Cologne is the most ancient of Germany's larger cities. Its name goes back to the Romans, who accorded "Colonia" the status of a town in 50 AD. By late antiquity, the Romans had brought Christianity to Cologne, which became a bishopric. In 785 Charlemagne founded the archdiocese of Cologne. The Archbishop of Cologne, one of the most powerful feudal rulers in the Holy Roman Empire, became Chancellor of Italy (11th century) and Elector (14th century).

The city prospered in the Middle Ages; from the 12th to the 15th centuries it became the most populous city in the German speaking world, and one of the most affluent. After the discovery of the New World, the rise of new economic systems and trade routes, and the rise of national states in Europe, Cologne suffered an economic decline which lasted until the 19th century.

Its political power diminished as well. In 1794 Cologne was occupied by French revolutionary troops, and in 1815 it became part of the Kingdom of Prussia. The city's fortunes began to recover with the advent of the industrial revolution, and the gradual incorporation of much of the surrounding region. Wisely, Cologne cultivated good political relations with Prussia, and later with the German Empire.

The 19th century also saw a national revival of enthusiasm for the city's medieval past. All these factors combined to usher in a period of tremendous growth and prosperity for the city, which has continued to this day - in spite of the devastation brought upon by two world wars. With its rich and varied heritage, Cologne today can justly claim to be a city of the arts and a fair centre of world renown, at the business and communications centre of western Europe.

Cologne is particularly dedicated to sports. The cathedral city is headquarters to the German Sports College, the Trainer Academy, the German Sports and Olympic Museum, the Football Instructor's School and the Federal Institute for Sports Science. Over 30 Bundesliga teams come from Cologne. The main football representatives are currently the traditional clubs 1. FC Köln and Fortuna Köln. Cologne is home to 860 sports clubs with a total of about 195,000 members.

Each year, the city on the Rhine becomes the focus of international attention when it hosts classics such as ASV Köln's International Track and Field Meeting or horse racing at Weidenpesch.

• EURO 1988
• International football games
• Home of Bundesliga club 1. FC Köln