Cologne is, in terms of population, the fourth largest city in Germany and the largest city in the state of North Rhine-Westphalia, located in the west of the country. It is one of the most important German river ports and considered the urban, economic, cultural, administrative and historical capital of the Rhineland. It is the 4th largest German city and the 16th largest city in the European Union.

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Framed by the banks of the Rhine and the Hohenzollern bridge, with their colorful houses built next to each other, adorned with the Gothic cathedral and the Romanesque church of St. Martin, the historic city center has a variety of restaurants, bars and snack bars that invite tourists to take a break in their narrow alleys.
The term "historic center" today refers to only a fraction of the part of the city that was surrounded by a wall in the Middle Ages. Historically, this is where the old port was built, built in one of the arms of the Rhine, landed in the year 950. Where a part of the river was once seen, the Benedictine monastery of Saint Martin was built, which became the center of the neighborhood.
Across the church was created the medieval "old market" (Alter Markt), which the composer Willi Ostermann described as "peculiarity of Cologne".

The Cathedral is for Cologne as is the Christ the Redeemer for Rio de Janeiro or the Statue of Liberty for New York. Next to the central railway station, construction is the most important landmark of the city - to the south, the historical center is located, to the southwest, the largest shopping center.
Already in the 4th century, there was a church in the place where the cathedral is today.
 
The zoo of Cologne seeks to locate their animals in scenarios of their natural habitat.
In the 20 hectares of the zoo of Cologne live 700 animals.
 
The Cologne cable car is the only one in Germany that crosses a river. It connects between the zoo bridge and the two banks of the Rhine.
The cable car runs from April to October, daily.
 
The Rheinpark is a large garden, planted for the 1957 gardening sample.
Through the park there is a two-kilometer racetrack special for children and in its surroundings is the Claudius Thermen, a thermal water park. To the south is Tanzbrunnen, a place well known for the performances of famous artists from all over the world, especially in the summer.

Of the seven bridges that cross the Rhine, the Hohenzollern is the most massive and rustic, illuminated at night.
South of the bridge is the Ludwig Museum. Below the building is the Philharmonic. The concert hall, known for its acoustics and the famous artists who have performed there, is, in part, beneath the mirror of the Rhine.

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Cologne is one of the most important cities in Germany, because of its location on the banks of the Rhine, its gastronomy uses aquatic resources from the foundations of fishing and agriculture; in addition it presents / displays remarkable foreign infuences that bring him variety and importance.

Main ingredients of Cologne
 
Here, as mentioned before, peaches such as herring, vegetables and pork, beef or chicken are very popular. Various types of sausages are prepared and are accompanied by potatoes and vegetables, a little sauerkraut or mustard.

Like all food, it also has drinks, that's why in Cologne highlights the Kölsch, which is the beer of purely Colonial production; This is a light beer with a less bitter taste than normal.

Main Dishes

Rheinischer Sauerbraten - It is the typical dish of Cologne, is a marinade of horse meat and is accompanied by a sweet and sour stew.
Kartoffelklöße - They are potato buns stuffed with meat or some other product.
Apfelmus - It's the simple applesauce.
Salzkartoffeln - Small potatoes cooked in shell.
Spätzle - It is a paste made with egg and that in Cologne takes an elongated form.

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The climate in Cologne is, unlike other German cities, is one of the most temperate.
The summer runs from May to August and has an average temperature of 20 ° C. Winter appears from November to February but not as raw as in other parts of Germany with an average of 1 ° C. Precipitations are quite moderate, the city does not have a specific rainy season.

The city has the presence of the Föhn wind, which is generally warm and avoids rains. This air is warm, which gives this average temperature to Colonia and creates the atmosphere of humidity in the city.

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