Unique and hospitable Cologne attracts tourists not only with its outstanding architectural monuments but also with its rich cultural life. The city satisfies even the most discerning art lovers, as evidenced by its numerous exhibition complexes and galleries. Cologne’s museums house unique collections of artifacts and exhibits that amaze with their diversity.
Chocolate Museum
This popular place receives more than 600,000 tourists annually. The impressive collection of exhibits allows visitors to familiarize themselves with the basic technological processes and secrets of producing this famous delicacy.
The exhibition reflects the history of chocolate manufacturing, from growing cocoa beans to creating various finished products. The modern four-story building of the exhibition complex, made of glass and brick, resembles a ship from the outside.
Inner glass galleries and semi-circular staircases lead tourists to a greenhouse with cocoa trees, a miniature factory, an exhibition hall, and a candy store. The collection of old confectionery molds, vending machines, colorful labels of famous brands, tools, and many other attributes is of interest.
Here you can see a fully automated chocolate production line as well as the manual creation of sweet figurines. One cannot miss the main pride of this cultural institution—a three-meter-high chocolate fountain. About 200 kilograms of melted chocolate circulate within its system, cascading from various openings into a pool.
Fragrance Museum (Farina House)
Perfume lovers are recommended to visit the famous Farina House. This old architectural complex was the site of the world’s first factory for producing scented water. It was here, three centuries ago, that the famous Italian alchemist Johann Maria Farina made Cologne famous with his invention—the Eau De Cologne.
The perfumer created magnificent perfumes embodying the exquisite scents of Italy. He combined the aromas of oranges, lemons, daffodils, garden roses, and flowers of fragrant mountain herbs. His clients included European royalty, such as the Russian Empress Catherine II.
The factory building where Farina lived and worked houses an interesting exhibition dedicated to this masterpiece of perfumery art. Visitors will appreciate the preserved luxurious and pompous interiors of the Rococo-era mansion. The museum halls display bottles and packaging for perfumes, artworks, antique furniture, tableware, jewelry, and numerous manuscripts of the perfumer.
While admiring the exquisite setting, guests will learn the secrets of the technologies for producing aromatic essences. Of particular note are the original cedar wood barrels used to age the iconic Cologne water.
House of 4711 Cologne
Located on Glockengasse Street is one of Cologne’s legendary buildings—the House of 4711 Cologne. This famous perfume shop-museum is associated with the name of German entrepreneur Wilhelm Muelhens, who started producing fragrant toilet water in 1792.
The oldest company is housed in a Gothic-style building with characteristic decorative lace towers. The brand name was derived from the house number where the cologne was produced.
At the entrance of the shop, a large glass showcase with countless bottles of the famous perfumes draws interest. Visitors can purchase various fragrances for both women and men, with a wide range of scents available.
A special tap in the foyer continuously flows with fragrant Cologne water. On the second floor, a collection of historical items, including photographs, certificates, awards, personal belongings of the house owners, various bottles, and other curious artifacts, is on display.
Ludwig Museum
In the central part of Cologne, near the majestic Gothic cathedral, stands the splendid building of the Ludwig Museum. The exhibition halls of the four-story gallery house an impressive collection of contemporary art. Here, various artistic paintings, sculptures, installations, and photographs are presented.
The museum’s foundation is based on the private collection of industrialist Peter Ludwig, who bequeathed most of his works to his beloved city. The exhibition includes works from movements such as avant-garde, surrealism, cubism, pop art, graphics, and expressionism.
The provocative and sometimes shocking masterpieces reject classical art traditions, sparking genuine interest among many visitors. Noteworthy are the masterpieces of masters such as Picasso, Malevich, Dali, Chagall, Rodchenko, Warhol, and Kandinsky.
A separate hall of the exhibition center is dedicated to sculptural installations reflecting pressing human issues. The Ludwig Museum is open from Tuesday to Sunday.
Wallraf-Richartz Museum
Art lovers will not be indifferent to the Wallraf-Richartz Museum. This remarkable art gallery houses an extensive collection of paintings, ranging from the most famous masterpieces of medieval artists to paintings by 20th-century artists.
The museum owes its foundation to two citizens of Cologne: Professor Franz Wallraf and patron Heinrich Richartz. Both 19th-century figures had a passionate interest in visual arts.
