Cologne tourist map. The sights of Cologne are well-known and little-known. Tourist map of Cologne
This ancient German city has a very worthy and multifaceted history, which means it has many historical, cultural and architectural attractions. A visit to the glorious German city of Cologne will bring tourists many new discoveries.
During the Second World War, almost all of Cologne's historical and cultural heritage was destroyed by bombing. All modern monuments have actually been restored from ruins. But that doesn't make them any less beautiful and majestic.
Cologne has many museums, cathedrals, churches, galleries and concert halls; it is one of the largest centers of cultural life in Germany. It is very popular among tourists from all over the world who love European comfort and a measured lifestyle.
TOP 15 attractions in Cologne
We bring to your attention the most famous sights of Cologne with photos and descriptions. Surely they will interest you and encourage you to go to this ancient German city to see them with your own eyes.
This attraction of Cologne is perhaps the most well-known. When the question arises: what to see in Cologne, the first thing that comes to mind is Cologne Cathedral. This is a magnificent temple, made in the best Gothic traditions, one of the highest churches in the world, which is also included in the famous UNESCO list. When you see the Cologne Cathedral, you get the feeling that it was not created by man, but by God himself.
The cathedral was built in two stages: first in the XIII-XV centuries, and then in the XIX century. And even during the reign of the Roman Empire, there were Christian churches or prayer houses on this place. In the XIII century, Cologne was one of the most powerful cities in Europe, so it simply had to have its own cathedral. And today the Cologne Cathedral is constantly being completed and restored.
The main values and relics of this cathedral are the relics of the three Magi, who once announced the birth of the Savior. The staff and monstrance of St. Peter are also kept here. You can see many symbols of the power of the Cologne archbishops - wands, swords, scepters, church robes. There are unique old crosses, monstrances, valuable manuscripts, etc.
This is another famous landmark of Cologne. The town hall still performs the function of city government. For many centuries it has taken its place between the Town Hall Square and the Old Market, not far from the Cologne Cathedral. The building of the Town Hall began to be built in the XIV century.
In the 15th century, a beautiful Gothic tower over 60 meters high was added to the Town Hall, where firefighters served. Later, the tower was decorated with beautiful sandstone sculptures of kings, emperors, popes and famous citizens of the city, which are destroyed over the centuries and replaced by new figures.
In the 16th century, the facade of the Town Hall was built in the then fashionable baroque style. During the Second World War, this facade was destroyed, and later it was restored in an absolutely identical way. Didn't get past this. famous building even the French Revolution. In those days, the Town Hall belonged to France.
This is the very center of the Old City, the center of its cultural and historical monuments. What to see in Cologne? First of all, this old Town Hall Square. She is truly magnificent. Here, the medieval era of this city is carefully preserved and restored in all its beauty.
Here you will see medieval streets, Gothic cathedrals and churches, the current City Hall built in the 14th century, and many other masterpieces of medieval architecture. Right next to the square rises the Cologne Cathedral - the greatest masterpiece of Gothic architecture. You will feel yourself in the Middle Ages at its best.
And under the Town Hall Square, an underground museum has been organized, which contains unique collections that tell about the history of the city, from the Holy Roman Empire to the present day. Neat Germans even preserved the ancient Roman sewers. This landmark of Cologne was built at the very beginning of our era, in the time of Jesus Christ.
This is a famous Catholic church, located in the old part of Cologne, between the Old Market and the Rhine Embankment. It is known that Cologne in the Middle Ages was one of the centers of the Benedictines - the oldest Catholic monastic order. This order erected the Great Saint Martin, which today belongs to his abbey in Cologne.
According to ancient manuscripts, the Church of St. Martin was built in the Romanesque style in the XII-XIII centuries. Later, she repeatedly suffered from fires, hurricanes and wars. The church has been reconstructed and restored throughout its existence. In the 18th century, it received a modern baroque interior and a large organ.
