The banks of the Rhine in Cologne are a place of longing: If you take a stroll along the promenade at the edge of the Rheinpark, take in the wonderful skyline with the cathedral and enjoy the riverside landscape, you will leave all your worries behind for a moment. In the middle of the city on the green patch on the right bank of the Rhine - between the water, the mighty rows of poplars and willows and extensive meadows - time seems to stand still.
Not much has changed here since the 1950s, and yet the park is constantly evolving. Some attractions have been added to the green Deutz park, others have been expanded or reopened. Despite these changes, the Rheinpark remains a testament to the garden architecture of its time: it was created for the fourth Federal Garden Show in 1957 as a colorful source of inspiration on 48 hectares of former war ruins. This newly created recreational area was not only intended to serve the people of Cologne, but also to attract travelers from near and far.
The impressive number of visitors proves that this was successful: 4.3 million guests flocked to Cologne for the Federal Garden Show, including Federal President Theodor Heuss and Federal Chancellor Konrad Adenauer. The success continued. In 1971, another Federal Garden Show attracted as many as 4.4 million people who explored the harmoniously designed park.
Many of the highlights of that time have been preserved to this day. The Rhine cable car, which has been hovering over the Rhine at a length of 935 meters and a height of up to 50 meters since 1957, is particularly striking. The first of its kind in Europe to cross a river, it transports over half a million passengers a year between the Claudius-Therme and the zoo. A bird's eye view reveals the full diversity of Cologne's "green lung": from the historic old town to Mülheim harbor.
Artfully designed garden landscapes extend directly beneath the gondolas. Right at the start of the cable car ride, the fountain garden with its 14 ornate decorative fountains catches the eye, while a little further on is the large rose garden with its asymmetrical flowerbeds, pavilions and hedgehog fountain. To the east are the water terraces and the Crane Hill - a delicate ensemble of white steel pergolas connects four trapezoidal water basins, while an elaborate water staircase has rounded off the picture since 1971.
Little train rolls through the park
But the Rhine Park has more to offer than just botanical attractions. Another experience awaits visitors in the form of the small train, which rolls across the grounds with its colorful wagons. It runs through the southern part of the park, where a large play area with a giant rope circus and pyramid tower as well as the park café with flower and tropical courtyard invite you to take a break.
The flower and tropical courtyard in particular impressively demonstrates why the Rheinpark has already won several awards - including "Germany's most beautiful park 2007" and second place in the European competition "Europe's Best Parks 2008". Here, coneflowers, lavender and Indian reed flowers bloom in artistic flowerbeds, underlining the special design of the park.
Area with 12,500 standing places
Another highlight is the Tanzbrunnen, one of Cologne's best-known event locations. The spacious event area with open-air stage, theater and flexible event rooms offers space for up to 12,500 guests. Countless musicals, concerts, parades and festivals have already taken place here, with stars such as Status Quo, Clueso and Silbermond performing. The starry wave tent, which is enthroned above a platform with water features and gives events a unique atmosphere, is particularly striking.
The Tanzbrunnen site also includes the "Rheinterrassen" beer garden and the "km 689 Cologne Beach Club", which attracts visitors with a vacation feeling right by the water. The Rhine Park thus combines recreation, culture and nature in a unique way and remains a fascinating place for visitors of all ages.
