Cologne is the largest city in the Rhine-Ruhr Metropolitan Area with a population of over a million people. The original settlement dates back to 38BC when Romans first formed a colony and, to this day, there are a number of Roman remains dotted around the city. From the 1950s onwards, large parts of the city have been redeveloped, turning Cologne into an attractive combination of the ancient and modern. The city’s university is one of the oldest and largest in Europe and this, along with the fact that it is a major cultural centre for Rhineland, makes it a very vibrant and exciting place to visit. Hiring a car in Cologne will allow to explore the surrounding area and take in the breathtaking views of the Rhine-Ruhr area.
Cologne’s most famous export is the fragrance that bears the city’s name and you can explore its history in a perfumerie that was first established in 1709. Its exhibits are spread over several floors of the building and take you through the long and complex process of making eau de Cologne. The city's most famous building, on the other hand, is the imposing and impressive Gothic cathedral which was built in the 13th century and contains what are said to be the remains of the three kings who visited the newly-born baby Jesus. For a taste of self-indulgence, hire a car from the centre of Cologne and head to the futuristic Chocolate Museum. Located by the River Rhine near the city’s Old Town, it tells the history of chocolate making from 1000 BC to the present day.