After the Second World War, almost to the ground, the ruined Great St. Martin was again completely restored and transferred to the Benedictine Order. Today it is one of the best sights of Cologne and Germany, which is very popular among tourists and loved by the residents of the city.
This is another old Catholic church, located on a small hill above the Rhine River in the old part of the city and built in the form of a basilica. For the first time, the Church of St. Panteleimon was mentioned in the ancient German chronicles in the 9th century, as a Benedictine monastery.
Later, the church was expanded, upset and decorated from century to century. From Constantinople, she received a particle of the relics of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker. In the 17th century, she had an organ. In the 18th century, its interior was designed in the Baroque style. But during the French Revolution, a stable was organized in the church.
Today, after all the historical upheavals of Cologne and all of Germany and a long restoration, the Church of St. Panteleimon has the most luxurious interior decoration in the city. Believers and tourists can come here to see and enjoy its sublime beauty. This is one of the best attractions in Cologne.
In this archaeological museum, tourists can learn about the history of the entire federal state and the city of Cologne, from the Paleolithic era to the Middle Ages. The museum was founded immediately after the Second World War, and one of its main exhibits is the mosaic of Dionysus, accidentally discovered in Cologne a few years before.
Here you can also see various cultural artifacts from the time of the Roman emperors of the late Empire, discovered in the ancient Roman settlement of Divitia near Cologne: from household and cult items to various Latin inscriptions on tombstones. Excavations are being actively carried out in this settlement today.
The Archaeological Roman-Germanic Museum will tell you about high level culture and development of the tribes that inhabited these places millennia ago. Here you can see ancient jewelry and dishes made of precious metals and colored glass. There is also the gold of the Scythians in the museum, weapons of the Goths, Franks, Saxons, etc.
This is an old castle built on the water - a famous landmark in the vicinity of Cologne. Hundreds of years ago it was a fortified fortification that defended the fortress wall medieval city. In those days, Cologne did not get on well with Luxembourg, and the city was constantly under the threat of attack.
The White House was built by the Order of the Benedictines from the monastery of St. Panteleimon, who played a leading role in the political and spiritual life of Germany and Cologne in those distant times. Between the wars, the castle served as a summer residence for the Benedictine abbey. And today it is a magnificent landmark of Cologne, which has collected a significant part of the medieval history of the city.
Cologne, Germany: the most detailed information about the city of Cologne, the main attractions with photos and descriptions, location on the map.
City of Cologne (Germany)
Cologne is the fourth largest city in Germany, as well as one of the most important religious and tourist centers. Located on the Rhine River in western Germany. Its area is more than 400 square kilometers, and the population is one million inhabitants. Cologne is associated primarily with the historic cathedral, which is the residence of the Archbishop of Cologne. The territory of the city is crossed by the river Rhine, which divides it into two halves. In each part, individual urban districts are grouped, in which there are a total of 86 districts.
Historical facts
An interesting historical fact is that this wonderful city was bombed during the Second World War 262 times, which is a kind of anti-record. The longest bombardment lasted 75 minutes, 1046 bombers took part in it. It is hardly surprising that after the war, reconstruction continued almost until the end of the 20th century.
The coat of arms of Cologne has three crowns and eleven flames. The crowns symbolize the three magi who rest in cathedral. The flame symbolizes the murder of the eleven thousand virgins of Saint Ursula.
Sights of Cologne
Cologne is associated primarily with its magnificent Gothic Cathedral of St. Peter and the Virgin Mary. Work on the temple began in 632 and continued until 1880. Because of this, the medieval church also has modern elements, such as two giant towers built in the 19th century. The interior of the cathedral includes pearls of European art, such as the statue of the Madonna of Milan. Numerous Romanesque churches have also survived in Cologne, such as the Church of St. Panteleimon, which houses the tomb of Empress Theophan, wife of Otto II.
