While strolling though the city you might notice little brass-coloured cobblestones in the pavement in front of house entrances. Take a minute and read their inscriptions!
They commemorate Jewish citizens as well as Sinti, Roma and other persecuted individuals of the Nazi oppression who once lived in the respective buildings and who have been deported to one of the Nazis' extermination camps during World War II. The place indicated by the cobblestone was their last address of choice before their deportation and murder.
In 1995, Cologne-based artist Gunter Demnig started his art project with his first unauthorized installation of Stolpersteine in our city. Since then, the project has developed to be the world's largest (decentralized) memorial with more than 50.000 stumbling stones in 18 European countries.
There has been (and in other cities still is) a controversial debate about the Stolpersteine. Some people think that this form of commemoration is disgraceful for the victims as people walk over the cobblestones. The proponents of Gunter Demnig's art campaign argue that the victims get back their visibility in the midst of the city. In my case, I associate myself with the supporters and I very much appreciate the idea that the memory of the murdered stays present and alive in our urban space.
For more mementos of Cologne citizens murdered or persecuted during the Nazi regime, please also read the articles on Edelweißpiraten and EL-DE Haus by Cologne Spotter Marcel.
Find your way with 139 Insider Tips from our Local Spotters
In Sri Lanka, as well as in India and Southeast Asia, they ferment the juice of the coconut flower to make a drink called toddy, hence the name of the bar.
by
Delicato is a wholesale grocer with high-quality Italian products such as cold cuts, bronze-cut pasta & oil. But not only that: it is also a kitchen bar!
by
Next to saving some money, the most important is: You are saving food that would have been otherwise thrown away because of either the best-to-date or how it looks.
by
"Goodchild Café" in Cologne makes the best croissants in town. There's no brunch without a pain au chocolat, but the selection here is endless...
by
"KölnTriangle" provides what in my opinion is the best view of Cologne, at least in my opinion. You can see the Dome and so much more!
by
"Die Mehlwerkstatt" in Cologne is unlike other bakeries: here they still make the dough themselves. Everything is freshly made, warm and delicious...
by
Lichtspiele Kalk is an independent cinema with an 87-seat screening room and it shows not only contemporary movies but also children’s and classic movies.
by
What struck me the most were the frescoes in the three apse ceilings by Hermann Gottfried. These powerful frescoes bring colors and dynamism to the church.
by
To maintain this habitat open and thus preserve the associated species - there is a shepherd with goats and sheep. There are also free tours you can join!
by
Knippschild Werk 2 is a rather small family-run restaurant with 30 seats inside and 18 seats in the biergarten, and multiple kinds of Schnitzel!
by
In this museum, you can see more than 20 tramways, a model railway, historical props of the Cologne tramway, and technical objects.
by
La Vincaillerie offers natural wines from all over Europe, including Austria, France, Georgia, and Germany. And you can rent the store for private events!
by
139 Insider Tips from our local Spotters
Authentic Stories by Real People
Escape the Crowd & Travel Slow 🐌
✓ 0 Insider Tips from our local Spotters
✓ 139 Insider Tips