If it were not for Eau de Cologne, I would not know how to live.
— Napoleon Bonaparte (1769–1821), Emperor of France
This post is part of my 33 Days in Europe series. Visit the hub page to follow along, see the full itinerary, and sign up for email updates.
Day 13 of our 33 Days in Europe brought us to Cologne. I knew about the cathedral. I knew about the fragrance. I hadn’t really connected the dots. We stepped off the longship for a morning walking tour, and as usual, our Viking Cruise guide’s expertise and enthusiasm set the tone for the day. I tend to shy away from organized tours, confident I can manage on my own — thank you very much.
Alas, experience keeps proving me wrong.
So That’s Why It’s Called Cologne!
Our guide began with the name.
Cologne traces back to 50 AD, when the Romans established a settlement here called Colonia Claudia Ara Agrippinensium. “Colonia” meant colony. Over centuries, it softened into Köln in German and Cologne in English. Long before Gothic spires pierced the skyline, this was a Roman stronghold.
But the name carries another, more familiar claim to fame.