Interesting for tourists and researchers is the Ancient Cathedral of St. Peter and the Blessed Virgin Mary, which store valuable relics of the Christian faith, as well as medieval art. The Reliquary of the Three Wise Men, the Crucifixion of Heron, the Milan Madonna will not leave you indifferent. The ashes of the queen are also buried here.
There are many attractions in Cologne. There are eight Romanesque churches, five Gothic churches. Among other legendary places in Cologne, secular buildings such as the Gothic-Renaissance City Hall, built at the turn of the 15th and 16th centuries, are worth noting. A very interesting object is also a medieval dance house.
Also a famous attraction is the Hohenzollern Bridge - this is one of the visiting cards of Cologne. Steel arch railway bridge across the Rhine, built in 1911. This is one of the most important railway junctions in Europe, through which more than 1000 trains pass daily!
During your stay in Cologne, you can get acquainted not only with historical architecture, but also visit wonderful museums. There are many art galleries here, which showcase contemporary works of art as well as paintings by famous masters of the past. Lovers of sweets, in turn, will certainly visit the amazing Chocolate Museum, which presents a long and interesting story this delicacy.
Cologne is one of the largest industrial cities in Germany. It is here that the world-famous Ford cars, the best engines, railway cars, cosmetics, electronics, and, of course, beer are mainly produced. In Cologne, the largest concentration of breweries in one place, producing beer, the only one of its kind, that is, Kölsch. We add that the tradition of brewing in this city dates back to the 9th century. Undoubtedly, it is worth visiting Germany to visit this city, which, however, is crowded all year round.
The city lacks the usual entertainment such as a walk in the garden, the zoo or near the huge aquarium. Specific local traditions include the annual organization of the carnival, as well as the summer fireworks display on the banks of the Rhine. Carnival is an annual tradition. Do not miss the entertainment for the little ones: the zoo or the aquarium. This city has the largest indoor stadium in Germany, where the main sports events take place. It is worth remembering that one of the attractions of Cologne is the possibility of organizing a trip by a linear train over the Rhine.
Excursions
When it comes to excursions in Cologne, they are organized by travel agencies. Most often, this city is one of the points of large traveling excursions. You can contact any excursion or tourist office of the city to organize excursions to the sights of Cologne.
How to get there
The city can be reached by car or bus, or by air. The airline lines offer budget flights. You can spend the night in one of the many hotels or hostels. Prices per night in a hotel start from a few tens of dollars. In the city you can rent a car for ease of movement. Welcome to Cologne!
Cologne guide
A small guide to Cologne - the most interesting sights on the map
A short video about Cologne
Sights of Cologne
Cathedral (Cologne Cathedral)
Near the left bank of the Rhine, rises the main attraction of Cologne, the Cathedral of St. Peter and Mary, this masterpiece of High Gothic architecture, it is one offrom the largest cathedrals in Europe. The first stone in the foundation of the Cathedral was laid in the distant 1248 and in those days it was considered the most ambitious building project of the Middle Ages. The cathedral impresses with its157-meter towers -twins and an incredible interior.
During a tour of the cathedral, it is worth paying attention to12th Century Reliquary Of The Three Kings,crafted by local jewelersthe famous relief of the Adoration of the Kings from 1440 and the Chamber of Treasureswith many precious objects,including ancient manuscripts. Also worth climbing observation deck cathedral, which is located in the south tower, from where a delightful panoramic view.
Official site: www.koelner-dom.de
Cologne City Hall (Cologne City Hall)
Cologne City Hall is the oldest city hall building in Germany with 900 years of documented history. The town hall is located on the site of the former ancient Roman praetorio , which until 475 was the residenceRoman governorVLower Germany. The Town Hall is just 300 meters from the famous Cologne Cathedral. The city government building stands out in a magnificent Renaissance loggia, known as the Rathauslaube, it was added to the building in 1569 and 1573 (it is the loggia that we see in the photo).
House 4711
House 4711-flagship storein Cologne andpopular tourist center. On January 3, 1794, the French troops who captured Cologne and instead of their own names, numbered all the houses without exception. In 1854, a perfume company moved into this building, for which this building became the headquarters and they gave one of their smells the number 4711. On the ground floor is a small museum that documents the history of 4711 cologne.
