UNIVERSITY OF COLOGNE

ILAG 2025 will take place in Cologne, Germany.

Cologne - or Köln in German - is the largest city in the federal state of North Rhine-Westphalia and the fourth largest city in Germany with more than 1.000.000 inhabitants in the city and 3.500.000 in the metropolitan area. Located in the heart of western Europe, Amsterdam, Brussels and Paris are all only a 2 to 3 hour train ride away.

Founded in 38 BCE, Cologne boasts a rich history of more than 2000 years. It was once an important Roman settlement and the capital of the Roman province of Lower Germany. In medieval times, Cologne was the largest city of the Holy Roman Empire. Between 1794 and 1814 it was under French rule, an influence that can be felt until today. Largely destroyed during the Second World War, today it is one of Germany's media, tourism and business hotspots.

Cologne most famous landmark is its Cathedral (Kölner Dom), the tallest cathedral in the world and a World Heritage Site. The cityscape is further shaped by the Twelve Romanesque churches of Cologne., outstanding examples of medieval church architecture. Cologne is famous for Eau de Cologne, which has been produced in the city since 1709. Cologne is also known for is annual Carnival season, the sixth oldest university in Europe founded in 1388, its local beer (Kölsch), its Christmas markets and for its annual gay pride event, the Christopher Street Day (CSD).

Cologne is a major cultural center for the Rhineland; it hosts more than 30 museums and hundreds of galleries.  Among them is the famous Museum Ludwig with works from Pop Art, Abstract and Surrealism and one of the largest Picasso collections in Europe, and the Roman-Germanic Museum, an archaeological museum with a large collection of Roman artifacts from the Roman settlement on which modern Cologne is built.

Home to more than 100.000 students and one of Germany's largest LGBTQ communities, Cologne is considered one of the most liberal cities in Germany.