In this three-part series, 1883 Magazine was privileged to embark on a four-day press trip exploring two fascinating cities in western Germany and France’s capital in November. Entitled Rhineland meets Paris, the renowned international hotel brand 25hours Hotels organised the trip in collaboration with Eurostar, Visit Düsseldorf, and Visit Köln.
Cologne is a vibrant, trendsetting city with the Rhine River weaving through its heart.
Home to a population of more than one million people, Cologne or Köln as it is spelt in German, is known to be a thriving destination. It was founded by the Romans more than 2,000 years ago and it’s now widely known for its yearly, week-long carnival and some stunning architecture to boot. 1883 Magazine’s Cameron Poole continued on his quest to experience Deutschland through a day soaking up what Cologne has to offer.
Interestingly, it turns out that it’s only roughly a 35-minute train journey to get from Düsseldorf to Cologne, a very short timeframe for travelling between two cities. Due to the blizzard the night before, I did not have the satisfaction of travelling by locomotive because there were train cancellations. Instead, the group piled into two Ubers and off we went. Upon arrival, we headed straight to the hotel to drop off our bags, and I marvelled at the unique design, background, and concept behind 25hours Hotel The Circle which is in the Friesenvietel district of the city. The district is right in the middle of the Gerling Quartier, a development of residential buildings, shops, and offices. It’s called the Gerling Quartier, as many of the buildings were used as the headquarters for the Gerling Insurance Company. 25hours Hotel The Circle operates out of Gerling’s former administration building. It’s an architectural delight compared to the other buildings in the area due to its out-of-the-ordinary round shape and historically listed protected features.
Well, what’s the design concept behind the hotel? It is “economic miracle meets futuristic fantasies — a 1950s dream of a future, technical utopia”. It is seriously impressive how 25hours Hotels and architect company O&O Baukunst have made the building into this glorious space-age experience without compromising the building’s past. In the large lobby, you’ll notice signage for Gerling Insurance Company behind the check-in desk, and retro-futuristic nods throughout the space. As I walked around, motown music gently playing in the background, I felt the need to explore every nook and cranny in the dramatic and sci-fi-esque lobby. In the centre of the room, you have more brilliant little touches from the brand: typewriters you can use to write letters, an area to listen to cassettes, and a literal control panel to what looks like a spaceship. There’s also the 25hours shop, a gaming corner, a record store, and a large co-working space with a cafe, it is something torn out of a science fiction thriller. If you’re a business, it also has conference rooms, you can rent out.
Following the 1950s space-age dream, out of the 207 rooms, I was given a “medium Inner circle room”, which had more than ample space. It came with all the luxuries included at a 25hours Hotel. The free minibar, which has some drinks and snacks, was appreciated as always. But another little detail I didn’t mention in my last article was that each 25hours Hotel has its own cuddly toy mascot, one that you’ll find in every bedroom. For 25hours HotelThe Circle, the soft toy was a robot. The room itself comes with a queen-sized bed, an open-plan bathroom, a mirror headboard, and a snazzy astronaut illustration on the wall behind the bed. You may even spot the odd iconic, astronaut-related quote in your bedroom or throughout the hotel. Across the site you can also find a sauna and spa, a trendy nightlife spot on the eighth floor called Monkey bar, and underground parking with 35 spaces. You’ll also enjoy the “Instagramable” elevators at the hotel.
By this point, it was already approaching noon, time to eat. So we went to check out the hotel’s ever-popular restaurant, NENI, which seats up to 116 customers. NENI can be found in many different 25hours Hotels. The chain was founded by Haya Molcho, a passionate chef, catering entrepreneur, and skilled restauranteur. NENI is all about eclectic cuisine offered up on small plates. There are Israeli, Romanian, and Spanish dishes with local influences. Sharing is encouraged, it fosters a communal feeling and plates can range from delicious chicken satay, ingenious blends of hummus, and so much more. For NENI at 25hours Hotel The Circle you’re also afforded a great view of the city, you’ll even be able to spot one or two landmarks. NENI is a hot property here, so if you want a dinner reservation, you’ll most likely need to book two weeks in advance.
Cologne is known to be a hotspot for street art in Germany, so after filling lunch, the group embarked on a ramble to see some artworks. Street art is so popular in Cologne that it hosts the biennial City Leaks Urban Art Festival. The festival invites artists to the city’s streets and encourages residents to get involved. There are many neighbourhoods where you can view different street art but during this trip, we went for a walking tour of the Ehrenfeld district. Ehrenfeld is a multicultural hub, different faiths are represented here, and there’s art to be seen around nearly every corner. At Schönsteinstraße 1a, you’ll find a sober reminder of the past with an artwork called Edelweißpiraten created by artist Captain Borderline in 2010. It’s a tribute to the 13 Cologne Edelweiss Pirates and forced labourers from Poland and USSR who were publicly hanged by the Gestapo & SS in front of a group of 400 onlookers on the adjacent square in 1944.
If you walk down Senefelderstrasse, you’ll see a gruesome depiction of a skinned rabbit by the Belgian artist, ROA. However, it’s not all doom and gloom, each artwork you come across is beautiful in its own way. Ehrenfeld is also home to the picturesque street, Körnerstraße, full of quirky stores, vintage furniture sellers, coffee shops, and more art installations like the public Körnerfeld Gallery. On the gallery’s walls, you’re invited to add your art to the collection which features creations from both international and local talent. This idyllic street is also home to The Körnerstraße Street Party which has been held annually since 1998.
When visiting Cologne, it’s also worth a trip to the Cologne City Museum in Minoritenstraße which provides a detailed history of how the city came to be and has a collection of artefacts from many centuries ago. You can also see a miniature replica of what Cologne looked like half a millennium ago in 1571. Although it wasn’t part of the itinerary, after our time ended at the museum, I headed off to arguably the city’s most popular attraction, Cologne Cathedral. Standing at an impressive 515 feet, this towering Gothic masterpiece attracts around 20,000 visitors daily. Eerie yet stunning, it looks as if it’s been plucked straight from the pages of a dark fairytale.
After a hearty dinner at Johann Schäfer Südstadt, we made our way to the hotel’s Monkey Bar for a nightcap. In a tipsy haze, I eventually returned to my room. Though I knew I needed to sleep, adrenaline coursed through my veins as I anticipated the next leg of our journey. Once daylight broke, we’d be heading for the bright lights of Paris.
A “medium inner circle room” at 25hours Hotel The Circle costs from £99 or €120 a night.
To find out more about 25hours Hotels or The Circle visit 25hours-hotels.com.
To find out more about Eurostar, visit eurostar.com/uk-en.
Read part three – 1883 Travels to Paris – by clicking here.
Words Cameron Poole
Thanks to 25hours Hotels, Cycas Hospitality, Eurostar and all involved.
You can view more photos below.
