Germany’s fourth-largest city sits on both sides of the Rhine river, a favorite destination for those attracted by art, history and architecture. It offers 30 museums, hundreds of galleries and exhibitions, and huge variety of buildings and structures from Roman ruins - this was the northernmost colony founded by the Romans - to modern avant-garde. Cologne is the major cultural center of the region – church concerts abound and the modern Opera House is a big draw. A legendary Christmas market completes the picture.