bane of Germany's Jews, has become their salvation|newspaper=[[Jewish Telegraphic Agency]]|date=10 December 2018|access-date=29 October 2020|archive-date=10 December 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181210220546/https://www.jta.org/2018/12/10/global/soviet-immigration-once-a-bane-of-germanys-jews-has-become-their-salvation|url-status=live}}</ref>

==Media==
Cologne, alongside [[Berlin]], [[Hamburg]], and [[Munich]], is one of Germany’s largest and most important centers for mass media, employing around 30,000 to 40,000 people in this sector. The city’s media landscape is highly diverse: in addition to major television and radio broadcasters and large publishing houses, a well-developed supporting industry has emerged in Cologne, encompassing a wide range of businesses—from agencies and production companies to technical service providers and equipment suppliers. The city is "Germany's capital of TV crime stories".<ref name="CologneProduction">{{cite web |title=Productions 'made in Cologne' |url=http://www.cologne-tourism.com/city-experience/media-capital/production-made-in-cologne.html#c4883 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100808143408/http://www.cologne-tourism.com/city-experience/media-capital/production-made-in-cologne.html#c4883 |archive-date=8 August 2010 |access-date=22 April 2011 |publisher=Cologne Tourism}}</ref> A third of all German TV productions are made in the [[Cologne (region)|Cologne region]].<ref name="CologneProduction" /> Furthermore, the city hosts the [[Cologne Comedy Festival]], which is considered to be the largest comedy festival in mainland Europe.<ref>{{cite web |date=21 October 2007 |title=Cologne Comedy Festival website |url=http://www.koeln-comedy.de/koelncomedy/index_en.html/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110719052807/http://www.koeln-comedy.de/koelncomedy/index_en.html/ |archive-date=19 July 2011 |access-date=5 May 2009 |publisher=Koeln-comedy.de}}</ref>

=== '''Radio,''' '''television, and music industry''' ===
[[File:Köln-Rheinhallen, Rhein - Luftaufnahme-0072.jpg|thumb|Rheinhalle]]
The public broadcaster [[Westdeutscher Rundfunk]] (WDR), Germany’s largest [[ARD (broadcaster)|ARD]] broadcasting institution and the country’s biggest broadcaster overall, employs around 3,500 people at its headquarters in Cologne. WDR operates television channels such as [[WDR Fernsehen]] and [[One (German TV channel)|one]], as well as several radio stations, including [[1LIVE]] and [[COSMO (German radio station)|COSMO]]. The nationwide public broadcaster [[Deutschlandradio]] also transmits from its Cologne headquarters, home to [[Deutschlandfunk]] (Dlf) and [[Deutschlandfunk Nova]]. In addition, the [[ARD ZDF Deutschlandradio Beitragsservice|Beitragsservice]] (formerly ''GEZ'', the public broadcasting fee collection service) is based in Cologne.

[[RTL Deutschland]], Europe’s largest private television company—with channels such as [[RTL (German TV channel)|RTL Television]], [[VOX (German TV channel)|VOX]], [[Super RTL]], [[Nitro (German TV channel)|Nitro]], and several specialized stations—has its headquarters in the Rheinhallen complex. The country’s first all-news channel, [[n-tv]], also belongs to RTL Deutschland and operates its main broadcast center in Cologne.

Other radio stations based in the city include Domradio and Radio Köln, which is part of Radio NRW. The private broadcasters [[bigFM]] and RPR1 maintain studios in the Capitol building. Cologne also hosts Kölncampus, its own [[Campus radio|campus radio station]].

The most successful German [[music television]] channel, [[VIVA Germany|VIVA]], was founded in Cologne in 1993 as [[Paramount International Networks|VIVA Media]]. From the cathedral city, it broadcast its main program until 2005, along with [[Viva Zwei|VIVA Zwei]]. After being acquired by [[MTV|MTV’s]] parent company [[Viacom (2005–2019)|Viacom]], VIVA was relocated to Berlin and later discontinued. From October 2005 to December 2014, [[center.tv]] broadcast daily programs exclusively about life in and around Cologne. From January 2015 to March 2016, the channel continued under the new name Köln.tv. The international broadcaster [[Deutsche Welle]] was also based in Cologne until its move to [[Bonn]] in 2003. The [[British Forces Broadcasting Service]] (BFBS) operated from the Marienburg district between January 1954 and October 1990.

