Urlaub in Köln | Köln wird Großstadt | Radtour

Joseph Stübben and the city expansion of 1881

Cologne was surrounded by a medieval city wall for 700 years. Under 100 years of Prussian rule, the city developed into a metropolis. The population had increased tenfold due to industrialization. The many workers, engineers and inventors needed living space. And quickly.

However, the old city wall and the Prussian fortress ring prevented expansion. After long negotiations, the city wall was bought back from the military administration. This was the starting signal for a unique urban development project, the likes of which had never been seen before in Cologne and would never be seen again. A project of the century!

The urban planner Joseph Stübben took on the task of designing a ring-shaped new town around Cologne. He had to take into account a variety of planning aspects as well as the interests of all stakeholders and often broke new ground.

On the approximately two-hour cycle tour through the Agnesviertel and the northern part of Neustadt, we look for traces of this unique phase in Cologne's city history and get an impression of Stübben's vision of a "more beautiful and better Cologne".

• Duration: approx. 1.5 hours
• Expert: Stefan Lakenbrink
• Meeting point: Eigelsteintorburg, Eigelstein 135, 50668 Cologne, Old Town side in front of the cutter wreck of the "SMS Cöln"
• Stations: Eigelsteintorburg, Napoleonhafen, Cleverstraße, Reichenspergerplatz, Alte Feuerwache, Mediapark, Hansaplatz
• Destination: Hansaplatz
• Length: 4km

This tour is part of: Vacation in Cologne - Discover your city!
July 18 - August 2, 2026
🔗 All info & tours: www.urlaubinkoeln.de
A project of the Akademie för uns kölsche Sproch / SK Stiftung Kultur
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