Cologne - Zugweg

Cologne is the fourth-largest city in Germany - and one of the oldest. A Germanic tribe, the Ubii, had a settlement here, this was named by the Romans "Oppidum Ubiorum". In 50 AD, the Romans founded "Colonia Claudia Ara Agrippinensium", the city then became the provincial capital of "Germania Inferior".

Cologne´s population growth end of the 19th century was immense, near villages got incorporated into the city. In 1852 Cologne had about 100.000 citizens, in 1900 there were about 370.000.

During WWII Cologne was bombed in 262 separate air raids. In April 1945, when the American armee reached Cologne, the city was completely ruined. About 90% of all houses in the inner city were - gone. In 1939 Cologne had had a population of more than 700.00. In spring 1945 there were only about 40.000, living in the ruins.

This house at the corner Zugweg/Ohmstrasse, erected 1898, was partly destroyed, but reconstructed and perfectly renovated. The façade is decorated with neo-Gothic and Art Nouveau ornaments.