Cologne during the times of the Romans

The Celts first settled in present-day Cologne, followed by a German tribe, the Ubier, whom are considered the first inhabitants fo Cologne - the first Cologne settlement lived peacefully. Following the signing

The Roman north gate opposite the Dom. Photo: Wagner

of a peace agreement with the occupying Romans, the Ubier moved from the right bank to the left bank of the Rhine. Together the Romans and Ubier founded the common settlement oppidum ubiorum (city of the Ubier) and constructed a new provinical state. Per wish of Agrippina, who was born

in Cologne later married to Kaiser Claudius, attained for the Ubierian sttlement in 50 ACE Roman city status and dubbed the area "Colonia Claudia Ara Agrippinensium" (CCAA). Translated, the name means "Colony of Claudius and site of the Alter of Agrippina".

For further information about the Roman era, contact the Roman-Germanic Museum, located next to the Dom (cathedral), phone 2 44 38.

Some famous personalities from Cologne

	AGRIPPINA, THE YOUNG (15-59 ACE). Born in present-day Cologne, she was married to Kaiser Claudius, and mothered Caesar Nero in 48 ACE. In the year 50, she gave Cologne city status. After that, she was no longer so nice; in 54 she poisoned her husband in order to bring her son Nero to the throne. He had his mother assasinated in 59.
	ALBERTUS MAGNUS (ca. 1200-1280 ACE). Dominican order, he was a teacher of Theology in Paris, built and ran a learning center in Cologne in 1248. One of his students was Thomas Aquainus. Most popular are his written works of Aristotle. He operated a school for Natural Sciences. His remains lie in the St. Andreas Cathedral in Cologne.
	STEFAN LOCHNER (ca. 1400-1451). Most important patron of the Cologne Art School. Stefan Lochner worked in Cologne starting in 1430 and was later a member of the City Council. Lochner’s most famous works are "Madonna in the Rose Arbor", "The Young Judge" or "City-Patron Alter". His works hang in the Walraf-Richartz Museum and in the Dom (cathedral).
	KONRAD ADENAUER (1876-1967). Born in Cologne, from 1917-33 served as mayor of Cologne. Rebuilt the university in 1919, created the Green or Park Belt circumscribing the city with a city forest, as well as, the Cologne Business Fair Building (the Kölner Messe). In 1948 Adenauer worked on Germany’s new constitiution and was West Germany’s first Chancellor in 1949.
	WILLY MILLOWITSCH (1909-1999). Born in Cologne, into a theater family. Millowitsch became famous for starring in the TV broadcast of “Etappenhas.” He starred in 30 films and TV movies. In 1989, he became a honorary citizen of the city of Cologne. His son, Peter, operates the theater today, and his daughter, Mariele, works as a famous actress for german TV series.

Hotel rooms in Cologne

HOTELS IN COLOGNE I. Using internet booking machines it's very easy searching for a hotel room in Cologne. One of these special search engines is HRS - Hotel Reservation Service with its many offers. Click the logo for starting.

	HOTELS IN COLOGNE II: Looking for a hotel room in Germany there are some other good booking machines on the net such as HOTEL.de. They also often have some cheap offers given by good hotels in Cologne. Using the service is free, too.

Kölsch all over the world

Kölsch means more than just the descendants of the Cathedral City on the Rhine; rather, it’s a humorous style that sometimes comes across coarse. Kölsch also stands for a delicious over-fermented beer, which transports one to the "Kölsch-Dimension" after the third glass, as well as, the local spoken dialect. The liquid Kölsch has its

One of the many funny carnival's groups. Photo: Wagner

share of break-throughs for those who relish in festivities and singing and dancing for those in the Dom (cathedral) City. Due to the nearly southern temperaments, people dub Cologne, somewhat jokingly, the "northern most Italian city". Although a small portion of all Kölsch fans understand,

let alone, speak it, the language is shared through the music and at carnival; whether the folk bands "Bläck Föös" "BAP", "Brings" or "Höhner", whether in the giant carnival conferences or at Rosen- montag (Rose Monday Parade), Kölsch conversation has become renowned and adored in other parts of Germany and world-wide. This success was carried far by Wolfgang Niedeckens rock band "BAP" in the 1990’s all the way to China.

Information about the Cologne mentality, style of speech and history, has the "Academy for Kölsch language, on-line at www.koelsch-akademie.de.

When Cologne belonged to France

Thanks to the city wall, Cologne was protected from invading forces, that is, until October 6, 1794, when Napoleon’s troops numbering 12,000 marched into Cologne and occupied the city for about the coming 20 years. The military aggression was an uplifting force from the dregs of the Dark Ages. Before the French arrived, the streets were mud and the houses all had na- mes and no numbers. Foreigners faced great difficulties when trying to find their destina- tions. General Daurier as commander orde- red the troops to num-

ber all of the houses. Coincidentally, one house was numbered 4711, which is today the mark of a perfume that is renowned for coming from Cologne. To make a better scent, and also to clean up Cologne’s streets, where faeces flowed down the roads. Cologne also obtained a new legal system, the Civil Code, later the model for the Ger- man civil law and free rights declaration. Ad- ditionally new rules were established for the Artisans and which sealed the expropria- tion of the cloister from the university.

The rector of the uni- versity at that time and later co-founder of one of Cologne’s mu- seums, Ferdinand F. Wallraf, rescued the art works of the Middle Ages from destruction. Extensive vocabulary and anecdotes have stayed in the Cologne throughout its occupied history. Mothers warn their daughters about rendezvous with the soldiers that they won't do "Fisemanten". The word should go back to soldier's invitation "visitez ma tente" (vi- sit my tent) to the wo- men of Cologne to head back to the solders’ tent.

Cologne during the times of the Romans

Kölsch all over the world

Facts about Cologne

Chronology of the city to 1945

Cologne's legends

Calvary General Jan von Werth

The Hänneschen Theatre

Cologne's Elf