Koln (and the Christmas Markets)

Monday, January 2, 2012

Koln (and the Christmas Markets)

Koln, also spelled Cologne, is a large city in western Germany. It is only a few hours from where we live in the Netherlands-3 hours if the traffic is light. Koln, like many German cities, holds Christmas Markets in the weeks preceding Christmas. We decided to visit the city and enjoy the festivities.

We first went to a small town outside of Koln called Siegburg. The Christmas Market there was an old fashioned or medieval theme.

The bread ovens with the wood fires

The market with booths

Goods for sale

Everyone needs a fur skin for Christmas

The merry-go-round

Wood working-the old way

The blacksmith with his furnace and anvil working the metal

Mel even started her own produce company.

Church on the main market square

We then drove to Koln. Koln is the 4th largest city in Germany. It is famous for the Cologne Cathedral, seat of the Archbishop of Cologne. The University of Cologne is one of the oldest in all of Europe. The town is located on both sides of the Rhine River. This small town that was made into the major trade and production center by the Romans around 50 A.D. It became the Roman provincial capital and was the most important Roman city north of the Alps.

During the medieval period, Koln continued its prominence as a trade and a commercial city. The huge Gothic cathedral was begun in 1248 and housed the relics of the Three Magi. It was the home of the Archbishop was the largest cathedral in Northern Europe. During WWII, the Cathedral was hit by 15 or 16 Allied bombs but was able to withstand the attacks. Much of the city was destroyed during the war with about 95% of the population leaving the city.