Roemerpark and Old University Campus

Why is it significant?

Enjoy the welcoming shade and tranquil atmosphere beneath the mature canopy of Roemerpark, spreading across the southern edge of Cologne's Neustadt. This picturesque park was landscaped around 1912 according to plans by acclaimed municipal garden architect Fritz Encke.

Key Facts

Open the walk

Enjoy the welcoming shade and tranquil atmosphere beneath the mature canopy of Roemerpark, spreading across the southern edge of Cologne's Neustadt. This picturesque park was landscaped around 1912 according to plans by acclaimed municipal garden architect Fritz Encke. Magnificent red oaks, stately London plane trees, and flowering cherries frame winding paths that have offered generations of city dwellers a peaceful retreat from urban bustle.

The park owes its name to the extraordinary Roman antiquities unearthed during soil excavations here. This ground originally served as the naval headquarters for the Classis Germanica, the formidable Roman Rhine fleet that patrolled the river frontier and protected imperial trade convoys against Germanic raiding parties. Gravestones of Roman marines and oarsmen were discovered remarkably intact in the river gravel.

Overlooking the northern border of the park stands the palatial neo-Baroque sandstone complex of the Old University on Claudiusstrasse. Built in 1907 as the municipal Commercial College, it became the cradle of the modern University of Cologne, re-established in 1919 through the relentless vision of Cologne's then Lord Mayor Konrad Adenauer after more than a century of closure. The intricate stone carvings and historic architectural details continue to captivate historians and travelers from around the world. Generations of dedicated Cologne residents have cherished this distinctive landmark, preserving its remarkable legacy for the future.

Today, this historic domed palace serves as a campus for the Technical University of Cologne. During sunny afternoons, students lounge across the park lawns, studying beneath the very trees where Adenauer once walked while discussing the economic rebirth of the post-war Rhineland. Walking through these storied avenues offers a profound sense of how Cologne evolved across two millennia of dramatic European history. The harmonious interplay between ancient Rhenish heritage and vibrant contemporary neighborhood culture defines the unforgettable character of this location.

Exit the park eastward and cross the wide boulevard of Ubierring to arrive directly at the grand riverfront promenade overlooking the Rhine.