today IDS Cologne 23.03.

largest trade exhibition centre after Han- over, Frankfurt/Main (both Germany), Milan in Italy and Guangzhou in China. With 284,000 sqm exhibition space, the areaaddsuptoalmosttwicethesizeofthe USPentagon,headquartersoftheUSCen- tral Intelligence Agency. In two congress centres,thefairgroundadditionallyoffers space for the organization of congresses forupto12,000participants.Seventytrade shows and exhibitions attracting 2.3 mil- lionvisitorsareheldthroughouttheyear. Recently, the city of Cologne an- nounced to revitalize the fairground by constructing a number of new commer- cial offices and hotels within an area of 135,000 sqm. In addition, a permanent musical theatre is planned to be built on this site. The new Messe-City will be lo- cated in close range to the existing exhi- bition halls. On the opposite side it abuts ontheDeutztrainstation. However, city development in Co- logne is not only restricted to the area around the fairground and even regular visitors to the city are able to discover something new every time they come back. In October 2010, for example, the Cultural Centre at the new market (Neu- markt) was officially opened. The new building with its three-sided glass facade issupposedtocombineandexhibitmuse- ums, art and education. Close to the new building many galleries can be found as wellastheCentralLibrary. The main attraction of the city still remainsthe750-year-oldCathedralwhich is visited by over six million people each year. According to a recent online poll conducted by the German Tourism Asso- ciation and a German online city portal, the remarkable building has been voted the most favourite site among Germans for the fourth consecutive year leaving behind some other world-famous sights such as the Dresden Church of Our Lady (Frauenkirche)andtheBrandenburgGate inBerlin.Thisyear,Germanyhonouredits most popular sight by producing 30 mil- lion 2-Euro coins which are showing the Cathedralontheirbackside. CologneistheonemajorGermancity with the highest number of bars and tav- erns.Visitorswhowouldliketogetataste ofthefamouslocalbeerKölschcanchoose between 24 different sorts. The popular beverage is served by a „Köbes“, a tradi- tional waiter with skirting and a buckled money belt. It comes in glasses called „Kölschstangen“ which are put on a table inthe shapeofacircle.Emptyglassesare constantly being refilled until the guest putsabeertabontop. Visitors who want to experience authentic Cologne cuisine should order „Himmel un Ääd“ (mashed potatoes, onions and apple sauce), „Halve Hahn“ (half a bread roll with butter, Gouda cheese and mustard), „Hämche“ (salted pork leg), „Rievkooche“ (potatoe pan- cakes) or „Soorbrode“ (marinated pot roast). Those who are always looking out for the unusual or do not want to know whatisbeingservedontheirplate,should make a reservation at the Unsicht-Bar (engl.Invisible)intheEigelquarterwhere guests can have dinner in absolute dark- ness. The Hungarian restaurant Puszta- HütteinDownTownisthefirstaddressfor meat lovers. Since 1948, it only has one mealonthemenu—goulash. The perfume museum Farina Haus is considered the oldest perfume pro- duction site in the world. In 1709, Italian Johann Marina Farina created an odour at this location which is reputed to be a favourite fragrance of Napoleon, Voltaire or the famous German poet Johann Wolfgang von Goethe. Intending to honour his home town, Farina named the perfume “Eau de Cologne” (Kölnisch Wasser).Evennowadaysitisapreferred fragrance and has become a favoured souvenir. Visitors who have equipped them- selves with the latest telecommunication technology will not have a problem find- ing their way around the city as there are various applications for smart phones thathelptolocate therightstreets,restau- rants or the nearest sight. There are apps offering virtual city maps, city guides, ba- sic information about sights or museums as well as information about the latest eventsandflightschedules. Alternatively,visitorscansimplyask a resident for directions. People from Colognearesaidtobeveryfriendlyandea- gertohelpvisitorsduetoauniquesystem ofmutualitycalledthe“KölscheKlüngel”. They will certainly lend you an ear or two whenyougothere.7 Weblinks  www.koeln.de  www.stadt-koeln.de  home.meinestadt.de/koeln  www.koelnmesse.de  www.airport-cgn.de  koeln.prinz.de  insidecologne.de  www.rheintaler.net  www.kulturbox.de AD ➟ sightseeing76 IDS 2011 – 23. März 23 March