In the new five-story cubic building, covering an area of 3,500 square meters, are displayed unique altarpieces, graphic drawings, and paintings from various schools of painting (Flemish, Dutch, French, and German).
Among the exhibits are mesmerizing paintings by such outstanding authors as Rembrandt, Rubens, Boucher, Van Dyck, Van Hemessen, Van Gogh, and other talented artists. The gallery’s pride includes works by medieval painter Stefan Lochner—“The Last Judgment” and “Madonna in the Rose Garden.” The museum is renowned for its series of paintings reflecting religious themes.
Käthe Kollwitz Museum
German artist Käthe Kollwitz is a prominent representative of early 20th-century expressionism. Her expressive drawings, engravings, and sculptures, showcasing her opposition to national socialism, can be seen in her personal museum located in the Neumarkt Passage shopping complex.
K. Kollwitz’s deeply moving works make visitors ponder the consequences and tragedies of wars and empathize with the despair of workers and peasants suffering from hard labor.
Her emotional artworks and engravings reflect the difficult human fates, explaining the popularity of Kollwitz’s works. Pain, suffering, hunger, the search for justice, and poverty are all depicted in the famous series of paintings “The Weavers’ Revolt,” “Proletariat,” and “War.”
Roman-Germanic Museum
Located near the famous Cologne Cathedral is the Roman-Germanic Archaeological Museum. Its collection includes about three million valuable artifacts found in Cologne and its surroundings. The modern gray building houses an exhibition showcasing the historical period when one of the Roman Empire’s colonies was founded on the Rhine’s banks.
Most of the unique items date back to the first centuries AD. Strolling through the numerous exhibition halls, visitors will see a vast collection of various rare items. These include sculptural groups, sarcophagi, statuettes, ancient tombstones, jewelry, clothing, footwear, tableware, weapons, wall fragments, architectural samples with bas-relief images, columns, and much more.
Fans of exquisite antiquity will find it intriguing to examine golden laurel wreaths, buckles, and rings of emperors, as well as tableware and household items of noble individuals. The exhibition’s pride is a colorful mosaic floor made of multicolored limestone, glass, and ceramic tiles. This preserved art masterpiece adorned the interiors of a Roman villa. The mosaic panel depicts scenes from the life of the Greek god of winemaking, Dionysus.
Cologne Diocesan Museum “Kolumba”
In the historic district of the city is the art museum of religious art of the Cologne Archdiocese (diocese). This unique architectural object in Cologne is a modern building constructed on the ruins of St. Columba’s church.
The preserved fragment of the destroyed church’s wall is literally integrated into the new building’s facade. Sixteen exhibition halls house an extensive collection of paintings, ancient icons, antique engravings, sculptural compositions, and church utensils.
The archdiocese’s collection spans over 2000 years. The exhibits are displayed without informational plaques with descriptions and creation dates to allow visitors to enjoy the aesthetic experience without being distracted by the details.
A special place is occupied by the painting “Madonna with Violets,” painted in the 15th century. In the basement of the building, visitors can see the archaeological excavations of the church’s foundation and a statue of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
Schnütgen Museum
When planning a trip to Cologne, tourists should include a visit to the former Catholic Basilica of St. Cecilia in their cultural program. The three-nave building, without a transept and with numerous pointed windows, is an expressive representative of Romanesque architecture.
Under the high silver-white vaults is stored a collection of unique medieval religious art artifacts. The church’s interior, with arcaded galleries and massive columns, creates an extraordinary historical atmosphere. The foundation of the collection consists of valuable exhibits donated to the city municipality by Archbishop Alexander Schnütgen at the beginning of the last century.
The exhibition includes church decorations, tapestries, paintings, statuettes, jewelry masterpieces, textiles, and various decorative items. Visitors can see ancient liturgical vestments and clergy robes.
The colorful stained glass windows of the church are impressively crafted. The paintings illustrate biblical scenes. Sacred art enthusiasts will be particularly interested in the various statues of the Virgin Mary made of wood, gold, silver, and ivory.
Cologne Documentation Center on National Socialism
In the former headquarters building of the Cologne Gestapo is the “National Socialism” museum. The exhibition in this grim atmospheric place reminds humanity of the tragic times of the “Third Reich.” Numerous audio and video materials, photographs, brochures, posters, and various archival documents are collected here, revealing the origins, development, and rise of fascism in Germany.
