Cologne - Bonner Wall

Cologne is the fourth-largest city in Germany - and one of the oldest. A Germanic tribe, the Ubii, had a settlement here, this was named by the Romans "Oppidum Ubiorum". In 50 AD, the Romans founded "Colonia Claudia Ara Agrippinensium", the city then became the provincial capital of "Germania Inferior".

There would probably not much protest, if Cologne would be declared the "Carnival Capital" of Germany. "Cologne Carnival" is called the 5th season , that is officially declared open at 11 minutes past 11 on the 11th of the 11th month November.

Between Fat Thursday (Weiberfastnacht) and Ash Wednesday (Aschermittwoch) the street-carnival runs high and reaches its climax Rose Monday (Rosenmontag) with the "Rose Monday Procession" (Rosenmontagszug). All through these days, Cologne folks go out masqueraded.

So there are special shops like this one, offering any kind of masks, wigs, hats, customes - red noses.

www.koelner-kostuemkiste.de

Kölle Alaaf!