UTUT-KringArchiefActiviteiten202330 May 2023 | Day trip Köln

30 May 2023 | Day trip Köln

Day trip Köln

UT-Kring offers its members the day trip Köln with a visit to Europe's largest mosque and a city walk through the historic centre with a local guide. Köln is an atmospheric city where there is a nice mix of traditional German and modern European.

Day programme

Departure time : 07:30 a.m. direct to Köln by coach

Pick-up location: Drienerlolaan 5, Enschede (Campus building, De Spiegel)

Arrival time: 10:00 a.m. at Zentralmoschee Köln (tour divided into two groups: 10:00 a.m. and 11:15 a.m.).

Departure to city centre: 12:30 p.m.

Start city walk: 14:30 - 16:30 p.m. (see description below) Roman North Gate between Cathedral and Tourist Office (Domkloster/ Kardinal- Höffner-Platz).

Departure for Enschede: 19:00 p.m. (at the latest). 

Arrival time UT campus: 21:00 p.m. (without delay). 

Tour Central Mosque Köln

Built in 2009, this mosque is the largest and most impressive mosque in Germany. The Cologne mosque is now considered a symbol of integration and a symbol of the birth of German mosque architecture. Cologne's central mosque (Zentralmoschee Köln) of 4,500 m2 accommodates 1,200 worshippers. As a result, the Cologne Mosque is considered the largest mosque in Germany. Built by the Turkish Muslim organisation DiTiB, the mosque has libraries, courses, seminars, sports centres, offices and shops.

The mosque is mainly characterised by its large dome. This is formed by four large shells that protect the sacred domain like abstract hands. The point was that the circular dome is recognisable in the hall and even in the underground car park. The structure forms a group around a courtyard that opens onto Venloer Strasse. In each space, visitors should feel which district they are in. A wide staircase connects the two main levels. The street level contains the bazaar and the entrance to the event hall.

 

City walk Köln

We start our city tour at the remains of the Roman north gate and hear about the origins of the Roman city. We then move on to the Middle Ages when the people of Cologne decided to build the largest cathedral in the world. A look at the Roman "Dionysosmosaic" gives an idea of luxury in Roman times. Other interesting sights lie between the Cathedral and the "Altstadt" (old town) on the Rhine with the Romanesque church Great St Martin. In the narrow streets of the old town and the busy squares like Roncalliplatz, Alter Markt and Heumarkt, we get a feel for the life and mentality of Cologne as it was yesterday and today. And you get a feel for the typical Cologne "lifestyle". You will hear some short stories about typical Cologne characters and meet "Tünnes and Schäl" - who represent the mentality of the Cologne people - and the Kallendresser".

Of course, you will also learn about the famous Cathedral, and understand why the Cologne people built a church so large that it was impossible to complete in the Middle Ages. Why did they want to build the largest cathedral in the world? Why do the Cologne people think it is very good, when it will never really be finished? Last but not least, we will hear about the "national drink", the "Kölsch" (local beer).

Prices

For UT-Kring members: 17.50 euros p.p. excluding city tour or 22.50 euros p.p. including city tour

Register

Please send an e-mail to f.a.vandijk@utwente.nl to register. As there are a limited number of places available, admission will take place in order of registration. Only after receiving a confirmation you can do the payment. Maximum 1 introduction.