Cologne (German: Köln ▶ (help·info) [kœln]; Kölsch: Kölle) is Germany's fourth largest city after Berlin, Hamburg and Munich. Cologne lies on the River Rhine in the German Federal State of North Rhine-Westphalia about half way between Frankfurt and Amsterdam. It is the largest city in the Rhine-Ruhr Area, one of the largest European metropol ...

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Main article: History of Cologne Cologne became a city in 50 A.D. In 310 Constantine built a bridge over the Rhine at Cologne. Cologne had a bishop as early as 313, and, in 785, became the seat of an archbishop. The Archbishop of Cologne was one of the seven Electors of the Holy Roman Empire. He ruled a large area as a secular lord in the Middle Ages, but in 1288 he was defeated by the Cologne citizens and forced to move to Bonn. Cologne was a member of the Hanseatic League, but became a free city officially in 1475. Interestin ...

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Cologne, Cologne - Geography, Cologne - The Coat of Arms of Cologne, Cologne - History, Cologne - Sister cities, Cologne - Buildings and places of interest in Cologne, Cologne - Legalities, Cologne - Born in Cologne

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The three crowns symbolise the Magi or Three Kings whose bones are said to be kept in a golden sarcophagus in the Cathedral (see Shrine of the Three Kings at Cologne Cathedral). In 1164, Cologne's archbishop Rainald of Dassel brought the relics to the city, making it a major pilgrimage destination. This led to the design of the current cathedral as the predecessor was considered too small to accommodate the pilgrims. The eleven flames are a reminder of the Britannic princess St. Ursula and her legendary 11,000 virgin companions who we ...

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Cologne, Cologne - Geography, Cologne - The Coat of Arms of Cologne, Cologne - History, Cologne - Sister cities, Cologne - Buildings and places of interest in Cologne, Cologne - Legalities, Cologne - Born in Cologne

Read more here: » Cologne: Encyclopedia II - Cologne - The Coat of Arms of Cologne

The centre of Cologne was completely destroyed during World War II. The reconstruction of the city, while respecting the old layout and naming of the streets, followed the style of the 1950s. Thus, the city today is characterised by simple and modest post-war buildings, with few interspersed pre-war buildings which were reconstructed due to their historical importance. Some buildings of the "Wiederaufbauzeit" (era of reconstruction) as e.g. the opera house by Wilhelm Riphahn are nowadays regarded as classics in modern architecture. Neverthel ...

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Cologne, Cologne - Geography, Cologne - The Coat of Arms of Cologne, Cologne - History, Cologne - Sister cities, Cologne - Buildings and places of interest in Cologne, Cologne - Legalities, Cologne - Born in Cologne

Read more here: » Cologne: Encyclopedia II - Cologne - Buildings and places of interest in Cologne