Scattered throughout the Old Town, these twelve churches are among the oldest buildings in Cologne—most of them date back to the 12th and 13th centuries. They’ve all got that heavy Romanesque look, but each one’s a bit different. Great St. Martin stands out with its massive tower right by the river, St. Gereon has got an unusual oval dome, and St. Maria im Kapitol is one of the largest. You don’t need to see all twelve, but stopping in at a couple while you’re exploring the Old Town gives you a good feel for the city’s medieval side.

This urban farm is nestled away in the Madestein Recreational Park where there is also a community garden, sports complex, campsite and a lake, which is safe to swim in or kayak. In Pluk itself, guests can pick their own fruit and vegetables whilst admiring the farm animals that reside on the estate or sit down to enjoy the fresh organic produce that the establishment is known for.

Cyrano de Bergerac is the titular fictional character from poet and dramatist Edmond Rostand’s great comedic work, adopted by the town of Bergerac. The statue is surrounded by quaint restaurants and is a great place to take a break from exploring the town.

A fairytale castle nestled in the woods on the outskirts of the city. Despite bearing the mark of Victorian renovation, it still retains much of its medieval charm and it offers an interesting insight into medieval architecture and art.