Europe Euphoria

To get a sniff of the cologne making process you can visit the city of Cologne. For it is the birthplace for ‘Eau de Cologne’ the French word for ‘water of Cologne,’ a light perfume which has a characteristic concentration of about 2-5% essential oils. Cologne is one of the oldest and the fourth largest city in Germany, having been founded by the Romans in A.D. 50. After being damaged during World War II the city was reconstructed in a modern way. Popular today as Germany’s Media centre this city has numerous buildings of historical importance. Amongst them are: The Twelve Romanesque Churches which are an outstanding example of medieval sacral architecture, Cologne University one of the largest universities in Germany, Various museums amongst them Fragrance-Museum Farina House is a must see, but the top of the list goes to the Cologne Cathedral. A world heritage site, it has been Cologne’s most famous edifice since its completion in the late 19th century. The cathedral is under the administration of the Roman Catholic Church (but in fact belongs to itself) and is the seat of the Archbishop of Cologne. Cologne Cathedral is the church with the largest facade (the west or main facade with the twin towers) and remains the second-tallest Gothic structure in the world. It claims to house the relics of the Three Magi. It was constructed over a period of more than six centuries.