Cologne : Ask Biography

German location

Name

Cologne

German name

Köln

Administration

Country

Germany

State

North Rhine-Westphalia

Admin. region

Cologne

District

Urban district

B�rgermeister

Jürgen Roters

Party

SPD

Basic statistics

Area (km2)

405.15

Elevation (m)

Founded

38 BC

Other information

Time zone

CET/CEST (UTC+1/+2)

Licence plate

Postal code

50441 � 51149

Area code

0221, 02203 (Porz)

Home | City | Cologne

Cologne (c-enlangpronkəˈloʊn, -dekœln, -dediaˈkœɫə) is Germany's fourth-largest city (after Berlin, Hamburg and Munich), and is the largest city both in the German Federal State of North Rhine-Westphalia and within the Rhine-Ruhr Metropolitan Area, one of the major European metropolitan areas with more than ten million inhabitants.

Cologne is located on both sides of the Rhine River. The city's famous Cologne Cathedral (Kölner Dom) is the seat of the Catholic Archbishop of Cologne. The University of Cologne (Universität zu Köln) is one of Europe's oldest and largest universities.

Cologne is a major cultural centre of the Rhineland and has a vibrant arts scene. Cologne is home to more than 30 museums and hundreds of galleries. Exhibitions range from local ancient Roman archeological sites to contemporary graphics and sculpture. The Cologne Trade Fair hosts a number of trade shows such as Art Cologne, imm Cologne, Gamescom and the Photokina.