Cologne
Additionally, Cologne boasts a welcoming community to all visitors regardless of where they came from. This is best observed during carnival - and Cologne is famous for its interpretation of carnival which is about “Kölsch” (the local beer), dancing, and singing (and kissing). Every year there are hundreds of new songs composed for the fifth season, as people from Cologne call the carnival season. The songs are about the beloved city of Cologne, celebrating carnival, partying with friends as well as strangers, the infinite wisdom of life, the neighborhood, and above all about love.
Besides the historic “Altstadt” (Old Town) with its mostly reconstructed streets but full of history dating back to Roman times, there are many vibrant neighborhoods, which are called “Veedel” in Cologne: there is the “Belgisches Viertel” (Belgian Quarter), the “Südstadt” (South City), Lindenthal, Ehrenfeld, or Nippes where our tango venue is located just a few minutes off the central shopping street “Neusser Strasse”. Nippes also hosts the only daily street market of Cologne at “Wilhelmplatz” as well as one of the grand places of the carnival of Cologne, the “Em Golde Kappes”.
So when you come to dance with us at “Carnaval de mi barrio”, maybe you want to spend a few more days in Cologne and explore a city that embodies passion, history, artistry, and community.
With roots dating back to Roman times, Cologne is steeped in history, offering a unique backdrop for every visitor. The iconic Cologne Cathedral, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, stands as a testament to the city’s architectural grandeur and history as it survived the bombings during the Second World War while huge parts of the city were massively destroyed. Its breathtaking Gothic design provides a stunning view and also remains an eternal construction site - you never see it without some kind of scaffolding. It is so huge that repair work will never cease. Actually, people from Cologne are afraid ever to see it without any scaffolding, as this would certainly mean that the end of times had come. The cathedral was at the center of a controversial discussion around art and religion when a central window pane by Gerhard Richter, one of Germany’s most well–known living artists, was installed in 2007.
Cologne is also famous for its lively arts scene. The city is home to numerous theaters, galleries, and museums, creating an atmosphere that celebrates creativity and expression. Let us name just a few outstanding museums to visit: Museum Ludwig (modern art of the superlatives), Wallraf-Richartz-Museum (from Middle Ages to an extensive collection of modern art), Kolumba (astonishing mix of architecture, design and wood-craftsmanship by the architect Peter Zumthor), and last not least “The Chocolate Museum” (not only for chocolate addicts), see https://museenkoeln.de/portal/Whats-on.
