Cologne is a very large modern city. The city was devastated during World War 2 but it was rebuilt. Unfortunately most of the city is of a modern construction and only a small part near the Cathedral and river has been rebuilt in the old Germanic style.

In December, beneath the largest Christmas tree in the Rhineland, you will find 160 attractively designed wooden huts which form the Christmas market held in front of the imposing Cathedral. The Cathedral dominates the city and the river. This is just one of six markets held in the city. Some are bigger than others.

The four big Christmas markets are found in the Alter Markt, in the Neumarkt in the Rudolfplatz and on the square outside Cologne Cathedral as already mentioned. The Christmas Market on the Rudolfplatz takes you to the world of fairy tales. Against the historic backdrop of the mediaeval Hahnentorburg, festive illumination and large fairy tale figures provide fun for the children. The oldest Christmas market is the market held on the Neumarkt, The Alter Markt Christmas market takes place in front of narrow-gabled houses of the Old Town Hall.

One of the two smaller Christmas Markets is held on the river on board MS Wappen von Mainz (KD Riverboats) alongside the old quarter. Outside the Chocolate Museum a small Medieval Christmas Market is held with all the stall holders dressed in costume.

Make sure you enjoy the 'Original Christmas mulled wine' out of the festively decorated Christmas mugs. The design of the mugs change each year. Some are in the shape of Father Christmas' boots. You can keep the mugs or give them back to receive your deposit back. Try some of the fruit on sticks that have been dipped in chocolate as a desert to follow a main meal of bratwurst sausage and onions in a roll. Once you are warm inside go skating on the temporary ice rink on Heumarkt. Cologne Kolner Dom

Arriving at Cologne (Koln) by train gives you a great view of the Cathedral. The building of Cathedral of Cologne was started in 1270 and took 600 years to complete. In 1839 the cathedral was still a big construction site. It was a strange decision to locate the large main train station Cologne Hauptbanhof on the footsteps of one of Europe's most important cathedrals.

It is free to enter but there are churchmen in red robes standing about with collection boxes hanging round their necks should you feel inclined to make a donation. The spires of the Cathedral reach 156 metres. There is a fee to climb to the of the Suedturm (south tower). Be prepared it is a LONG hard climb if you aren't very fit. There are 509 steps leading to the top.

The spiral stairwell is very narrow and people will be coming down as you are going up wearing rucksacks and carrying children. The Cathedral holds the remains of the Three Kings. It is one of the most visited monuments in Germany. The first Christian church, where a Roman temple once stood, was built in 320 and its font can still be seen inside the cathedral. The construction of the present cathedral, consecrated to St. Peter (protector of Germany), started in 1248 to be a fitting home for the Shrine of the Three Kings.

My uncle Flight Sergeant Cyril Moore, was one of the RAF Wellington Bomber aircrew sent to bomb Cologne during WWII. The Cathedral was damaged but survived among the ruins of the heavily bombarded city. The Cathedral was saved because it was used as a navigation point by allied pilots. Click HERE to see some black and white WW2 photos of the cathedral and the bomb damage.

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