Germany

Cologne History

The Romans were the first to appreciate the strategic benefits of this place on the Rhine. The Roman settlement Colonia appeared here in 33 BC. e. The Romans brought with them not only technical and military knowledge, but also Christianity. And for many centuries, Cologne remained the center of Christianity in Northern Europe.

The Romans were the first to appreciate the strategic benefits of this place on the Rhine. Roman settlement The colony appeared here in 33 BC e. Due to the fact that the emperor Claudius married a local girl, in 50 g. e. The colony became a city - lat. Colonia Claudia Ara Agrippinensium - "Colony of Claudius, a place for the sacrifice of Agrippins." The Romans brought with them not only technical and military knowledge, but also Christianity. And for many centuries Cologne (Köln) remained the center of Christianity in northern Europe.

The symbol of prosperity and power of the city was a huge Cathedral(Kölner Dom). Its construction began in 1248. Builders and architects were tasked with creating the "largest cathedral north of the Alps." The archbishops of Cologne possessed power not only in the church world, but also in the secular world. To the XV century Cologne became one of the richest German cities, but still the construction of the giant cathedral lasted 600.

In 1794, Cologne was occupied by the French, who decided to renumber their houses according to their own system. They assigned the number 4711 to the Mühlen family house - the famous name was born Cologne water (Kölnisch Wasser), i.e Cologne (eau de Cologne). Perfume mixture was prepared in the city since the beginning of the XVIII century. and was sold as a remedy, but in 1810, Napoleon issued a decree according to which the formulas of medicines should be available to everyone for the benefit of the poor. Keeping the recipe secret has become impossible. And then the manufacturers quickly declared their product eau de toilette. The aroma was very popular among aristocrats who did not like to wash and with its help masked unpleasant odors.

Cologne and the Rhine Valley were annexed by the Prussian kings in 1815. Under their rule, the city continued to flourish. In the middle of the XIX century. it turned into a major railway center, and in 1880, finally, the construction of the cathedral was completed. The development of industry and transport continued in the 20th century. The end of the prosperity of the city was laid by World War II.

The Hitler Army occupied the demilitarized Rhine Valley in 1936. At the beginning of 1940, German troops entered Cologne and from there moved to conquer the Netherlands, Belgium and France. Allied aviation bombed Cologne, industrial enterprises and military bases of the city more than once. The most severe bombardment took place on March 2, 1945. Cologne was turned into ruins. 90% of buildings and all bridges were destroyed. Miraculously only the cathedral survived.

Immediately after the war, the population began to rebuild the city, trying to preserve the historical buildings of the old center. The restoration of ancient Romanesque churches required considerable effort and money. Despite the difficult past, Cologne once again turned into a thriving industrial center of Europe and regained its former beauty.

Watch the video: Cologne - Ancient City on the Rhine. Discover Germany (November 2024).

Popular Posts

Category Germany, Next Article

Weather in Milan for months
Trip planning

Weather in Milan for months

Milan is located in the subtropical climate zone, which is typical of the inner plains of northern Italy, with fairly high humidity regardless of the time of year. However, due to the proximity of the mountains, there are elements of a continental climate characteristic of the foothills of northern Italy. As a result, the climate of the capital of Lombardy suggests hot humid summers and no less humid cold winters.
Read More
3 Star Hotels in the Center of Rome
Trip planning

3 Star Hotels in the Center of Rome

So that walking in Rome is not very tiring, it is best to choose a hotel located in close proximity to the main attractions of the Eternal City. That is why BlogoItaliano decided to select the hotels in the center of Rome of the middle price category that received the most enthusiastic reviews from tourists on Booking.
Read More
Railways of Italy: what you should know about when going on a trip. Part I
Trip planning

Railways of Italy: what you should know about when going on a trip. Part I

Over the past year, a number of articles have appeared on BlogoItaliano to one degree or another affecting the subject of railways in Italy. That is why we can say that the time has come to collect all pieces of information together and try to write general material that will be useful to those "our" tourists who are not going to limit themselves to visiting one city in Italy, rich in sights.
Read More
How to get from Bologna to Milan and / or from Milan to Bologna
Trip planning

How to get from Bologna to Milan and / or from Milan to Bologna

How to get from Bologna to Milan and from Milan to Bologna as quickly as possible, comfortable and profitable. BlogoItaliano continues a series of articles exploring various transportation options for travelers who plan to visit both cities. Traditionally, we will consider a train, car, plane and bus, and you will only have to choose the option that more closely reflects your travel style.
Read More