Cologne

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Industrial and commercial port in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany, on the left bank of the Rhine, 35 km/22 mi southeast of Düsseldorf; population (2003 est) 965,300. Cologne is an important transhipment and financial centre, and a major industrial centre for the manufacture of cars (Ford), engines, engineering, electronics engineering, chemicals, textiles and clothing, printed materials, and eau de cologne.

Founded by the Romans in 38 BC and made a colony in AD 50 under the name Colonia Claudia Arae Agrippinensis, Cologne became a leading Frankish city and during the Middle Ages was ruled by its archbishops (made an archdiocese under Charlemagne). It was self-governing after 1288, became an imperial free city in 1475, and, as a member of the Hanseatic League, flourished as a commercial centre until the 16th century. The city was seized by the French in 1794, and in 1815 it passed to Prussia. The great Gothic cathedral was begun in the 13th century, but its twin towers were not built until the 19th century (completed 1880). To the north of the city is the Ruhr coalfield, on which many of Cologne's industries were originally based.

Cologne suffered severely from aerial bombardment during World War II, notably the British ‘thousand bomber raid’ on 30 May 1942; 85% of the city and its three Rhine bridges were destroyed. Cologne has two universities; the older was founded in 1388, closed by Napoleon in 1797, and then re-established in 1919.

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