The exhibits provide an opportunity to learn about the activities of the National Socialist regime. The institution aims to show the chronicle of the Gestapo’s work, whose methods included persecution, executions, imprisonments, torture, and the propagation of Nazism. In the building’s basement, the preserved prison cells evoke feelings of horror and despair. On the prison walls, one can see inscriptions and drawings by prisoners, with many phrases written in Russian.
German Sport and Olympic Museum
This museum showcases an impressive collection of sports exhibits. It is an excellent example of a cultural institution that can captivate sports fans of all ages. Here, visitors can see sports equipment, medals, trophies, photographs, various gear, and also actively engage in fun activities.
The complex, covering about 2000 square meters, organizes unique interactive activities. Stepping into the exhibition halls, tourists are immersed in an atmosphere of movement and excitement.
Visitors can test their strength in the ring, ride a bicycle inside a wind tunnel, do gymnastics, take part in a football or hockey match, ride a bobsled, or be the head coach of one of the teams. Notable exhibits include legendary Formula-1 cars such as the Benetton-Ford and Ferrari F1-91-A, in which Michael Schumacher won championships.
One of the pavilions features a large screen displaying football matches and the best goals of the year.
Museum of Applied Arts
Near the Cologne Cathedral and the main railway station is the Museum of Applied Arts, founded at the end of the 19th century. It is one of the city’s oldest institutions, boasting a vast collection of handcrafted items, household goods, and various interior decorative elements. The museum is open from Tuesday to Sunday, from 11:00 to 17:00.
Approximately 100,000 exhibits created by German craftsmen from different eras are displayed for public viewing. These include tableware, clothing, furniture, textiles, jewelry, tapestries, household appliances, and much more. The exhibition is dedicated to applied arts from both the medieval and modern periods. Many items previously belonged to European nobility and clergy.
The collection of unique items from the German faience manufactory is of particular interest. Teapots, jugs, plates, and vases are decorated with exquisite gold and silver ornaments. The tableware features picturesque illustrations depicting German customs or idyllic villages with castles, churches, and endless forests.
Glass showcases display boxes designed as curious statuettes or animals. The history of fashion exhibition, from 1800 to the present day, attracts attention. The displayed outfits allow visitors to trace the development of European clothing styles over three centuries.
Museum of East Asian Art
Since 1913, this museum has specialized in showcasing a collection of various art pieces by East Asian masters. The museum’s collection includes a significant number of luxurious and fascinating artifacts from China, Japan, and Korea. The exhibition features Buddhist paintings, painted screens, wooden sculptures, tableware, lacquered boxes, porcelain and ceramic items, jewelry, engravings, books, furniture, and much more.
The exhibits are housed in a building designed by Japanese architect K. Maekawa. The Japanese landscape garden with stone compositions, a pond, and lush flowering trees adds a special ambiance.
Rautenstrauch-Joest Museum of Ethnology
The collection consists of over 60,000 artifacts, 100,000 photographs, and 40,000 volumes of scientific publications. The splendid exhibits, divided into thematic blocks, provide insight into the cultural values, daily traditions, and festive customs of ethnic groups from Oceania, Asia, America, and Africa. Exhibition visitors will gain extensive knowledge about the lifestyles and rituals, the role of religion and family, and the relationships between men and women.
The exhibits include household and art items, jewelry and clothing elements, statuettes, and various sacred artifacts. Noteworthy are the series of pull-out drawers equipped with touch screens for displaying photos and videos. A separate hall is dedicated to child upbringing and adulthood. Here, it is intriguing to see recreated rooms of teenagers from Japan, Canada, Turkey, Germany, or Sierra Leone.
Schumacher Museum
In 2018, the official opening of the exhibition dedicated to the legendary Formula-1 racer Michael Schumacher took place. The collection is located on the grounds of a former airfield. Cologne is the nearest major city to Schumacher’s birthplace.
Fans of the seven-time world champion can view over 200 exhibits characterizing all stages of the world-renowned successful driver’s career. These include cups, awards, helmets, suits, shoes, gloves, photographs, personal items, video materials, and much more. The exhibition pavilions display Schumacher’s personal racing cars, including Ferrari, Mercedes, and Benetton, which were gifted to the driver for his sports achievements.
The museum is open from Tuesday to Sunday, from 10:00 to 18:00.