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The Hohenzollern Bridge鈥擟ologne鈥檚 grand old crossing that鈥檚 equal parts iron, history, and sentimental hardware. Stretching across the Rhine like a steel spine, it鈥檚 the city鈥檚 most beloved blend of romance and railway precision.

Built in 1911 to replace the overworked Cathedral Bridge, this heavy-duty thoroughfare was Cologne鈥檚 answer to the rising tide of traffic. It handled trains, trams, cars, pedestrians鈥攜ou name it. Its name is a royal nod to the House of Hohenzollern, the Prussian dynasty that once ruled over this corner of the world. In fact, the whole project was inaugurated by none other than Kaiser Wilhelm II, who likely admired it for being both majestic and punctual.

Watch your step鈥攐r your stirrup鈥攂ecause each end of the bridge is guarded by towering equestrian statues of German emperors and Prussian kings. On one side: Friedrich Wilhelm IV and Wilhelm I. On the other: Friedrich III and Wilhelm II. A cavalry of stone to usher you across.

Now, history took a turn in 1945 when German forces鈥攑erhaps not appreciating the bridge鈥檚 architectural flair鈥攂lew it up during their retreat. Luckily, the bridge rose from the ashes, rebuilt by 1959, and polished up again in the '80s. It still carries trains today鈥攍ots of them鈥攁nd now features pedestrian paths and bike lanes too.

But wait鈥攖his is no longer just a bridge. Since 2008, it鈥檚 become Cologne鈥檚 unofficial temple of love. Couples attach padlocks to the railings, whisper sweet nothings, and toss the keys into the Rhine. By 2015, over half a million locks had been added. That鈥檚 a lot of commitment. And a lot of extra weight, too...

A place where steel meets sentiment, this is the best spot to gaze at the Cologne Cathedral from across the water鈥攁nd maybe reflect on the nature of love, war, and urban planning...

Pro tip:
Go at night. The city lights up, the cathedral glows like a Gothic lantern, and the bridge hums with quiet magic. Trust us, it鈥檚 a whole different mood after sunset.

The Cologne Cathedral 鈥� a place where Gothic ambition met a 600-year-long construction delay and still came out looking fabulous... Indeed, the magnitude of this building dwarfs your expectations and your camera鈥檚 field of view.

This towering masterpiece is Germany鈥檚 most visited landmark, with 20,000 people dropping by daily 鈥� not bad for a church that took over six centuries to finish. At 157 meters (that鈥檚 515 feet for those who still think in feet), it鈥檚 the tallest twin-spired church on Earth, the second-tallest church in Europe, and the third tallest in the world. Clearly, Cologne doesn鈥檛 do things halfway...

Construction began in 1248, then took a casual break around 1560. The west tower wasn't completed until 1880, when 19th-century officials unearthed the original blueprints and reasoned, 鈥淲hy not finish it?鈥�

But the site鈥檚 sacred history runs much deeper than that. Since the 4th century, Christians have been building here. The "Old Cathedral" stood from 818 to 1248, and even earlier, a baptistery once graced the eastern end.

So, what kicked off this giant Gothic project? A golden box. Specifically, the Shrine of the Three Kings, believed to hold relics of the Three Wise Men (also known as the Magi 鈥� the ones who visited baby Jesus and offered him gifts). Its construction started at the eastern arm to house the shrine, then the west front followed 鈥� until everything just kind of stopped in 1473. The work-in-progress look lasted for centuries, complete with a giant crane stuck on top for 400 years. Talk about an eternal fixer-upper...

The cathedral's highlights include the 1322 black marble High Altar and that aforementioned blingy shrine, which began in 1190 and shines brighter than a royal wedding. There's also the 10th-century Gero Crucifix, the 1290 Milan Madonna, and a legal twist 鈥� a 13th-century stone tablet that once granted rights to Cologne鈥檚 Jewish residents.

And, of course, there are bells 鈥� eleven in total. The Saint Peter Bell, cast in 1922, was once the biggest free-swinging bell in the world. You鈥檒l feel it before you hear it...

Insider Tip:
Don鈥檛 skip the rear mosaics 鈥� they're stunning. Brave the climb for sky-high views, or sneak into the underground parking to see the cathedral鈥檚 ancient roots... literally.

Gottfried and Elizabeth Bohm designed the modern WDR Arcades building. The building was completed during the 1990s. The building is owned by the area's largest broadcasting company, Westdeutscher Rundfunk. The design features an urban facade and an interior atrium with a glass dome.

The WDR Arcades houses a shopping center, WDR newsroom, and offices. The shopping center is located on the first floor, and the WDR spaces are located on the upper floors.

The building houses the WDR's central newsrooms, library, press archive, and historical archive. In addition, the Deutsche Post has offices in the WDR building.

The shops and restaurants are located in the first-floor atrium. Visitors can check out fashion boutiques, jewelry stores, and shop for souvenirs. Maus & Co. is a popular store that sells Captain Bluebear merchandise.

