Photos: Jörg Braukmann, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0 Superbass, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0 Martin Falbisoner, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo credits
Photos: Jörg Braukmann, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0 Superbass, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0 Martin Falbisoner, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Cologne Cathedral and the Roman city below
Your local guide
Bettina Wirtz
View profile
Highlights
- Shrine of the Three Kings, inside the cathedral
- Why the cathedral survived the bombing of 1945
- Roman north gate, right outside the cathedral
- Praetorium ruins beneath the town hall
- MiQua, the medieval Jewish quarter excavation
About this tour
This session looks at Cologne in layers, from the cathedral and the Shrine of the Three Kings inside it, to the Roman gate outside and the Praetorium and MiQua ruins beneath the town hall. The camera moves from the Gothic building above ground to the Roman and medieval city below it. The guide explains how each layer survived, or was rediscovered, over two thousand years.
The call begins with a short sound check, then moves from the cathedral down through the older layers of the city, with time for questions along the way. A short list of the sites and what lies beneath each one follows by message afterwards.
This suits anyone interested in history that goes back further than it first appears, whether planning a visit to Cologne or simply curious from home. It also works for anyone who wants context before or after seeing the cathedral for themselves.
Included
- Live video walk with a local guide
- Questions to your guide all the way
- A short list of places to visit later
Not included
- Internet connection
- Travel to the city
Itinerary
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Welcome and sound check 7 min
The guide joins the video call, checks the picture and sound with you, and gives you a quick sense of Cologne before heading out.
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Cologne Cathedral interior 21 min
Inside Cologne Cathedral, the camera moves toward the Shrine of the Three Kings behind the altar, and the guide explains why this Gothic building, built over more than six hundred years, survived the bombing of 1945 largely intact.
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Roman north gate 21 min
Just outside, the remains of a Roman gate mark where the ancient city of Colonia once stood, and the guide explains how much of Roman Cologne still lies under the streets around the cathedral.
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Praetorium and MiQua excavation 21 min
Beneath the town hall, the Praetorium ruins and the MiQua excavation of the medieval Jewish quarter show two more layers of the city stacked on top of each other, and the guide explains what each one reveals.
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Your questions 14 min
Time to ask anything about Cologne: prices, safety, food, or whatever you are curious about.
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A short list to keep 6 min
Before you go, the guide sums up with a few things worth remembering: a dish to try: Himmel un Ääd (black pudding with mash and apple) and Belgisches Viertel, worth a slower look.
Good to know
- A stable wifi or mobile connection makes the picture smoother than a shaky one.
- Any phone, tablet or laptop with a camera works. You watch, the guide does the walking.
- Times are shown in Berlin time, so check the time where you are before you book.
- The session is not recorded, and recording it yourself is not allowed. Feel free to take your own notes.
- Ask questions any time, out loud or in the chat. The guide will pause to answer.
- Sessions run in small groups, up to 12 people, so there is room for everyone to ask something.
Questions about this tour
What will the session cover?
The guide walks through Cologne, showing you Chocolate Museum (Schokoladenmuseum) and Rhine promenade live on camera, plus whatever else you would like to see.
What happens if my connection drops?
Rejoin with the same link within a few minutes and the guide will catch you up on anything you missed.
Can I ask the guide questions during the session, or is it a fixed script?
Anything, any time. Sessions leave room for your own questions throughout, not just at the end.
Do I need to know the history already?
No background needed. The guide explains everything as it comes up.
How it works
- You get one join link after booking.
- Join from any device: phone, tablet or laptop.
- We meet on Google Meet; the link comes with your booking. I walk Cologne live with my phone and you ask anything as we go.
Times shown in Berlin time (CET)
Cancellation
Flexible
- Cancel up to 24 hours before the start: full refund.
- Cancel less than 24 hours before the start, or no-show: no refund.
- If the guide cancels or the date does not reach its minimum group: full refund.
- Cancel in My Account → Bookings; the refund is calculated from the start time in the tour's local time.
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Next: Thu 29 Oct · 12 seats left From 19,00 €
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