Cologne is the fourth largest city in Germany, the third largest German industrial region and the most important centre of business and industry in North Rhine-Westphalia. With a total of 3 million inhabitants, the Cologne/Bonn region is an attractive sales market. 7 million potential customers live within a radius of only 50 kilometres.
With the heritage of its turbulent history, modern Cologne is
Twelve universities and five public research institutions alone in the Cologne metro-politan area represent an outstanding science and research environment. In addi-tion there are numerous research depart-ments at Cologne companies.
The WDR, Continental Europe’s largest public service broadcasting corporation, and RTL, Europe’s highest-selling com-mercial broadcasting company, are both resident in Cologne.
Cologne has always been pure culture. The Cologne cathedral is a magnet, the most visited historic building in Germany. World-famous museums such as the Wall-raf-Richartz-Museum/Fondation Corboud and the Museum Ludwig contribute just as much to Cologne’s reputation as a cultural mecca as the Gürzenich Orchestra and the Cologne Philharmonic. Cologne’s cultural offerings are enriched by theatre and music scene, galleries and auction houses, and festivals such as Lit.Cologne. The education of young artists is also guaranteed in Cologne: Cologne’s Academy of Music, the Hochschule für Musik, is the largest institution of its kind in Germany, and its Academy of Media Arts, the Kunsthochschule für Medien, is a pioneer in this field. Cologne cultivates partnerships all over the world. An intense exchange on cultural and social levels, and also in part on the business level, ties Cologne to 23 cities.
Cologne’s history traces back more than two millennia. Founded as Roman colony, the town flourished in the Middle Ages. Various powers soon gained influence on the town which up to the present days developed into a cosmopolitan city.
Cologne is the oldest large town in Germany. Its name dates back to the Romans who built up their “Colonia Claudia Ara Agrippinensium (CCAA)” in 50 AD.
Imperial Roman proconsuls had their residence here. The town soon developed into one of the most important trade and production centres of the Roman Empire north of the Alps. In the aftermath of the disturbances during the transitional period, the city was conquered by the Franks. In 785, Karl the Great established the Archbishopric of Cologne. Cologne’s Archbishops rank among the most powerful feudal lords of their time. In the 11th century they became Archchancellors of the Italian part of the Holy Roman Empire and later Prince Electors in the 14th century.
In the Middle Ages, Cologne experienced another economic upswing: from around the 12th to the 15th century, it was the most highly populated and one of the most prosperous towns within the German-speaking area. Cologne citizens came to political and economic power after having gained a military victory over the Archbishop and Town Lord Sigfried II von Westerburg in the Battle of Worringen in 1288. Nevertheless, Cologne was declared Free Imperial Town not before 1475.
In 1388, the citizenry founded the first municipal university. Cologne soon played an important role as co-founder of the Hanseatic League and as trade fair centre. Unique churches and works of art, the fortification remains and numerous community centres, such as the Town Hall, Gürzenich festival hall, Patrician Overstolzenhaus, give an impression of the wealth and piety of “Holy Cologne”.