Altstadt and Alter Markt

The Altstadt of Cologne, centred on the Alter Markt, is the compact old town between the Dom and the Rhine in the Altstadt-Nord district, in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. Much of it was destroyed in the Second World War and rebuilt, so the colourful gabled facades around the Alter Markt and the neighbouring Heumarkt are largely post-war reconstructions in a traditional style. The square is dominated by the nearby Rathaus, with its tower and Renaissance loggia, and by the Jan von Werth fountain, which honours a local folk hero. Narrow lanes run toward the river, where the Romanesque church of Great St. Martin stands with its tall tower above the rooftops, and along the embankment visitors reach the Rhine promenade and the Fischmarkt. The Altstadt is also the heart of Cologne's brewhouse culture. In traditional Kölsch halls such as those along the lanes near the Alter Markt, waiters (Köbes) circulate with trays of Kölsch in narrow 0.2-litre glasses, and refill them until the coaster is placed on top. A walk through the district takes one to two hours, longer if combined with a meal or a church visit. Good vantage points include the Rhine embankment looking toward the Hohenzollernbrücke and the Dom, and the small squares off Alter Markt for architecture photos. Crowds are heaviest on weekend evenings and during the Christmas markets, which run from late November through December, when the lanes fill with stalls. Mid-morning on weekdays is the calmest time, while evenings suit visitors who want the beer-hall atmosphere. The streets are public and open at all times.