Historic Town Hall, Cologne

Cologne鈥檚 Historic Town Hall 鈥� where ancient Rome meets medieval ambition and Renaissance flair, all crammed into one delightfully stubborn complex. This city hall is the oldest in Germany, proudly perched atop the ruins of the Roman Praetorium, once the power seat of the Roman governor of the Lower Germania province. That is, until an 8th-century earthquake gave it a rather abrupt renovation.

A few centuries later, precisely in the 11th, Cologne鈥檚 citizens got organized and formed a commune. By 1114, the city's coat of arms had already made its debut鈥攂ecause every self-respecting city needs a good logo... The oldest part of the complex is a roofed hall from 1330, decorated with stone figures who represent the Emperor, Privileges, and the Nine Worthies 鈥� think of them as the medieval version of a motivational poster.

Then came the Gothic tower: built between 1407 and 1414, it was Cologne鈥檚 first secular skyscraper (five whole stories tall!), reaching an impressive 61 meters. It鈥檚 adorned with 130 stone statues, some of which appear to be judging you. Bombed in WWII but restored since, the tower also plays a carillon tune four times a day 鈥� because even stone buildings like to show off a little...

Swing around to the Renaissance-style loggia 鈥� the Town Hall Arbor 鈥� completed in 1573. This two-story arcade served both as an elegant entryway and a stage for balcony speeches. Look up and you鈥檒l find a sculpted lion doing battle with Mayor Gryn. Who won? Depends on who鈥檚 telling the story.

And let鈥檚 not forget the so-called Spanish Structure, finished in 1615, featuring Dutch Renaissance architecture with a Spanish twist, thanks to some rather well-travelled delegates from the Thirty Years鈥� War. The Piazzetta (or 鈥淟ittle Square鈥�), a post-WWII addition, ties it all together.

Tip:
Catch a postcard-perfect view from across the Rhine. Bonus points if you frame it with the Hohenzollern Bridge and Cologne Cathedral in the background. Now that鈥檚 a skyline...

Want to visit this sight? Check out these Self-Guided Walking Tours in Cologne. Alternatively, you can download the mobile app "911爆料网: Walks in 1K+ Cities" from Apple App Store or Google Play Store. The app turns your mobile device to a personal tour guide and it works offline, so no data plan is needed when traveling abroad.

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Create Your Own Self-Guided Walk to Visit This Sight

Sight Name: Historic Town Hall
Sight Location: Cologne, Germany (See walking tours in Cologne)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:

Cologne Introduction Walking Tour

Walking Tours in Cologne, Germany

Create Your Own Walk in Cologne

Creating your own self-guided walk in Cologne is easy and fun. Choose the city attractions that you want to see and a walk route map will be created just for you. You can even set your hotel as the start point of the walk.

Cologne Introduction Walking Tour

Cologne鈥攐ne of Germany鈥檚 oldest cities, whose name sounds like a perfume, and for a good reason... With over 2,000 years of history packed into its cobblestoned streets and riverside promenades, this city has seen it all鈥攆rom Roman emperors to French invaders to enthusiastic beer drinkers in the 21st century.

Back in the first century BC, the Romans set up a camp and called it Colonia... view more

Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 4.1 Km or 2.5 Miles

Beer House Walking Tour

In Cologne they say, "K枚lsch is the only language you can drink." Brewed only here and nowhere else, K枚lsch 鈥� a light beer, slightly bitter, bright yellow in color, and made of top-fermented yeast 鈥� is forbidden for production in any other part of Germany.

Each licensed brewery in the city makes its own variation of K枚lsch, served traditionally in a tall, thin, cylindrical... view more

Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.8 Km or 1.1 Miles

Cologne's Historical Churches Walking Tour

The beautiful and historically rich city of Cologne has been around for over 2,000 years. For centuries, it has been regarded as a very important religious center.

The K枚lner Dom (Cologne Cathedral), one of its biggest attractions, is renowned as a symbol of Christianity and 鈥渁 masterpiece of exceptional intrinsic value鈥� (UNESCO World Heritage Site). The twelve Romanesque churches of... view more

Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.9 Km or 2.4 Miles

Cologne's Architectural Landmarks Walking Tour

Around 75% of Cologne was destroyed by Allied bombing during World War II. Following such devastation, it meant that most of what was built immediately after the war came from the so-called 鈥淎s quickly and cheaply as possible鈥� school of architecture. Eventually, as the things settled, the architects were given the chance to build something that would really stand out.

Decades later, the... view more

Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.4 Km or 2.1 Miles

Cologne Shopping Tour

Calling the shops, whilst in Cologne, is the thing you definitely should not miss! One of the most popular shopping destinations in Germany, this 鈥渃athedral鈥� city abounds in malls, designer stores and various national and international brand outlets fit to impress anyone and let you shop till you drop! Some people even make special trips to Cologne just to stroll and buy things to their... view more

Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.5 Km or 0.9 Miles

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