History - Zeughaus
The Zeughaus, the former armaments and weapons arsenal of the Free City of Cologne, was built between 1594 and 1606 in the style of the Dutch renaissance.
The French and Prussian rulers also used the Zeughaus as an arsenal. The building, which had been considerably converted in the 19th century, was given a civilian use after the demilitarisation of the Rhineland. From 1920, the Regional Tax Office was accommodated there. During World War 2, the building was almost totally destroyed, only the outer walls remained standing. It was rebuilt between 1954 and 1956. Even so, the old vaulted structure was not reconstructed in the Zeughaus, instead of which the decision was made to build two large, continuous halls, that are enclosed by ribbed concrete roofs.
Since 1958, the Zeughaus accommodates the Cologne City Museum with its collection concentrating on the history of the City of Cologne from the Middle Ages to the present day.
Both floors of the exhibition building are noticeably different: The events on the ground floor of the Zeughaus take place between the exhibits of the political history of Cologne from the Middle Ages until the present day, whilst on the upper floor the cultural and economic history of Cologne is displayed so that the municipal everyday reality of the various epochs is brought to life.
The so-called "Alte Wache", that adjoins from the West, a police station built in the Florentine Palazzo style during the Prussian period in 1840/41, is used for special exhibitions by the Cologne City Museum. The ground floor can be booked for events.
The French and Prussian rulers also used the Zeughaus as an arsenal. The building, which had been considerably converted in the 19th century, was given a civilian use after the demilitarisation of the Rhineland. From 1920, the Regional Tax Office was accommodated there. During World War 2, the building was almost totally destroyed, only the outer walls remained standing. It was rebuilt between 1954 and 1956. Even so, the old vaulted structure was not reconstructed in the Zeughaus, instead of which the decision was made to build two large, continuous halls, that are enclosed by ribbed concrete roofs.
Since 1958, the Zeughaus accommodates the Cologne City Museum with its collection concentrating on the history of the City of Cologne from the Middle Ages to the present day.
Both floors of the exhibition building are noticeably different: The events on the ground floor of the Zeughaus take place between the exhibits of the political history of Cologne from the Middle Ages until the present day, whilst on the upper floor the cultural and economic history of Cologne is displayed so that the municipal everyday reality of the various epochs is brought to life.
The so-called "Alte Wache", that adjoins from the West, a police station built in the Florentine Palazzo style during the Prussian period in 1840/41, is used for special exhibitions by the Cologne City Museum. The ground floor can be booked for events.
