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4711 House, Cologne
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4711 House, Cologne

4711 House tips and photos posted by real travelers and Cologne locals.
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4711 House: 4711 House
  • Tip Rating:
  • kentishgirl
  • By kentishgirl on November 10, 2004
  • Cologne Page by kentishgirl
  • 4711 House at night - Cologne
    4711 House at night
    by kentishgirl
    The 4711 house is located in central Cologne on a street called Glockengasse.

    Eau De Cologne originated here, and eventually became the home of the famous perfume called 4711! The brand got its name from the house, Napoleon ordered his soldiers to count the houses and this was number 4711. Later on the perfume was aptly named after the house.

    Inside the house they have a barrel with 4711 running out of it! So put you hand under the tap and get your free splash of the original Eau De Cologne!!

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    4711 House: Listen to the chimes
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  • christine.j
  • Updated By christine.j on November 26, 2006
  • Cologne Page by christine.j
  • The Marseillaise is being played - Cologne
    The Marseillaise is being
    played
    by christine.j
    At the full hour you can see some figures of French soldiers at the top of the 4711 house. Chimes are being played and the figures move in a circle.This is at the roof of the house, above the store where you can buy all sorts of Eau de Cologne.
    Inside the store there is fountain, giving Eau de Cologne instead of water. This gives the store a very pleasant smell.
    Now, November 2006, they're having a sale, many items have been reduced for Christmas. I was surprised how cheap many items were. Usually, a touristy place marks things up, not down , before Christmas. Quite a lot of customers were in the shop, buying gifts.

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  • Address: Glockengasse
  • Website: http://www.4711.com/
  • Not Helpful 1 2 3 4 5 Very Helpful
    4711 House: The original Eau de Cologne.
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  • LizD
  • By LizD on September 4, 2004
  • Cologne Page by LizD
  • 4711 the original eau de cologne - Cologne
    4711 the original eau de
    cologne
    by LizD
    When I was young I remember my grandmother having a bottle of 4711 cologne.

    I could smell the sweet fragrance I remembered as a child wafting down the street before I saw the shop, so I knew we were at the right place.

    It’s a shame there is no factory or major exhibition to mark a product, which was the first to hold the title of Eau de Cologne, but I was glad I visited the shop

    Inside the door is a little water feature with running 4711 cologne. Several elderly ladies dipped their handkerchiefs in the water and dabbed their faces as they entered the shop. My father tells me there is still nothing finer to cool the skin than a handkerchief soaked in 4711.

    There is a small exhibition above the shop giving the history of this famous product which, dates back to the 1700’s. I found this fascinating and was pleased that it was written in English.

    I’m not going to tell you what it said, go and take a look for yourself.
    While your there have a look at the large tapestry that hangs on the wall. It must have taken years to produce.

    You will only be there a few minutes, but to me the 4711 house was a must see activity during my trip.

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  • Address: Glockengasse 4711, 50667
  • Website: www.4711.com
  • Not Helpful 1 2 3 4 5 Very Helpful
    4711 House: Buy Eau De Cologne In City Where It Originated
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  • BillNJ
  • By BillNJ on May 29, 2008
  • Cologne Page by BillNJ
  • 4711 House - Cologne
    by BillNJ
    Johann Maria Farina, the inventor of eu de cologne, was Italian. He named his creation"cologne" in honor of his new adopted hometown in Germany. Originally, it was more than a body fragrance. Eau de cologne was also taken internally as a "miracle cure'' for ailments as diverse as migraine headaches, cold feet, even the plague. Its miracle ingredient? A 5 percent alcohol content rendered even more potent when mixed with wine.

    Today, the Farina family's eighth generation oversees Farina House, a museum and retail shop in the heart of downtown Cologne. Four blocks away, a showroom occupies the birthplace of 4711 Original Eau de Cologne, a prominent rival since the late 18th century.

