Cologne

Spiked at the centre by the two great Gothic pillars of the Cologne Cathedral, this sprawling urban conglomeration straddles the winding course of the River Rhine in a truly unforgettable display of historical architecture. Founded way back in 38 BC by the Germanic tribespeople of Northern Europe, the city subsequently boomed under the Romans, who came and raised bulwarks and docks and palatial complexes in their wake. Many of these can still be seen crumbling, sandwiched between the half-timbered frontispieces and bubbling brauhaus beer halls of the enchanting Altstadt district.

But all is not quite what it seems in this aged neighbourhood at Cologne’s heart. Most of the buildings are post-war reconstructions of their medieval selves; the famous 12 Romanesque Churches 20th century reprises of the original buildings. In fact, this city’s curious cultural make-up is a direct result of its myriad forms. Hipster boutiques and quirky coffeehouses now pepper the neo-Gothic streets of Agnesviertel, the industrial-chic Hohenzollernbrücke bridge now looms where Roman arches once stood, students and business folk alike sip frothy Kölsch beers around renovated historic buildings abutting modern architecture in the Reheinauhafen district, and the acclaimed Cologne Zoo accredits the city as a kid friendly place. No wonder Cologne tour guides claim to have so much up their sleeve!