Schildergasse
Schildergasse is one of the busiest streets in Cologne and rightfully one of the main attractions of Cologne, since it is the main shopping street of the city and most tourists visit it, it has been estimated that 15,000 shopping takes place on this street every hour. Schildegrasse is located in the Altstadt-Nord district.
Botanical Gardens and Flora Park (Botanical Gardens & Flora)
The southern part of the park, known as "Flora", was created in 1864 by Peter Joseph Lenne, a famous Prussian gardener who also designed parks.Sanssouci in PotsdamAndTiergarten in Berlin. In 1914, a new botanical garden was located next to Flora. This garden replaced the scientific botanical garden in the south of Cologne. Both gardens were merged in 1920 to create a park of about 11.5 hectares. The botanical garden, which occupies the northern part of the park, contains about 10,000 different plant species.
Ludwig Museum (Museum Ludwig)
Next to Cologne Cathedral is the building of the Ludwig Museum, which houses one of the world's best collections of contemporary art. The Ludwig Museum was founded in 1976 with the money of Peter Ludwig, a chocolate magnate, who also donated over 90 works by contemporary authors, mainly Picasso, to the museum fund. In the museum you can get acquainted with the works of classical modern artists, American pop art and beautiful works of modern expressionists. To visit all the sights of Cologne be sure to book a city tour.
Big St. Martin (Gross St. Martin)
St. Martin's Church is one of the city's 11 Romanesque churches, perfectly preserved, and one of Cologne's main attractions. Among other churches of the city, it stands out for its height and architecture, if you do not know that this is a church, then it can easily be confused with a medieval castle. With its history, the church of Great St. Martin goes back centuries to 1150, when its construction began. The history of Greater Saint Martin is inextricably linked to the Benedictine abbey, which has been located in the church for most of its history.
City funicular (Cologne Cable Car)
Urban cable car, links the Botanical Garden and Cologne Zoo. City funicular according to statistics, the safest mode of transport in the capital North Rhine-Westphalia. From the cable car in front of you is one of the magnificent views of the city. The funicular is in stable demand among tourists from all over the world and is rightfully considered a city landmark of Cologne.
Roman-German Museum (Romisch-Germanisches Museum)
The Roman-Germanic Museum opened in 1946 and is located in the city center, right in the shadow of Cologne Cathedral on Roncalliplatz. The museum shows in all its glory the archaeological heritage of the city and its environs from prehistory to the early Middle Ages. The museum's most famous exhibits include a Roman mosaic with scenes from the world of Dionysus (circa 220 - 230 BC) and a reconstructed tomb of the Roman legionnaire Poblicius. Other highlights of the museum are the world's largest collection of Roman tableware and an outstanding collection of Roman and early medieval jewelry.
Hohenzollern Bridge
Another iconic landmark of Cologne, one of the seven bridges over the Rhine in the city. The first bridge that crossed the Rhine at Cologne was built around 310 AD, during the reign of Constantine the Great. The wooden bridge was about 420 meters long. After the fall of the Roman Empire, another 1500 years passed before a new bridge was built on this site.
The sights of Cologne are an unforgettable experience. I was most interested in the Inner City. It seemed that no time machine was needed to see what happened centuries ago - this historical center was formed by ancient Roman settlements. A huge number of museums, restaurants, hotels and attractions are concentrated here - led by the "business card" of the city, the majestic Cologne Cathedral. Admiring the pearls of Gothic and Romanesque architecture, I did not immediately learn that the Germans had done the impossible - after the end of World War II, they restored the historical center from scratch.
