The Rhine metropolis of Cologne , with its landmark Cologne Cathedral, is the most populous city in North Rhine-Westphalia. Here, visitors encounter the Rhineland's joie de vivre, art and culture - often accessible. Many of the city's museums are fully or partially accessible, and guided tours of the city cater for people with disabilities.
Those who prefer things a little quieter can explore the region around the Rhine and Erft rivers by bike - and discover an unusually large number of stately buildings along the way. This is because the Rhine-Erft district is located in one of the regions with the most moated castles in Germany. Visitors can discover more than 50 castles, fortresses and manor houses - including the UNESCO World Heritage Sites of Augustburg Castle and Falkenlust Castle in Brühl. The castles' parks are often particularly impressive. Many of them are part of the "Garden Art Route" in NRW.
Art by Max Ernst
Numerous museums, ranging from the early days to modern art, are the place to go for those interested in culture. One famous son of the region is Max Ernst: the Max Ernst Museum is dedicated to the Dadaist and Surrealist artist, who was born in Brühl. It shows an overview of his paintings, collages, graphics and sculptures. Anyone interested in ceramics can learn about the tradition of Bartmann jugs and contemporary unique ceramics at Keramion, the centre for modern and historical ceramics in Frechen.
