Cologne Cathedral is considered a masterpiece of Gothic architecture and has a place on UNESCO’s World Cultural Heritage list. The interior boasts works of art covering ten centuries, with the highlight being the golden shrine to the biblical Three Magi. The city is also home to a dozen Romanesque churches that testify to the splendor and significance of Cologne in the Middle Ages.

And the ruins of another church provided the foundations for Kolumba, the art museum of the Archdiocese of Cologne.  The new building was designed by Swiss architect Peter Zumthor and includes exhibits from two millennia of Western culture.

Colognerivals Berlin as one of the most tolerant and welcoming cities in Germany for gays and lesbians. The area around Rudolfplatz square is a popular haunt, with its cafés, bars and the “Brennerei Weiss” – an old brewery that produces the local beer.