Cologne Cathedral
From the Cologne Cathedral, a grand building on the main square (Place), most of the 3-hour tours of ancient Roman, medieval and fairy-tale Cologne begin (price per group - 150 euros). Thanks to one of these excursions, I was convinced that the life of the country proceeds according to the laws of poetry: the same Cologne Cathedral would not have been completed if it were not for Goethe. But it is not for nothing that this masterpiece was erected by the whole world for several centuries - it survived the bombings of the Second World War, which left ashes from the rest of the city.
The first stone in the foundation of the Cologne Cathedral, built on the site of more ancient Christian churches, was laid in 1228 by Konrad von Gochstaden, the Archbishop of Cologne. From this began the grandiose construction of the cathedral masterpiece, which, according to the plan of the city fathers, was to outshine other temples. But the basis of these ambitious plans was not only the status of Cologne, one of the most powerful cities of the Roman Empire: the greatness of the cathedral is associated with the shrine that was supposed to be stored in it. From Emperor Frederick I Barbarossa, the Cologne Archbishop Rainald von Dassel received the remains of the holy magi - the very ones who came to bow to the baby Jesus. For the relic, a sarcophagus was made of precious stones, silver and gold, and the cathedral was to acquire the same grandeur that Cologne was famous for in the Western Christian world. The chest with the remains of the Magi still occupies a central place in the cathedral.
Rainald von Dassel brought more than one relic from Milan to Milan - a carved miraculous statue of the Madonna also ended up in the cathedral. After the fatal fire of 1248, she died, but in 1290 another image of the Mother of God was created, which survived and has come down to our days. The name “Madonna of Milan” passed to the shrine of the 13th century, and six centuries later the beautiful statue was transferred to a new, special pedestal.
In the Cologne Cathedral you can see the symbols of episcopal authority, a collection of brocade church clothes, showcases with finds from Franconian burials discovered during excavations under the foundation of the cathedral, but what impressed me most of all was not a Gothic cross, but a two-meter oak cross with the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. It was presented to the cathedral by the envoy of Emperor Otto I, Archbishop Gero of Cologne (969-976). The first century of our era - and a realistic, stunning image of Christ at the hour of his death! The cross and the halo were preserved in their original form, and the baroque altar with columns was presented to the cathedral by canon Heinrich Mehring. It happened seven centuries later, in 1683. After 262 years, when almost the whole of the Allied bombings turned into ruins, the cathedral survived. They say that the pilots took care of it as a geographical landmark. But I don't think that's the point...
Cologne Cathedral is visible from anywhere in the city: its height is 157.38 meters. It is very easy to get to it - from the doors of the main station of Cologne to this legendary temple you need to walk about 50 meters. The cathedral is open from 6 am to 7.30 pm. Admission is free without a group, and paid organized tours are held from Monday to Saturday at 10.30 and 14.30. Sunday tours are held only at 14.30. The cost of excursions is 4 euros for a full ticket, 2 euros for a reduced ticket and 8 euros for a family ticket. The ascent to the observation deck will cost 2.5 euros.
town hall
Three hundred meters from the Cologne Cathedral is the city government building - the famous town hall. It is located between the Old Market (Alter Markt) and the Town Hall Square (Rathausplatz). According to ancient documents, the construction of the town hall began in 1330, and since then it has changed its appearance more than once. In 1414, a tower appeared near the town hall (by decision of the city council, it began to be erected in 1407), decorated with decorative figures. Time and bombing destroyed them more than once, so between 1988 and 1995, the Cologne residents installed 124 new sculptures on the tower, which can still be seen today. These are the saints and patrons of Cologne, famous residents of the city, emperors, popes and kings who deserve to be remembered.