The record label [[EMI]] Music Germany, which moved its headquarters from Cologne-Braunsfeld to the MediaPark in August 2000 and later to Cologne-Bickendorf, was acquired by [[Universal Music Group|Universal Music]] in 2011. As a result, only the local [[Colognian dialect|Kölsch]]-language label Rhingtön remained in Cologne. Several smaller record labels and music publishers are also located in the city.

=== '''Print''' '''media''' ===
Cologne is home to the publishing house [[M. DuMont Schauberg]], one of Germany’s most influential newspaper publishers. The ''[[Kölner Stadt-Anzeiger]]'' and the ''[[Kölnische Rundschau]]'', both printed there, cover Cologne, its metropolitan area, and extend into the [[Eifel]] and [[Bergisches Land]] regions. The tabloid ''[[Express (Cologne newspaper)|Express]]'', produced by the same publisher, is also distributed in the [[Düsseldorf]] area.

Business magazines such as ''[[Capital (German magazine)|Capital]]'' and ''[[Impulse (German magazine)|Impulse]]'' are also published in Cologne. Local monthly city magazines like ''StadtRevue'', ''Kölner'', and the ''Kölner Wochenspiegel''—published by Kölner Anzeigenblatt GmbH & Co. KG—play an important role in the local press landscape.

Internationally active publishing houses based in Cologne include [[Taschen]] and ''Verlag der Buchhandlung Walther König'', both known for their focus on art, architecture, and erotica. The city also hosts major literary publishers such as [[Kiepenheuer & Witsch]] and DuMont Buchverlag. Founded in 1918, the subreport ''Verlag Schawe'' has been based in Cologne since its inception. The [[Bastei Lübbe|Lübbe]] publishing group, one of Germany’s largest book publishers, relocated from [[Bergisch Gladbach]] to Cologne-Mülheim in 2010.

=== '''Institutions and''' '''locations''' ===
[[File:Mediapark (Köln) jm26120.jpg|thumb|Cologne Tower]]
A prominent media site in Cologne is the [[MediaPark]], located near Hansaring in the city center. Built between 1992 and 2003 on the grounds of the former Gereon railway yard, it covers 20 hectares and provides 174,000 m² of office space. Among its modern buildings, including the 148-meter-high [[Cologne Tower|KölnTurm]], around 250 companies with approximately 5,000 employees are based—about 60% of them working in the media and communications sector.

Key media institutions in Cologne include the [[Academy of Media Arts Cologne]] (''Kunsthochschule für Medien Köln''), the [[Internationale Filmschule Köln|International Film School Cologne]] (IFS Köln), and the GAG Academy for aspiring comedians. The city is also home to the Film Office of North Rhine-Westphalia (''Filmbüro NRW''). Many small film production companies, especially in the Belgian Quarter, provide services and equipment to larger production firms.

Large-scale studios and production facilities, which require more space, are located on the city’s outskirts—such as the WDR studios in Bocklemünd or the media center in [[Mülheim, Cologne|Mülheim]]. Around the E-Werk, a major event hall on a former industrial site, many artists, agencies, and several television studios have established themselves; productions for channels like [[Sat.1]] and [[ProSieben]] take place there.

In the northwest of the city, the Coloneum—one of Europe’s largest studio complexes with a usable area of 157,000 m²—is located on the grounds of the former [[Cologne Butzweilerhof Airport|Butzweilerhof]] airfield. In the southwest, between Cologne and Hürth, large studio complexes for Nobeo and MMC were built, where numerous shows for Sat.1 and RTL are produced, including those by the production company action concept.

==Sports==
[[File:FIFA WM06 Stadion Koeln.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.05|RheinEnergieStadion is the stadium of Bundesliga club 1. FC Köln.]]
Cologne hosts the football club [[1. FC Köln]],<ref name="Colognesports">{{cite web|title=Sport and relaxation|url=http://www.cologne.de/what-to-do/sport-and-relaxation.html|publisher=Cologne Tourist Information|access-date=13 March 2013|archive-date=4 April 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130404222620/http://www.cologne.de/what-to-do/sport-and-relaxation.html|url-status=live}}</ref> who play currently in the [[Bundesliga]] after being promoted from the second division in 2025. They play their home matches in [[RheinEnergieStadion]] which also hosted five matches of the [[2006 FIFA World Cup]].<ref name="Kölnstadion">{{cite web|title=The RheinEnergie Stadium|url=http://www.fc-koeln.de/en/club/stadium/|publisher=[[1. FC Köln]]|access-date=20 April 2011|archive-date=17 March 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110317160925/http://www.fc-koeln.de/en/club/stadium/|url-status=live}}</ref> The [[International Olympic Committee]] and the [[Internationale Vereinigung Sport- und Freizeiteinrichtungen|International Association of Sports and Leisure Facilities]] gave RheinEnergieStadion a bronze medal for "being one of the best sporting venues in the world".<ref name="Kölnstadion"/> The city also hosts the two football clubs [[FC Viktoria Köln]] and [[SC Fortuna Köln]], who play in the [[3. Liga]] (third division) and the [[Regionalliga West]] (fourth division) respectively. Cologne's oldest football club [[1. FSV Köln 1899]] is playing with its amateur team in the [[Verbandsliga]] (sixth division).

