Cologne, Germany

Cologne (also known as Koln) is the largest city of the Rhineland and fourth largest city in Germany. It is still the center of the German Roman Catholic Church. The Gothic cathedral (Kolner Dom) is the largest in the country.

The Romans founded the city and for the next 300 years the city flourished because of its location on a major crossroads of European trade routes. In the Middle Ages, as a member of the powerful Hanseatic League, it was more important in European commerce than even London or Paris. Cologne was the largest German city in the 19th century.



As a place of pilgrimage, Cologne is second to Rome. In fact, the cathedral was built to house the relics of the Magi (the three kings that paid homage to the baby Jesus). For us, it was special since a pilgrimage was occuring while we were there ... and we were able to first tour the area where the Magi relics are located ... and then a full mass started with all its pageantry, choir and organ music as only a majestic cathedral can create. Although the Allied bombings of World War II destroyed almost 90% of Cologne, the cathedral survived ... and the rest of the city rebulit (but unfortunately the histortic architecture of the city was lost). A sad commentary of war ... and how lucky we are that world wars have not been carried out in our country.