At the end of the 60s the Ludwigs created the largest Pop Art collection outside the USA and gifted a major part to the City of Cologne. In 1976 this formed the basis for the foundation of the Museum Ludwig. Apart from Pop Art the Ludwigs gave an extensive collection of Russian Avantgarde from the period 1906 to 1930 and several hundred works by Pablo Picasso as a permanent loan to the new museum, which meanwhile with 180 originals and 730 works of graphic art has the third largest Picasso collection worldwide. more

The Wallraf shows how modern and relevant European art from the 13th to the beginning of the 20th century was and still is. In the medieval collection visitors can admire the world-famous "Muttergottes in der Rosenlaube" (Madonna in the Rose Bower) by Stefan Lochner. On the second floor the great Flemish painter Peter Paul Rubens and the most important Dutch artist Rembrandt van Rijn are an impressive attraction. The third floor is devoted to Germany's most comprehensive collection of Impressionists. more

Built above the Roman town villa with the world-famous Dionysus mosaic the Römisch-Germanisches Museum houses examples of art, culture and everyday life in Roman and early medieval Cologne. A highlight is the worldwide largest collection of Roman glass with the tri-coloured cage cup (c. 330/340 AD) and the miniature portrait miniature of Emperor Augustus in turquoise glass. The art of barbarian peoples in the early Middle Ages is shown in various types of precious jewellery for women and men - a form of capital in the Migration Period. These objects at the Romano-Germanic Museum form part of one of the richest early European collections. more

Art from China, Japan and Korea - the first Museum of East Asian Art in Europe was founded in Cologne in 1909. The founders of the museum contributed outstanding works of Buddhist painting and wooden sculpture, Japanese standing screen painting, colour woodcuts and lacquer art as well as Chinese and Korean ceramics to the original permanent collection. A further focus of the Cologne museum are Chinese cultic bronzes, Chinese painting and calligraphy. The new museum building opened on the Aachener Weiher in 1977 is architecturally also of international rank. more

The Museum of Applied Art displays its splendid exhibits in the building An der Rechtschule designed by Rudolf Schwarz. Precious works of goldsmiths' art, exquisite furniture and textiles as well as glass, ceramics and porcelain from the most important European manufactories are brought together here. The collection also includes graphic art and photography, fashion, architecture and industrial design. The collection of contemporary design - unique in North Rhine Westphalia - has developed into a star attraction in the last few years. more

The Kölnisches Stadtmuseum (Cologne City Museum) presents, collects and preserves exhibits and works of art on the history of the city of Cologne from the Middle Ages to the present day. It was founded in 1888 as "Historisches Museum der Stadt Köln" and since 1958 it has been housed in the "Zeughaus" - the city's former armoury. The collection provides visitors with the opportunity to gain an insight into the political history, economy, intellectual, religious and everyday life and typical characteristics of the city. Highlights of the collection include the large-scale town model, the magnificent silver of the city council, the splendid knights' coats of armour and a model of an internal combustion engine. more

The NS-Dokumentationszentrum was founded in 1987 and is located in the EL-DE building, site of the Gestapo (secret police) in Cologne from December 1935 to March 1945. The prison tract of the building with numerous examples of wall inscriptions by prisoners was made a memorial site in 1981. The permanent exhibition "Köln im Nationalsozialismus" deals with political and social life in Cologne during the Nazi period. The Dokumentationszentrum is devoted to the commemoration of victims, research into the history of Cologne during this period and imparting the knowledge to the general public. more

The "artothek" is housed in a patrician mansion from the late gothic period of the 15th century. It is located to the south of the cathedral, close to Cologne's great museums. This venue for modern art offers visitors the opportunity to rent contemporary works of art, provides information above all on the art scene in Cologne , and hosts exhibitions of international as well as Cologne artists. The aim of the "artothek" is to promote and disseminate contemporary art. more

One of the most spectacular cultural projects in Cologne is presently taking shape - the Archaeological Zone and the Jewish Museum on and beneath the town-hall square. The City of Cologne and the regional government are creating a new exhibition area measuring roughly 7000 m2 within the framework of the "Regionale 2010" show. Visitors will have the opportunity of seeing monuments from the last two millennia at their original site. These include the impressive ruins of the Roman governor's palace and the fragile remains of one of the most important Jewish quarters in Europe. more

The "Museumsdienst" (museum service) is among the leading educational museum services in Germany and organises and carries out PR work and contacts for the museums of the City of Cologne. This service is an independent, equal partner of the museums and their direct interface to the public. The collections and exhibitions of the museums in Cologne are at the core of the work of this service. The "Museumsdienst" is in close touch with modern research and is thus able to provide up to date information, in-depth education and help visitors to enjoy a rich cultural heritage. more

The art and museum library is worldwide the largest of its kind in the fields of modern art and photography. It has a dual function as the research library for the museums in Cologne in the field of general art history and as the city's public art library. more

The picture archive of the Rhineland is a subdivision of the art and museum library of the City of Cologne and its task is the photographic documentation of the works of art in the city's museums and of other works of art and cultural documents. These photographs are accessible to the general public. more

The art of the Middle Ages will be presented at a new, larger venue and demonstrate why the Middle Ages are still of interest and relevance today. The Museum Schnütgen is among the ten most important museums of medieval art in Europe. It offers a fascinating overview of the most important cultural and artistic themes of the Middle Ages spanning eight centuries in a unique venue: the precious works in bronze, gold and ivory and its wood sculptures are presented in the Romanesque church of St. Cäcilien. The museum's venue in the new cultural quarter at Neumarkt boasts generously expanded exhibition space and a newly designed garden. more

The new Rautenstrauch-Joest-Museum, the only museum of its kind in the state of North-Rhine Westphalia, will present its exhibits in a new, spacious venue and with an innovative exhibition concept: visitors are invited to explore the thematic tour, "der Mensch in seinen Welten" (man in his worlds). The exhibition space covers 3,600m2 on three floors where visitors can experience new and old, exotic and familiar worlds engaging all their senses. The entrance hall boasts a magnificent rice barn from the island of Sulawesi, Indonesia - which is the museum's largest landmark exhibit. more