Cologne also is home of the ice hockey team [[Kölner Haie]], which is playing in the highest [[ice hockey]] league in Germany, the [[Deutsche Eishockey Liga]].<ref name="Colognesports"/> They are based at [[Lanxess Arena]].<ref name="Colognesports"/>

Several horse races per year are held at [[Cologne-Weidenpesch Racecourse]] since 1897, the annual [[Cologne Marathon]] was started in 1997 and the classic cycling race [[Rund um Köln]] is organised in Cologne since 1908. The city also has a long tradition in [[rowing (sport)|rowing]], being home of some of Germany's oldest regatta courses and boat clubs, such as the [[Kölner Rudergesellschaft 1891]] or the [[Kölner Ruderverein von 1877]] in the [[Rodenkirchen]] district.

Japanese automotive manufacturer [[Toyota]] has their major [[motorsport]] facility known by the name [[Toyota Gazoo Racing Europe|Toyota Motorsport GmbH]], which is located in the Marsdorf district, and is responsible for Toyota's major motorsport development and operations, which in the past included the [[Formula One|FIA Formula One World Championship]], the [[World Rally Championship|FIA World Rally Championship]] and the [[European Le Mans Series|Le Mans Series]]. They are working on Toyota's team [[Toyota Gazoo Racing]] which competes in the [[FIA World Endurance Championship]].

Cologne is considered "the secret golf capital of Germany".<ref name="Colognesports"/> The first golf club in [[North Rhine-Westphalia]] was founded in Cologne in 1906.<ref name="Colognesports"/> The city offers the most options and top events in Germany.<ref name="Colognesports"/>

The city has hosted several athletic events which includes the [[2005 FIFA Confederations Cup]], 2006 FIFA World Cup, [[2007 World Men's Handball Championship]], [[2010 IIHF World Championship|2010]] and [[2017 IIHF World Championship|2017 Ice Hockey World Championships]], [[2024 FIFA European Championship]] and [[2010 Gay Games]].<ref name="Facts and figures"/>

Since 2014, the city has hosted [[ESL One Cologne (disambiguation)|ESL One Cologne]]<!--Intentional link to DAB page-->, one of the biggest [[Counter-Strike]] tournaments held annually in July/August at [[Lanxess Arena]].

Furthermore, Cologne is home of the [[SC Colonia 06|Sport-Club Colonia 1906]], Germany's oldest boxing club, and the [[Kölner Athleten-Club 1882]], the world's oldest active weightlifting club.

==Notable people==

* [[Jean Bugatti]] (1909–1939), automotive designer and test engineer
* [[Heinrich Böll]] (1917–1985), German Writer, Nobel Prize for Literature 1972
* [[Paul-Jürgen Weber]] (born 1942), visual artist and photographer
* [[Udo Kier]] (born 1944), German actor
* [[Wolfgang Voigt]] (born 1961), [[Disc jockey|DJ]] and [[Record producer|producer]]
* [[Markus N. Beeko]] (born 1967), human rights activist
* [[Angela Gossow]] (born 1974), German singer, former lead singer for Arch Enemy
* [[Leon Draisaitl]] (born 1995), ice hockey player
* [[Marie Reim]] (born 2000), singer
* [[Justin Diehl]] (born 2004), professional footballer
* [[Mathilda Paatz]] (born 2008), racing driver

