Kölsch - Beer and Language
by johngayton
Cologne's two main traditions are its individual dialect and its brewhouses and strangely enough the same word applies to both - Kölsch.
I don't speak standard German (well apart from "Ein Bier Bitte") and so can't appreciate the subtleties of the local lingo but I was sort of impressed by the tradition of Kölsch drinking.
The word "Kölsch", as applied to beer, is what is termed a "protected designation of origin" which means that only beers brewed in the Cologne area are allowed to be so-called. The beer itself is a top-feremented lager, brewed out at a slightly higher temperature than most other beers and conforms to the German "beer purity law" by made from only water, barley, hops (and yeast). The result is a clean-drinking hoppy beer which should be served at cellar temperature rather than being chilled.
The serving is yet another tradition. All of the proper beerhouses only serve Kölsch in 20cl glasses (known as a "stange" - pole) and the glasses are replenished automatically as soon as close to empty. The beermat is used to keep count of the number of beers served and when you've had you fill you simply place the mat on top of the glass to signify that you want your bill.
Before World War II almost every other pub in Cologne was its own brewery but the number has reduced to 14, although many places do still serve in the traditional manner even if they don't do their own brewing.
Pictured here is the product of the Sion Brewery on Unter Taschenmacher where all the traditions survive - note the marked beermat.
Website below is the Wikipedia Commons collection of pics of the extant breweries.
Traditional German department store
by Scandic about Kaufhof
Well what Macy's is for New Yorkers and Marks and Spencer is for Britishs, I guess Kaufhof is that for Germans. So Cologne has its own, located close to Hohe Strasse, alogn Bayardsgasse in Altstadt Sud (SOuthern Old Town).
Airport Konrad Adenauer (CGN)...
by aldizwerg
Airport Konrad Adenauer (CGN) with connections from most major airlines. Take an express-bus (#170) to the city from there.
Main Railway Station with excelent local, national and international connections by german and european trains (Intercity; Eurocity; Thalys to Bruxelles, London, Paris; Intercity Express)
Cologne has a compact city-centre. You can reach the main sites by walking. Alternatively use the combined Underground / Tram System. Using the car can be difficult because it's hard to find street parking and the official parkings are - although easy to find - not that cheap.
A nice place in Mediapark
by sabsi about Kandinsky
The Kandinsky is a kinda stylish bar/restaurant in Cologne's mediapark. It was a bit on the empty side as soon as most films in the nearby cinema started though. Theis choice of food isn't really big but there are some nice things to choose from so it doesn't make ordering very easy ;)
I was a bit disappointed because on their website they promised a fluorescent starlight ceiling and that sounded wonderful. Well..... It was fluorescent but not really impressive I think. I had the pizza with parma ham and rocket salad which was nice but nothing reeeally special.
Cathedral(DOM) of Koln
by kayzee
One of the best piece of architecture I ever set my eyes on. The huge dark cathedral just next to the Koln railway station. Its always crowded packed with lots of tourists.
Unfortunately I was not able to get hold of any historical facts on the cathedral. But from what I heard it is one of the best example of gothic architectutre.
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Sion Kölsch in its traditional serving style
The second cable car line
Mouthwatering displays
Impressive...
