UK to Cologne
March 10, 2009 by Tom Martens
Filed under Flights
Are you considering a visit Cologne? UK travelers will have the most luck booking flights from London’s Heathrow Airport, which offers frequent direct and connecting flights to Cologne Bonn International Airport. This historic city on the northern reaches of the Rhine also offers an efficient public transit system, including light rail, making traveling around the city very easy inexpensive for UK visitors. Bicycle enthusiasts will find plenty of bicycle paths and trails taking them almost anywhere in the city.
Cologne is the largest city in the German industrial heartland of North Rhine-Westphalia and is the fourth largest city in Germany after Berlin, Hamburg and Munich. It is also one of the oldest cities in Germany. Cologne was bombed hundreds of times during World War II, which destroyed the city?s center and drastically reduced its population. Cologne was the site of “Operation Millennium”, the first 1,000 bomber raid by the Royal Air Force. Heavy bombers attacked Cologne with 1,455 tons of explosive. This raid lasted about 75 minutes, destroyed 600 acres, killed 486 civilians and left 59,000 residents homeless. Cologne was such a heavy target by the Allies because Allied forces believed that destroying Cologne would severely damage German morale and force them to surrender. Cologne eventually rebuilt and repopulated and is now thriving.
Cologne has many landmarks, among them the Cologne Cathedral, Cologne University the Farina House (birthplace of eau de cologne fragrance), and the Roman-Germanic Museum. The city was mostly rebuilt in the 1950s, and its architecture and style greatly reflect that time period.
The art scene of Cologne is legendary. It is home to more than 30 museum as well as hundreds of galleries. Cologne attracts thousands of dealers each year to trade exhibitions such the Cologne Fine Art Fair and Art Cologne. The Ludwig Museum specializes in pop art, including works by Salvador Dali and Andy Warhol. The museum has one of the world’s largest collections of works by Pablo Picasso. Cologne is also famous for its celebration of the annual reggae Summerjam, the Cologne Carnival, and the gay and lesbian pride festival Christopher Street Day.
There are several television and radio stations based in Cologne. Visitors should also take a go at the Cologne Comedy Festival, usually reckoned to be the largest comedy festival in Europe. And don’t forget the Cologne Carnival, which traditionally begins at 11 minutes past 11 on the 11th of November. Carnival is temporarily suspended during the Advent and Christmas, and then resumes on New Year’s and ends on Ash Wednesday.
As you will find in any city in Germany, beer is very popular in Cologne. The local brew is known as Kolsch. Tourists and natives alike take their beer with traditional German fare like sausage, cheese, strudel, and kraut. But UK tourists report that beer seems to be more popular than food in Cologne.
The fourth largest city in German has much to offer visitors, including unique culture, architecture, nature, festivals and local delicacies. The frequent availability of flights, extensive public transportation and plenty of cycling paths make it easy to visit Cologne.
