Are you looking to explore the history of Cologne through the ages? There are a number of historical destinations in Cologne including the time-honored buildings, monuments, palaces, and parks where you can learn about the glorious past of Cologne. The presence of these historical sites and museums will take you on a walk through Cologne ‘s rich history.
If you are willing to have an in-depth historical information about Cologne, we recommend that you take a wonderful guided tour to cover the major historical attractions. Also, check the opening and closing time for each so that you can organize your time. Make sure that you go through the complete list of historical places in Cologne for a great trip!
Top Historical Places in Cologne
Let's witness the history of Cologne with these top historical places - monuments and landmarks:
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A UNESCO World Heritage Site, Cologne’s most significant and historic landmark, the Kolner Dom is one sight you do not want to miss. The Kolner Dom, the largest Gothic cathedral in all of Germany, is said to be a physical manifestation of what God’s kingdom on Earth would look like. Standing proud at 515 feet above the ground, the Kolner Dom was briefly the tallest structure of the ...Read more -
Altes Rathaus
(2707 Votes)
Germany’s oldest town hall, the Altes Rathaus can be admired from across the street as well. If you want a tour of the interiors, you’ll have to book a tour in advance. Reminiscent of the 14th century, the Altes Rathaus is famous for its bell tower; the bell is sounded off every three hours from 9 am to 6 pm. If you’re not signing up for the tour, stroll across to the southern...Read more -
Don’t be fooled by the exterior of this edifice; the NS Dokumentationszentrum is Germany’s largest regional memorial site. Among the permanent exhibits, the most harrowing ones are the prisons and interrogation rooms, preserved in their original forms, to give you a feel of how the victims of Nazi Germany were interrogated, tortured and killed. There are inscriptions on the walls th...Read more -
Praetorium
(466 Votes)
During the times of the Romans, Cologne was the capital of Lower Germania. The Praetorium essentially means the residence of the Roman Governor and is a historically important monument and landmark of the city. The palace that was once the cradle of all activities, administrative and political, has now been transformed into a museum. Alongside the Jewish Museum, the Praetorium displays relics o...Read more -
Kolumba
(219 Votes)
The Kolumba museum was primarily a Gothic cathedral, the ruins of which are now incorporated within the museum. The best noticeable feature of the Kolumba museum is the unforced blend of art, architecture and of course heritage that comes together so well to make the Kolumba one of the most visited museums of the city. One of the oldest museums of the city, the Kolumba focuses on religious disp...Read more -
Basilica Of St. Ursula
(112 Votes)
Built upon the ruins of an ancient Roman cemetery, St. Ursula was constructed to honor the 11,000 virgins that are said to be buried in the cemetery. St. Ursula is the other one of the twelve Romanesque churches that you should not miss out on. The St. Ursula is so historically pertinent that Cologne’s coat of arms, which has 11 figurines are in fact of St. Ursula and 10 virgins. You migh...Read more -
Glockengasse 4
(38 Votes)
House of 4711 is a fragrance house that has been attracting crowds from all over the world for years now. A mix of modern architecture and historic elements gives this place a very charming look. With a rich history of 225 years, this place has been “stimulating, inspiring, and exciting its visitors for over 2 centuries. Also present here is a Fragrance Museum and Fragrance Workshops. Cur...Read more -
Vaults From Roman Times
(7 Votes)Formerly burial chambers, the site of Vaults from Roman Times was discovered during archeological excavations dating back to the year 1843. The construction of the chambers is estimated to date back to the 2nd century. There are guided tours of the chambers available too where you get to see the comprehensive imitations of a chair, wicker chair and even beds. The architecture of the monument is...Read more
