Floats in Germany's Carnival parades often poke fun at top political figures. Past parades have targeted Chancellor Angela Merkel and Russian President Vladimir Putin, among others. Above, the new head of the Cologne parade, Alex Dieper, presents drawings of floats the crowds can expect to see rumbling down the city's streets on Rose Monday in February. The parade draws up to 1 million revelers.

Every November, artists start designing the floats that will roll through more than 7 kilometers of downtown city streets just a few months later. Around 11,000 people have signed up to join the Cologne Rose Monday parade this year, including about 100 marching bands and 100 floats. The first Rose Monday parade in Cologne, called the "Zoch," took place in 1823.

Global or local, from the worlds of politics, sports or entertainment — the possibilities are endless. Above, two unwitting polar bears dance a last tango as time runs out due to climate change. In one way or another, this year's Carnival motto in Cologne — "We Cologne folk dance to our own tune" — is also bound to show up in various floats in Germany's largest Rose Monday parade.

The #MeToo movement also seems to have inspired the creators of this year's Carnival parade floats. Sexual harassment is an issue in the above draft, with a man wearing a pig mask touching a girl portrayed as Bärbelchen, a traditional Cologne character.

For the first time ever, a Jewish community has decided to participate in a Carnival parade, resorting to humor in the fight against rising anti-Semitism. Heinrich Heine, the renowned 19th century poet, is portrayed wearing a skullcap and prayer shawl in a float for the parade in Düsseldorf, the state capital of North Rhine-Westphalia. The city's most famous son was Jewish.

It is one of the most popular travel destinations in Germany: before the coronavirus pandemic some 20,000 people visited it — every day. Cologne Cathedral is over 700 years old, and it took just as many more years to build it in the first place. This Gothic architecture masterpiece has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1996.

Cologne's old town center was almost completely destroyed during World War II. Many historical house fronts were reconstructed on functional 1960s buildings, like the Fischmarkt pictured here. In the alleyways of the old town center you'll find a huge choice of cosy taverns, restaurants and brewery houses.

People here enjoy their glass of Kölsch beer. This can only be brewed in Cologne and its environs. It is served in a "Kölschstange" — a tall, narrow 0.2 liter glass. It is best accompanied by hearty local specialties like "Himmel und Äad" - the local dialect for heaven and earth — a dish that combines mashed potato, apple sauce and blood sausage.

Art and culture lovers have their work cut out for them in Cologne as there are a myriad of galleries and exhibitions to choose from. The Museum Ludwig for instance presents contemporary art as well as pop art and expressionistic works. In Cologne everyone will find "their" museum as they cover everything from Roman times to technology and chocolate.

Cologne in the Middle Ages was the German speaking world's biggest city and an important ecclesiastical center. To this day many sacral buildings bear witness to Cologne's former religious significance including 12 Romanesque churches. St. Maria im Kapitol is the largest of them and is located on the site of an ancient Roman Capitoline temple. The present church was built in the 11th century.

Opposite the Cathedral, on the shores of the Rhine you find the 40 hectare Rheinpark. It was created in 1912 and in 2007 it was named Germany's best park. Extensive lawns in the summer serve as playgrounds for football matches and BBQ evenings. The Rhine cable cars take you from here across the river to Cologne Zoo.

For one week every year, the city is an exceptional place to be — Cologne's Carnival is one of the biggest and best-known street carnivals in the world. Important words to know are "Alaaf" - a carnival greeting, which can be shouted out at all times and "Kamelle" - the sweet treats thrown during the street parades. Cologne wants to celebrate carnival in 2021 despite the coronavirus epidemic.

Cologne is known globally as a trade fair city — at Gamescom, the annual fair for computer and video games, companies from around the world present new hard- and software. Artworks for all budgets are sold and exhibited at Art Cologne — the world's oldest art fair. Photokina, one of the world's most important photography trade fairs, takes place every two years.

Metropolitan and tolerant — that's what Cologne stands for — so no surprise that the city on the Rhine is a gay stronghold. Once a year ColognePride takes place, an event to support the rights of gay and transgender people — the biggest of its kind in Europe. The party highlight is the Christopher Street Day parade — which this year has been postponed until autumn due to the coronavirus crisis.

One of Cologne's many bonuses' is its river location - and what a wonderful waterway it is! The Rhine is Germany's longest river. Romans knew how convenient the location was when they founded a settlement here in 19 BC. Take an excursion on a river boat to fully appreciate the cityscape of the old town center with the cathedral — or why not grab a paddle and row out onto the river yourself?

On the 11th day of the 11th month, the Carnival strongholds in the Rhineland, especially Cologne, Bonn, Dusseldorf, Aachen and Mainz, all launch carnival season. In Cologne, thousands of people dressed in flashy costumes celebrated the start of the "fifth season." The revelers came down from other parts of Germany as well as other countries.

Since the November 11 start date falls on Saturday this year, more people are expected to hit the streets and pubs and party until late in the night. Authorities have beefed up security in the main Carnival cities, with police patrolling the streets.

The western city of Cologne is known for its festive spirit. People here create new songs for Carnival season every year. By 9 a.m. (0800 UTC), Cologne's Heumarkt is already bustling with Carnival revelers. Together they count down the last few seconds to 11:11 a.m. when Carnival officially begins. The local beer, Kölsch, flows abundantly as people shout "Kölle Alaaf" (Here's to Cologne!).

In the city of Mainz, Carnival season opens with cries of the Carnival call "Helau!" and the Narhallamarsch, a traditional German carnival tune. The "Narrancharta," or "jester's charter" is read, followed by colorful stage performances. The city's Carnival is known for its political and literary influences, with satirical caricatures often featuring on the floats of February's Carnival procession.

In Düsseldorf, the resurrection of the jester Hoppeditz marks the start of Carnival, with cheers of "Der Hoppeditz erwacht!," which means "Hoppeditz is waking up!" To raucous crowds, he climbs out of a mustard pot at 11:11. The Düsseldorf locals then demonstrate why their city holds the title of "longest bar in the world" and continue to party on in the many inns and pubs.

Events celebrating Carnival will now continue through February 2018 in the run-up to Lent, when Christians fast and repent for their sins.