Roman Germanic Museum
Near the Cologne Cathedral is the Römisch-Germanisches Museum (Roman-German Museum). In 1946, it was created from the German and Roman departments of the Wallraf-Richartz Museum in Cologne. In March 1974, the concept of the museum as a showcase in Roman times matured, which corresponds to the current layout. The combination of modernity and deep antiquity made an unforgettable impression on me. In 1941, the so-called mosaic of Dionysus, the most cheerful and dissolute god of Olympus, was accidentally discovered on the territory of Cologne, and for many years it has been kept on the lower, underground floor of the museum, where I saw it. On the same floor there is an exposition of household items of citizens in the 1st-4th centuries AD. The exhibits on the top floor tell about how people of prehistoric times lived on the territory of present-day Cologne - the Paleolithic, Bronze and Iron Ages did not disappear without a trace, but came down to us in the form of household items that turned into museum exhibits. The expositions of the Roman-Germanic Museum also remind of that , with which, in fact, the history of the city began - once the brave commander Mark Vipsanius Agrippa settled here the killers, one of the Germanic tribes. A small village gradually turned into the main city of the Roman province - how this happened, I tried to imagine from the archaeological collection of the museum. The chronicle of those times has been preserved - inscriptions made in Latin - people left notes right on the walls of houses and tombstones. The museum also cherishes wall paintings, “graffiti” of bygone years, the “mosaic of philosophers” found in 1844, sculptural portraits of Emperor Augustus I and his wife Livia (first century AD) and much more.
Looking at all these treasures, I was very sorry that the visit to the museum was limited in time - I wanted to study each exhibit longer and imagine the one whose hands touched it in antiquity, fantasize, draw the past in my imagination. Impressions would be enough for several documentaries! Getting to the Roman-Germanic Museum is also very easy - if not from the Cologne Cathedral, then by metro - you need to go to the central station Dom / Hbf. The museum is open from 10.00 to 17.00 on all days except Mondays. The ticket price is 9 euros.
Exhibitions and music
The Roman-Germanic Museum is far from the only one in the city that is a famous museum and exhibition center. After New York, it ranks second in the world in terms of the number of art galleries. A unique collection of paintings from the Middle Ages to the present day is stored in Walraf-Richartz Museum, the Schnutgen Museum, the City Museum, the Museum of Spirits, museums of sports, beer and many others are also open for visits. Visiting times and ticket prices can be found on their official websites.
Temples and monuments
Church of Saint Gereon
The sights of Cologne include 12 unique churches, including the oldest Romanesque church of St. Gereon of the 4th century. It is located in the northern part of the old town, between the streets of Gereonshof, Gereonstrasse, Christofstrasse and Gereonskloster - I, a lover of antiquity, walked along them with particular pleasure. Once upon a time in the northwestern part of Cologne there was a Roman necropolis, on the territory of which a chapel was built in the 4th century - as experts say, it looked like the temple of Minerva in Rome. It was this chapel that became the basis of the church of St. Gereon - a pagan sanctuary turned into a Christian temple, preserved in the walls and floor mosaics. In 1920, Pope Benedict XV awarded St. Gereon the title of a small papal basilica, and 25 years later, during the allied raids, the temple was badly damaged by bombing. It took the Germans almost forty years to fully restore it.
Church of St. Andrew
In the Romanesque church of St. Andrew rests the remains of Albert the Great - one of the greatest thinkers of the Middle Ages, theologian and philosopher. Here is another shrine - a golden coffin with the relics of the seven holy martyrs Maccabees. The temple is located in the Heumarkt, 150 meters from the Cologne Cathedral - Komödienstraße leads to it. Church of St. Andrew is a three-aisled basilica with a transept. The temple, one might say, was lucky - the bombing of the Second World War did not raze it to the ground. The unique medieval wall paintings have survived, and the meticulous restoration work that took place from 1992 to 1997 completely restored the majestic appearance and decoration of the church of St. Andrew.
Church of the Blessed Virgin Mary
I must say that interesting churches from different eras in Cologne “get along” wonderfully: here you can walk from temple to temple, as if traveling through time, and at the same time never cease to be surprised at how they complement each other. This is my personal impression - I enjoyed looking at the Ursuline Church, the Mennonite Church, and the modern Church of St. Elizabeth. And the Church of the Blessed Virgin Mary, which especially impressed me, was once built outside the city wall, which is reflected in its full name (now the church is located at the intersection of Vor den Siebenburgen and Schnurgasse streets). The cornerstone of this temple was laid in 1642, and construction was completed in the year 1716. The Church of the Blessed Virgin Mary Outside the City Wall experienced many hardships - in the 18th century the enemy troops closed it, and in the 20th century it was destroyed by an incendiary bomb. In a fire, the interior of the church burned to the ground, only the western facade and walls were preserved. The people of Cologne devoted to their city undertook to restore the temple, and in 1964 it again became what it was back in 1716.
