created: 06.06.2006
last modified: 06.06.2006
Among the major cities in Germany, Cologne is the oldest. The construction of its landmark, the cathedral, began in the year 1248. By that time the city had already seen more than half of the years it has seen today. Being located on a trading road of the Roman Empire, Cologne has always welcomed people from all corners of the world.Cologne has proven its qualities as a host city for international guests when in 2005 the 20th World Youth Day saw over 1,000,000 visitors. And although the Pope is very unlikely to show up for the FIFA World Cup 2006™, many people are expected to come and see the action on the turf, and to celebrate in and enjoy the lively city on the river Rhine.
The Stadium
The venerable "Muengersdorfer Stadium" has given way to the recently build arena. It is the regular home to the FC Cologne, and occasionally a place where one can see people from the Pope to the Rolling Stones. The gross capacity of the stadium is 46,120 seats. Since the rebuilding in 2004 the arena no longer featuers a running track around the turf, securing a most thrilling atmosphere for the fans. For more information on the 2006 World Cup Arena Cologne go to:
http://fifaworldcup.yahoo.com/06/en/d/s/koln.html
Hotel Booking and Diabetes Tips
Cologne has many hotels in all price ranges. If you haven't booked your hotel yet, it's high time. The easiest way to do so is by using this link provided by the 2006 FIFA World Cup™ Accommodation Services (WCAS):
http://fifaworldcup.yahoo.com/06/en/d/accommodation/index.html
When booking your hotel you should inquire whether the hotel has its own doctor and if that is not the case, the reception desk should be able to tell you where the nearest doctor and pharmacy are.
A list of diabetologists located in Cologne can be found here:
Useful signs and terms related to diabetes are listed on this site:
Culture, Leisure and nightlife in Cologne
More than 40 museums are waiting with cultural highlights ranging from pre-historic artefacts to contemporary art. The Romano-German museum and the Ludwig museum are only the two most famous to mention. The green area designed in 1950s style for the federal garden show of 1957 provides an excellent surrounding for everyone who wants to chill out and leave the trouble of the city behind.
Another option in this respect is the Cologne Zoo on the other side of the Rhine that can be reached from the park via the Rheinseilbahn (Rhine cable car).
And then there's the nightlife. It doesn't necessarily need the world famous Carnival to have a party in Cologne. Hundrets of small bars and pubs in the old city centre pour out a special regional beer called "Koelsch" and the local food specialities are always worth a try.
Find more inforamtion at:
www.koeln.de/tourismus/en/
www.stadt-koeln.de/en/koelntourismus/index.html