The Global City Building is a dramatic modern building that houses the Peek & Cloppenburg department store. To some viewers, it resembles a whale, and to others, it resembles a ship. Residents call it the Walfisch, which can be translated as the whale.

Italian architect Renzo Piano designed the Global City Building, which was completed in 2005. The building's atrium is 36 meters (118 feet) tall. The building bridges the gap between Cologne's modern and classic architecture. The modern wood and glass facade reflects the nearby Gothic church, while the stone facade faces the more recent concrete buildings.

The glass facade features 6800 individual glass panes and 66 enormous Siberian larch beams. The northern facade features natural stone. The glass dome is only supported in a few locations. It is supported by tension cables and attached to the fourth floor.

The Global City Building is a fabulous example of Cologne's modern architecture.

Weltstadthaus in Cologne is a modern, multi-story building that offers a range of high-end shops and boutiques catering to luxury shoppers. The building is spacious and well-designed, with a wide range of high-end fashion brands, including Hugo Boss, Armani, Calvin Klein, and Tommy Hilfiger, among others. Additionally, shoppers can find a range of luxury goods, such as jewelry and beauty products. Weltstadthaus also has several dining options, including a rooftop restaurant with stunning views of the city, as well as many cafes throughout the building.

Basilika Saint Aposteln (Basilica of the Holy Apostles) is a magnificent Romanesque church. It was constructed during the 11th century and is one of the twelve Romanesque churches built in Cologne during that time. The church has a basilical plan of nave and aisles, and like Gro脽 Saint Martin and Saint Maria im Kapitol, has three apses at the east end making a trefoil plan.

One of the main features of the church is the domed clover leaf chancel, which was built around 1200 and is a true gem of Romanesque architecture. The chancel is located at the east end of the church, and its shape is reminiscent of a clover leaf, with three semicircular apses arranged in a trefoil plan. The chancel is covered by a stunning dome that gives the church a monumental and almost Byzantine appearance.

The church was significantly enlarged in the 13th century, and an octagonal dome was added above the crossing. This new addition further enhanced the grandeur of the church, and it is now one of the most remarkable examples of Romanesque architecture in Germany. Despite the building modifications, the old structures were retained and copied, and integrated into the new construction project.

You can enter the city of Cologne through 12 gates and the Hahnen Gate, or 'Hahnentorburg' is the most popular among them. It was through this gate that the German Kings arrived in this city after their coronation in Aachen. They paid a visit to the Cologne Cathedral and prayed at the Three Magi shrine. Construction of this gate spanned five years between 1235 and 1240. The land surrounding the gate was owned by a citizen Hageno and the gate was probably named after him. Over a period of time, people started referring to the gate as Hahnentorburg.

This gate features two towers that are crenelated and semi-circular in shape. Before you enter, look up above the entrance where you will find a beautiful depiction of Cologne鈥檚 coat of arms. It was in 1890 that the tower was first renovated. Renovation work was carried out by Josef Stubben, one of the city's famous architects. You can find a memorial plaque here that commemorates his construction outside the city walls. During World War II, the tower was again damaged and reconstructed later.

Hahnentorburg has performed many functions through ages. It has been used as an exposition hall, museum and a prison. Today, this popular tourist spot is home to the carnival society, Ehrengarde der Stadt K枚ln 1902 e.V.

Why You Should Visit:
Massive gateway from medieval times and probably the best in Cologne.

Tip:
Some great pubs, bars, and restaurants close-by, and worth the walk along parts of the old wall or to the Rhein...

Roonstrasse Synagogue is a historic site in Cologne, and the only surviving synagogue of the five that existed before the Nazi era. The Jewish community in Cologne has a long history, being first mentioned in 321, and its population grew significantly over time. The foundation stone of the Neo-Romanesque style building, designed by Cologne architects Schreiterer & Below, was laid in 1895 and inaugurated in 1899. However, on the night of November 9, 1938, known as Kristallnacht, the synagogue was attacked and set alight like all the other synagogues in the city.

During World War II, the synagogue suffered further damage, and only the burnt-out tower and central section were left. After the war, the surviving Jewish community of Cologne decided to completely rebuild the synagogue. The reconstruction was completed in 1959, under the direction of the architect Helmut Goldschmidt, with minor changes on the outside and a simplified interior. The new leadlight windows by Lammers & Warzager were added to the building.

The synagogue has been the center of the Jewish community in Cologne since its reopening. It consists of a community center, a small display of items associated with Cologne Jewry, and a kosher restaurant. The interior of the reconstructed synagogue features a vast blue dome.

On Christmas Eve 1959, the Synagogue was smeared with anti-Jewish slogans by members of the far-right Deutsche Reichspartei. West German Chancellor Konrad Adenauer, who had been mayor of Cologne from 1917 until removed by the Nazi government in 1933, made the desecration the subject of his New Year's speech.

On August 19, 2005, Pope Benedict XVI visited the Roonstrasse Synagogue, which was his second-ever visit to any synagogue. During his visit, he condemned Nazism and antisemitism, and expressed his support for the Jewish community in Germany.