The favorable location on the Rhine with significant west-east trade routes and the seat of secular and especially ecclesiastical power contributed to the special importance of Cologne be i. Its importance as a transport hub is evidenced by the high volume of rail traffic and the interchange station Cologne Eifeltor, the inland ports and the airport Cologne / Bonn.
As an economic and cultural metropolis, Cologne has international significance and is regarded as one of the leading centers for worldwide art trade, as well as the location of media companies with numerous television stations, music producers and publishing houses.
Cologne is not only the carnival stronghold, but also a university town with about 45,000 students, the Cologne University of Applied Sciences (about 16,500) and numerous other universities.
The landmark of the city is the World Heritage Site of the "Cologne Cathedral".
The Cologne Cathedral is a Roman Catholic church under the patronage of the Apostle Peter.
The Cologne Cathedral is with 157.38 m height after the Ulmer Münster the second highest church building of Europe as well as the third highest of the world. It is one of the world's largest cathedrals in Gothic style.
The Cologne Cathedral was added to the list of world heritage in 1996. The huge area of the west facade, including the two towers of more than 7100 m², has not been surpassed today. From 1880 to 1884 it was the tallest building in Germany: Since 2004, an average of more than six million visitors from all over the world have been counted, an average of about 20,000 per day.