Martin M. Miles' photos with the keyword: Heinzelmännchen

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". A large historistic building near the Volksgarten. This well-restored facade is embellished with three "Heinzelmännchen" preparing a "strange brew" over an open fire. Such house gnomes appear in an old Cologne tale. They once did all the work of the citizens during nighttime, so that the people in Cologne could be lazy during the day. According to the legend, this went on until a tailor's wife got so curious to see the gnomes that she scattered peas onto the floor of the workshop, so the gnomes slipped and fell. The "Heinzelmännchen", being infuriated, disappeared and never returned. From that night on, the citizens had to do all their work by themselves.

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". The Ubierring is the southern end of the Cologne Ring ("Kölner Ringe"), a semi-circular, about 6 km long urban boulevard, that encircles the old town of Cologne on the site of the former medieval city wall. The development here began late. First buildings were built from 1890 on. A large-air raid in June 1943 destroyed the rings and their houses largely, but most of them got rebuilt after WWII. Along the Ubierring most houses got reconstructed to the old splendor, so today here is the best preserved ensemble of residential buildings (1905-1910) of the Cologne rings. Many of them have Art Nouveau (Jugendstil) facades. This well restored facade is embellished with two hard working and grim looking "Heinzelmännchen". Such house gnomes appear in an old Cologe tale. They once did all the work of the citizens during nighttime, so that the people in Cologne could be lazy during the day. According to the legend, this went on until a tailor's wife got so curious to see the gnomes that she scattered peas onto the floor of the workshop, so the gnomes slipped and fell. The "Heinzelmännchen", being infuriated, disappeared and never returned. From that night on, the citizens had to do all their work by themselves.

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". Here is a closer look to the "Heinzelmännchen" (see previous upload for an overview and the story about the gnomes). At first (from street level), I saw the house gnomes as weightlifters, but now they seem only to hold rolls of toilet paper - and watch the traffic below them. There is a plaque under the gable. The house was erected in 1887, so there were no cars, when the "Heinzelmännder" took their seats.

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". -- During WWII Cologne was bombed in 262 separate air raids. The first ever 1,000 bomber raid by the RAF ("Operation Millenium") was conducted on Cologne in May 1942. In April 1945, when the American armee reached Cologne, the city was completely ruined. About 90% of all houses in the inner city were - gone. In 1939 Cologne had had a population of more than 700.00. In spring 1945 there were only about 40.000, living in the ruins. So the very most houses and facades in the ctity of Cologne are - young. -- This well restored pre-war facade at Hansaring is embellished with two "Heinzelmännchen". These house gnomes appear in an old Cologe tale. They once did all the work of the citizens during nighttime, so that the people in Cologne could be lazy during the day. According to the legend, this went on until a tailor's wife got so curious to see the gnomes that she scattered peas onto the floor of the workshop, so the gnomes slipped and fell. The "Heinzelmännchen", being infuriated, disappeared and never returned. From that night on, the citizens had to do all their work by themselves.