==Twin towns – sister cities==
{{See also|List of twin towns and sister cities in Germany}}
Cologne is [[Sister city|twinned]] with:<ref>{{cite web|title=Kölner Partnerstädte|url=https://www.stadt-koeln.de/artikel/05717/index.html|website=stadt-koeln.de|publisher=Cologne|language=de|access-date=4 November 2020|archive-date=18 April 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210418151837/https://www.stadt-koeln.de/artikel/05717/index.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
{{div col|colwidth=20em}}
*{{flagicon|ESP}} [[Barcelona]], Spain (1984)
*{{flagicon|CHN}} [[Beijing]], China (1987)
*{{flagicon|PSE}} [[Bethlehem]], Palestine (1996)
*{{flagicon|ROU}} [[Cluj-Napoca]], Romania (1976)
*{{flagicon|NIC}} [[Corinto, Nicaragua|Corinto]], Nicaragua (1988)
*{{flagicon|IRL}} [[Cork (city)|Cork]], Ireland (1988)
*{{flagicon|UKR}} [[Dnipro]], Ukraine (2024)<ref>{{cite web|title=Neue Städtepartnerschaft mit Dnipro|url=https://www.stadt-koeln.de/artikel/73583/index.html|website=stadt-koeln.de|publisher=Cologne|language=de|access-date=14 November 2024}}</ref>
*{{flagicon|LUX}} [[Esch-sur-Alzette]], Luxembourg (1958)
*{{flagicon|USA}} [[Indianapolis]], United States (1988)
*{{flagicon|TUR}} [[Istanbul]], Turkey (1997)
*{{flagicon|POL}} [[Katowice]], Poland (1991)
*{{flagicon|JPN}} [[Kyoto]], Japan (1963)
*{{flagicon|BEL}} [[Liège]], Belgium (1958)
*{{flagicon|FRA}} [[Lille]], France (1958)
*{{flagicon|UK}} [[Liverpool]], England (1952)
*{{flagicon|GER}} [[Neukölln|Neukölln (Berlin)]], Germany (1967)
*{{flagicon|NIC}} [[El Realejo]], Nicaragua (1988)
*{{flagicon|BRA}} [[Rio de Janeiro]], Brazil (2011)
*{{flagicon|NED}} [[Rotterdam]], Netherlands (1958)
*{{flagicon|ISR}} [[Tel Aviv]], Israel (1979)
*{{flagicon|GRC}} [[Thessaloniki]], Greece (1988)
*{{flagicon|GER}} [[Treptow-Köpenick|Treptow-Köpenick (Berlin)]], Germany (1990)
*{{flagicon|TUN}} [[Tunis]], Tunisia (1964)
*{{flagicon|ITA}} [[Turin]], Italy (1958)
*{{flagicon|FIN}} [[Turku]], Finland (1967)

{{colend|colwidth=20em}}

===Former twin towns===
*{{flagicon|RUS}} [[Volgograd]], Russia (1988) - suspended in 2022<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.t-online.de/region/koeln/news/id_91782198/koeln-legt-beziehung-zu-wolgograd-auf-eis-.html|title=Köln legt Beziehung zu Wolgograd auf Eis|date=2022-07-03|accessdate=2023-10-21}}</ref>

==See also==
{{Portal|Germany|Europe}}
* [[Stadtwerke Köln]], the municipal infrastructure company, operator of the city's railways, ports, and other utilities
* [[New Year's Eve sexual assaults in Germany]]
* [[Hänneschen-Theater]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{Sister project links|voy=Cologne}}
{{EB1911 poster|Cologne}}
* {{official website|https://www.stadt-koeln.de}} {{in lang|de|en|mul}}

{{Geographic location
|Centre    = Cologne
|North     = [[Düsseldorf]]
|Northeast = [[Wuppertal]]
|East      = [[Siegen]]
|Southeast = [[Koblenz]]
|South     = [[Bonn]]
|Southwest = [[Brühl, North Rhine-Westphalia|Brühl]]
|West      = [[Aachen]]
|Northwest = [[Neuss]]
}}

{{Districts of Cologne}}
{{Germany districts north rhine-westphalia}}
{{Cities in Germany}}
{{Hanseatic League}}
{{Free Imperial Cities}}

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Cologne| ]]<!--Empty space per standard-->
[[Category:Cities in North Rhine-Westphalia]]
[[Category:Urban districts of North Rhine-Westphalia]]
[[Category:Cologne (region)]]
[[Category:Populated places on the Rhine]]
[[Category:Rhineland]]
[[Category:Catholic pilgrimage sites]]
[[Category:Holy cities]]
[[Category:Members of the Hanseatic League]]
[[Category:Coloniae (Roman)]]
[[Category:Roman towns and cities in Germany]]
[[Category:Germania Inferior]]
[[Category:Free imperial cities]]
[[Category:Populated places established in the 1st century BC]]
[[Category:30s BC establishments]]
[[Category:38 BC]]
[[Category:Burial sites of the Pippinids]]
[[Category:Holocaust locations in Germany]]