koln

Koln, also known as Cologne in English, is the largest city in the German federal state of North Rhine-Westphalia and a major cultural and economic center in western Germany. Located on the Rhine River and part of the Rhine-Ruhr metropolitan region, it has around one million residents. The city’s history stretches back to a Roman settlement, Colonia Claudia Ara Agrippinensium, and it developed into an important trading and ecclesiastical center in the Middle Ages.

Cologne is notable for the Cologne Cathedral (Kölner Dom), a Gothic masterpiece whose construction began in 1248 and was completed in the 19th century. The cathedral was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1996. Other important cultural sites include the Hohenzollern Bridge, the Roman-Germanic Museum, the Ludwig Museum of modern art, and the Great St. Martin Church.

The city hosts the University of Cologne, founded in 1388, one of Europe's oldest and largest universities. Cologne has a strong media, arts, and educational sector and hosts major events such as the Cologne Carnival. The local beer Kölsch is a distinctive regional product, and the city is also associated with the football club 1. FC Köln.

Transportation centers on Köln Hauptbahnhof, a major railway hub, and nearby Cologne Bonn Airport. The Rhine remains a key corridor for cargo and passenger traffic, and the city is integrated into the Rhine-Ruhr public transport network with extensive tram and subway lines.