Melaten
In addition to ancient churches, Roman cemeteries and the ruins of the Roman aqueduct carry tourists to the world of the Middle Ages and antiquity. They are located in the Lindenthal district - as the Melaten cemetery, known since 1180. Melaten is considered an attraction because of the original tomb sculptures created by famous architects and sculptors. The cemetery is also known thanks to the names of the great Cologne people (manufacturers, artists, lawyers, writers, musicians) who are buried here.
man-made miracles
Cologne has its own special White House - Weisshaus. This is the name of the oldest water castle in the Sylz region. The secluded medieval palace Weißhaus was built in the 14th century as the first defensive structure from Trier. This line surrounded by water on a stone hill is the former residence of the abbots of the brotherhood of St. Panteleimon (now private property). You can get to the castle by metro tram 18, going towards Bonn, stop Arnulfstrasse (Arnulfstraße). The famous suspension bridge over the Rhine and the oldest botanical garden in Europe, Flora, are located in the Rodenkirchen district, and the Cologne Zoo is in the Nippes district. But on the ground, it's nearby: the botanical garden with greenhouses of exotic plants is across the street from the zoo (go through the arch behind the ticket office). It is pleasant to walk in the 19th century park with a natural lake and turtles on a fine day (here you can also have a cheap meal in a cafe in the central building). Go to the Riehl Zoo/Flora stop.
Rhine castles
After seeing the sights of Cologne itself, I would advise you to take a short trip outside its borders and visit the best of the forty surviving castles on the Rhine. They can be shown to you, as well as to me, by Russian-speaking guides - along with places associated with the legends of the Nibelungs. Around Cologne and Dusseldorf close to it (the distance between these cities is only 32 km) are Bureisheim, Marksburg, Drachenburg, Stolzenfels and other magnificent knightly castles of the Middle Ages. Of course, it is impossible to see everything in one day - it is best to focus on the most famous ones.
Bürreisheim Castle
This ancient wonder, located four kilometers from the town of Maine, rises above the Nette River. Fate spared Burreisheim - the castle did not survive a single siege. The central tower, built in the 12th century, has survived to our time. Around it "grew" two parts of the castle, separated by a moat and belonging to two different owners. Messrs. Eberhard and Mettfried disposed of their property in different ways: in 1189, Philip Eberhard sold his part of the property to the Archbishop of Cologne, and at the end of the 13th century, the second part was acquired by the Archbishop of Trier. Since then, the Trier and Cologne castles have passed from hand to hand, being completed in different ways, but, despite this, they look today as a single and harmonious architectural ensemble. In 1659, both parts were in the hands of representatives of the Breidbach family and received the name Burreisheim. Its appearance after 1700, the castle has not changed its appearance. The last private owners transferred Burreisheim to the state in 1938. 
You can visit Burreisheim as part of a sightseeing walking or bus tour from Cologne, Düsseldorf or Bonn. For tourists, the castle is open from 10.00 to 18.00 (from April to September) and from 10.00 to 17.00 (from October to November).
Marksburg Castle
Beautiful, like a snow-white pearl - this is my personal impression. In 2002, Marksburg Castle became part of the Upper-Middle Rhine Valley site (UNESCO World Heritage). In the 17th century, it turned out to be the only surviving castle on the territory of the middle upper Rhine - the French troops did not touch it. By their grace, the medieval architecture of Marksburg has been preserved. Having been in the hands of Count Eberhard II von Katzenelenbogen and the counts of Hesse during his long life, the castle in 1803 passed into the possession of the duchy and became a prison and a haven for crippled soldiers. After 97 years, the German Castle Society bought Marksburg for a thousand gold coins. He remained impregnable, original and proud. 
