Cologne

Cologne (German: {{Audio|De-Köln.ogg|Köln}} ; Kölsch: Kölle) is, in terms of population, the fourth largest city in Germany and the largest city of the German province of North Rhine-Westphalia. It is best known for its Cathedral, its uniquely brewed Kölsch beer, the original Eau de Cologne, and its celebration of Carnival and Christopher Street Day.

Related Topics:
German - Kölsch - Germany - North Rhine-Westphalia - Cathedral - Kölsch - Eau de Cologne - Carnival - Christopher Street Day

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It is one of the most important German inland ports, and considered the economic, cultural, and historic capital of the Rhineland. It is the 16th largest city in the European Union. At the end of 2004, Cologne's population was 969,709, using the standard method of only counting persons whose primary residence (German: Hauptwohnsitz) was in the city. The city of Cologne includes those with non-primary residences (German: Nebenwohnsitz) in its figure, raising it to 1,022,627.

Related Topics:
Rhineland - 16th largest city in the European Union

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Its location at the intersection of the river Rhine (German: Rhein) with one of the major trade routes between eastern and western Europe was the foundation of Cologne's commercial importance. In the Middle Ages it also became an ecclesiastical centre of significance and an important centre of arts and education. Cologne was devastated by the Allies during World War II, by the end of which 99% of Cologne's Jewish population had been annihilated.

Related Topics:
Rhine - Middle Ages - The Allies - World War II

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Cologne has one university, which has around 49,000 students (autumn semester 2004/2005) and is renowned for its economics program. In addition to the university, it has three colleges. Fachhochschule Köln (University of Applied Sciences of Cologne), with its 18,000 students, is the biggest college in Germany. A total of 70,000 students study in Cologne.

Related Topics:
Fachhochschule - University of Applied Sciences

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Cologne is the seat of a Roman Catholic archdiocese. Cologne Cathedral (German: Kölner Dom), a Gothic church, was completed in 1848.

Related Topics:
Roman Catholic - Cologne Cathedral - Gothic - Church - 1848

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In 1996, it was designated a World Heritage site; it is the city's major landmark and unofficial symbol, and claims to house the relics of the Three Kings. The city is 43% Roman Catholic and 18% Protestant, while 39% of the population professes other religions or none. Until World War II and the ensuing process of urbanisation and influx of refugees from Eastern Germany, Roman Catholics comprised the vast majority of Cologne's residents, and the Catholic cultural influence is strongly present in the city today, particularly regarding the celebration of Carnival.

Related Topics:
1996 - World Heritage site - Relics - Three Kings - World War II - Carnival

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Cologne has 31 museums. Exhibits range from archeological findings to contemporary painting. Alongside the established places of art exists a thriving arts scene, represented yearly at "Art Cologne", Germany's biggest arts fair.

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The city plays a paramount role in Germany's television industry. It is home to Westdeutscher Rundfunk (WDR) - the biggest branch of Germany's first public broadcaster ARD - since 1926 http://www.wdr.de/unternehmen/basis_struktur/geschichte/1920.jhtml. When the market was opened for commercial television stations in Germany in the 1980s, Cologne established itself as home base for several of those stations, RTL being the biggest and commercially most successful one. Today, Cologne is home to a wide range of television and film production companies, even though Berlin has attracted parts of the industry after re-unification.

Related Topics:
WDR - ARD - RTL - Berlin

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Cologne has an active gay scene and has long been known for its easy-going, tolerant attitudes. The city is a stronghold of Germany's gay movement and the headquarters of Germany's largest gay and lesbian lobby group. Although Berlin receives more international attention, Cologne still hosts Germany's biggest Gay Pride event known as Christopher Street Day.

Related Topics:
Gay scene - Gay Pride - Christopher Street Day

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20% of Cologne's population is non-German. 40% of these (or 8% of the total population) are Turkish.

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Cologne is well known for its beer, called Kölsch. Kölsch is also the name of the local dialect. This has led to the common joke that Kölsch is the only language you can drink.

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The other liquid that Cologne is famous for is Eau de Cologne. At the beginning of the 18th century, Italian expatriate Johann Maria Farina (1685-1766) created a new fragrance and named it after his hometown Cologne, Eau de Cologne (Water from Cologne). In the course of the 18th century the fragrance became increasingly popular. Eventually, Cologne merchant Wilhelm Mülhens secured the name Farina, which at that time had become a household name for Eau de Cologne, under contract and opened a small factory at Cologne's Glockengasse. In later years and under pressure of court battles his grandson Ferdinand Mülhens chose a new name for the firm and their product. It was the house number that was given to the factory at Glockengasse during French occupation of the Rhineland in the early 19th century, number 4711. In 1994, the Mülhens family sold their company to German Wella corporation. Today, original Eau de Cologne (German: Kölnisch Wasser) still is produced in Cologne by both the Farina family (Farina gegenüber since 1709), currently in the eighth generation, and by Procter & Gamble who took over Wella in 2003.

Related Topics:
Eau de Cologne - Johann Maria Farina - 18th century - Ferdinand Mülhens - Rhineland - 4711 - 1994 - Procter & Gamble - 2003

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In 2005 Cologne hosted one of the largest-ever meetings of Catholic youth. The 20th World Youth Day took place from Monday, August 15, until Sunday, August 21 and over a million people celebrated mass (vigil) at Marienfeld (Mary's Field) in the presence of Pope Benedict XVI.

Related Topics:
2005 - Catholic - 20th World Youth Day - August 15 - August 21 - Mass - Vigil - Marienfeld - Pope Benedict XVI

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