Down by the riverside

Walking along the Rhine, whether in Düsseldorf, Cologne or Bonn, is always a pleasure. Each city has its own riverside charm: Düsseldorf the glorious Rhine promenade linking the river to the heart of the city; Bonn its endless quiet, treelined paths. And Cologne? Cologne just got better, for Südstadt dwellers in particular. The new development that begins beside to the Chocolate Museum and stretches almost to the Südbrucke, is pretty much complete. And while the building work continues around the three majestic Kranhäuse (crane houses), the Rhine promenade is now open to the public all the way. Starting at the new skate park beside the Südbrucke, you can now follow the river past the refurbished Siebengibirge buildings, past the new office blocks and designer apartment complexes, under the Kranhäuser, around the Chocolate Museum and straight through to the Altstadt. Along the way you can choose from an array of cafes and bars. The Süd Kai makes a great stop for a beer in the sunshine and the new Joseph's restaurant serves authentic Austrian and south German (or Bavarian) cuisine. The schnitzels may cost €20 but they're worth every tasty mouthful. Another highlight is Noah's Ark - which you'll find parked at the mouth of the Cologne harbour. It's a massive wooden structure built on top of a barge that is billed as a 'bible theme park'. That might put you off. So might the price, a whopping €14 per person. But for that money you get four floors of beautifully carved figues illustrating scenes from the bible such as the temptation of Adam and Eve, David and Goliath's epic battle and various scenes from the life of Christ. Sounds heavy. But hey, it's all in an ark! A full size, built to scale Noah's ark! Which in my books makes it worth a look, and hopefully they take press cards. As the winter months close-in your walk along the Rhine may turn a little chilly, hopefully the chestnut sellers will start roasting on the promenade, and you can guarantee the cafes will do a roaring trade in hot chocolate. So, feel like a walk? Head south and take in the new views now available along the Rhine.
Links:
Die Arche Noah
Josephs Restaurant