Marksburg Castle is located 20 minutes from the town of Braubach (Braubach) - you can reach it on foot. Entrance to the castle costs about 6 euros. The journey from Cologne to Braubach by train lasts 1 hour 38 minutes.
Drachenburg Castle
It is located near the city of Königswinter, on the slope of the Drachenfels mountain (right bank of the Rhine). You can get here from Cologne (main station) by train: the desired station is Königswinter. The road took me forty minutes, but in good company they flew by quickly. In addition, impressions - more than enough! If you have never seen an architectural mixture of a palace, a villa and a castle, then you should definitely visit Drachenburg: this is a real masterpiece in the neo-Gothic style. It was built in 1882-1884 by the innkeeper's son, Stefan von Zarter. Enterprising by nature, the guy first became a broker and was very successful, having made a solid capital, and then bought himself the title of baron. By his order, Leo von Abbem and Bernhard Thuzhaus, Düsseldorf architects, worked on the castle project, and the final version was created by their famous colleague Wilhelm Hoffmann, who lived in Paris. The castle is beautiful not only from the outside - inside it is decorated with tapestries and wall paintings with scenes from ancient sagas, legends and the heroic past of Germany. 
The fate of Drachenburg was tragic. Having no children of his own, Stefan von Sarter passed the castle on to his nephew Jakob Biesenbach, and this enterprising heir turned his property into a residence hotel for moneybags travelers. Later, Drachenburg changed its purpose several times: it was destined to become a Catholic boarding school, a railroad school, and a National Socialist military school. At the height of World War II, the castle park housed the Nazi anti-aircraft defense squad, and the Allies ruthlessly destroyed Drachenburg with their artillery shelling. The lion's share of the castle's artistic treasury was appropriated and taken out by the Americans. In the sixties, Drachenburg was such a pitiful and desperate sight that the local authorities, in the end, decided to raze it to the ground. The castle was sentenced in the early 70s, but a miracle happened: in 1971, Drachenburg was bought by a private sponsor. The time has come for restoration work, and today we can enjoy acquaintance with the magnificent heritage of the past. No one will harm the castle anymore - since 1986 it has been protected by the state. Drachenburg is open for visits from April to November, from 11 to 18.00. Entrance ticket for adults - 30 euros, for children - 15 euros.
Stolzenfels Castle
It rises on the left bank of the Rhine, a few kilometers from the center of Koblenz. In the 19th century, Crown Prince Friedrich Wilhelm erected it on the ruins of a 13th-century fortress, and since then it has been famous as a magnificent example of romantic Prussian-Rhenish architecture. Already becoming king, Friedrich Wilhelm turned the castle into his summer residence - with gardens, parks, ponds, waterfalls, caves and breathtaking views of the Rhine valley. Stolzenfels, which had gone wild after his death, was put in order at the beginning of the 21st century - the initiative was taken by the Foundation cultural heritage federal state of Rhineland-Palatinate, and today we see the favorite brainchild of Friedrich Wilhelm as the castle was with him. 
In January and February, Stolzenfels is only open to the public on Saturdays and Sundays from 10.00-17.00. In March, October and November - from 09.00-17.00, from April to September - from 9.00 to 18.00 (every day, except Mondays and holidays). In December, the former royal residence does not receive guests. Tickets for adults - 5 euros, for children and teenagers - 3 euros. For adult groups from 10 people - 4.50 euros, for groups of children, teenagers and students - 2 euros. Getting to Stolzenfels from Cologne is easy: trains run every hour directly from Cologne Airport (Bahnhof Köln / Bonn Flughafen station) to the city of Koblenz. You will need a train that goes to the Koblenz Hbf station. The journey will take 1 hour five minutes, the fare is 18-30 euros.
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