Cologne (, ; Kölsch: Kölle ˈkœɫə) is Germany's fourth-largest city after Berlin, Hamburg and Munich, and is the largest city both in the German Federal State of North Rhine-Westphalia and within the Rhine-Ruhr Metropolitan Area, one of the major European metropolitan areas with more than 10 million inhabitants. It is one of the oldest cities in Germany, having been founded by the Romans in the year 30 BCE. Cologne was granted the status of a Roman "city" in the year 50 CE.

Cologne lies on the Rhine. The city's famous Cologne Cathedral (Kölner Dom) is the seat of the Roman Catholic Archbishop of Cologne. The University of Cologne (Universität zu Köln) is one of Europe's oldest universities and internationally renowned for its department of economics.

Cologne is the economic and cultural capital of the Rhineland and has a vibrant art scene. Cologne counts over 30 museums and hundreds of galleries. Exhibitions range from local ancient Roman archaeological sites to contemporary graphics and sculpture. The city's Trade Fair Grounds are host to a number of trade shows such as the Art Cologne Fair, the International Furniture Fair (IMM) and the Photokina. Cologne is also well known for its celebration of Cologne Carnival and CSD Christopher Street Day.

Within Germany, Cologne is known as an important media centre. Several radio and television stations, including Westdeutscher Rundfunk (WDR) and RTL, are based in the city.

In 2005 Cologne hosted the 20th Roman Catholic World Youth Day with Pope Benedict XVI. It was one of the largest ever meetings, with over a million participants.

Demographics

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Cologne is the fourth most populous city in Germany, after Berlin, Hamburg and Munich. However, the city still has less than a million inhabitants (as of June 30, 2006: 986,168 ). Cologne is the centre of a metropolitan area of around 2 million inhabitants (including close cities like Bonn, Hürth, Leverkusen, Bergisch-Gladbach).

The population density in the city proper was 2,528/km² (6,548/mi²). According to the local statistics, 321,960 people have a migration background . Twenty per cent of Cologne's population is non-German. Of those, 40 percent (or 8 percent of the total population) are Turkish.

In the city the population age distribution was 15.9 percent under the age of 18, 67.5 percent from 18 to 64 and 16.7 percent who were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 94.8 males.

Administration

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Cologne is incorporated under the Gemeindeordnung Nordrhein-Westfalen (GO NRW) (Municipality Code of North Rhine-Westphalia). The city's administration is headed by a lord mayor (Oberbürgermeister) and two mayors. Cologne is the only city in Germany with a tax on prostitution, which explains the city's relative open-mindedness towards sex workers (see prostitution in Germany).

Coat of arms

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The three crowns symbolise the Magi (Three Wise Men) whose bones are said to be kept in a golden sarcophagus in Cologne Cathedral (see Shrine of the Three Kings at Cologne Cathedral). In 1164, Rainald of Dassel, the archbishop of Cologne, brought the relics to the city, making it a major pilgrimage destination. This...