A Thousand Years on the Rhine: Encountering Cologne 🌉✨

Born in Roman times, this 2,000-year-old jewel along the Rhine shines as Germany’s fourth-largest city—where medieval Hanseatic trade routes meet modern European cultural vibrancy. ⛪ Cologne Cathedral: A Gothic Epic ▪ 632 years in the making, its 157m twin spires scrape the heavens. ▪ WWII survivor: Inside, the Golden Shrine of the Three Kings and stained-glass saints still whisper tales of the Holy Roman Empire. ✝️ ▪ Fun fact: The cathedral’s blackened facade comes from centuries of Rhine industry! 🌉 Beyond the Cathedral ▪ Hohenzollern Bridge: *10,000+ love locks* cling to its rails—Europe’s most romantic iron giant. ▪ Old Market Square: Colorful gabled houses frame the 600-year-old City Hall—perfect for a Kölsch beer break. 🍻 🌅 Timeless Magic At dusk, Rhine promenade strolls feel like time travel. Between weathered stone steps and rippling river light, history here never sleeps—just like Cologne’s eternal charm. #Cologne #GothicArchitecture #RhineRiver #GermanyTravel