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    4711 House: Eau de Cologne
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  • Sjalen
  • Updated By Sjalen on November 15, 2006
  • Cologne Page by Sjalen
  • 4711 House - Cologne
    by Sjalen,
    1 more photos
    "Echt Kölnerwasser", as it says in the ads on the Central station, is of course known all over the world today. In the 4711 House, you can visit the company itself and wash your hands in the fountain full of eau de Cologne (see second picture) as well as read up on its history in the second floor gallery, and of course buy everything from the real stuff to t-shirts on it in its gift shop. Every hour between 9 and 19, on the hour, a carillon also plays from the top of the building. Usually the French national anthem and something more (which you can also hear on their website below), and this is because it was the Napoleonic troops which numbered the Cologne quarters in 1796, hence giving this house its famous number. The perfume itself is said to have been a wedding gift a few years earlier from a Carthusian monk to the Muehlen family in the palace. It was then known as "aqua mirabilis" (and also drunk) and it was Mr Muehlen's son who set up a company for business production, a business which almost a century later was registered under the famous house number.

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  • Address: Glockengasse 4711
  • Directions: Next to the Opera.
  • Website: http://www.4711.com/
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    4711 House: 4711 House of Perfume
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  • sabsi
  • By sabsi on August 2, 2003
  • Cologne Page by sabsi
  • 4711 House - Cologne
    4711 House
    by sabsi
    Eau de Cologne isn't called Eau de Cologne for nothing. It originated in Cologne in the 19th century. The original was called 4711 - named after the number of the house it was made in (Glockengasse 4711). You can see the house opposite the opera and if you are lucky like me you can hear the chimes play the hourly tune. Just promise me one thing: Don't by 4711 - Echt Kölnisch Wasser. It smells horrible!

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  • Address: Glockengasse 4711 ;)
  • Website: http://www.4711.com
  • Not Helpful 1 2 3 4 5 Very Helpful
    4711 House: The scent of Cologne
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  • garridogal
  • By garridogal on April 11, 2007
  • Cologne Page by garridogal
  • Such a pretty building - Cologne
    Such a pretty building
    by garridogal, 1 more photos
    Okay, I didn't go in but.... I've known about 4711 from having lived in Spain, years ago. I loved the scent of it and since many Spaniards wore it (at least, back then), the smell of it brings back lots of good memories. So, while researching this last trip I was really excited to learn that Cologne is the home of 4711 and that it's origin of the term "Eau de Cologne".

    Naturally, I snapped a couple of photos of the building as we passed it one night (to come) and yes, I did buy a bottle of it for myself!

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  • Address: Glockengasse 4711
  • Website: http://www.4711.com/uk/gallery.php
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    4711 House: 4711 Eau de Cologne
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  • stiab3
  • By stiab3 on May 21, 2005
  • Cologne Page by stiab3
  • 4711 Glcokenspiel - Cologne
    4711 Glcokenspiel
    by stiab3
    If you've ever heard about Eau de Cologne, here is its' origin. The most famous brand got its name when one of Napoleon's soldier was ordered to count every house (this was number 4711) during Napoleon's occupation of Cologne.

    So if you need a gift for your mother get a small bottle of this refreshing perfume which is sold in the shop (as are other brands).

    Enjoy the Glockenspiel (above the shop) with characters of Napoleon´s soldiers appearing hourly.

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    4711 House: 4711 House Glockenspiel
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  • kentishgirl
  • By kentishgirl on November 10, 2004
  • Cologne Page by kentishgirl
  • Glockenspiel on the 4711 Shop - Cologne
    Glockenspiel on the 4711 Shop
    by kentishgirl
    The Glockenspiel is located above the 4711 shop, and at certain times of the day on the hour Napoleans soldiers parade around it!

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    4711 House: The 4711 House
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  • orlikins
  • Updated By orlikins on September 17, 2002
  • Cologne Page by orlikins
  • 4711 Haus - Cologne
    4711 Haus
    by orlikins
    The 4711 house cant be left out! It was undergoing some renovations when I was there. If you want to be really scabby, or if you havent showered in ages, there is a fountain inside dispensing this eau de Cologne - just walk in off the street and help yourself to the fountain. Now if you see bottles of 4711 and merchanised goods - that principle dont apply!

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  • Website: www.4711.de
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