Gremberghoven offers a range of things to discover: the listed railway settlement and the Kiesgrubensee Gremberghoven nature reserve. Architecture, railway history and birdlife each provide a distinct focus for your stay.

Water Landscape and Birdlife

The “Kiesgrubensee Gremberghoven” nature reserve has been protected since 1989 because of its regional importance as a habitat for rare waterbirds. It covers approximately 38 hectares. About two-thirds of the area consists of an elongated body of water running from north to south. Along its edges are mostly very steep slopes and berms, as well as species-rich mixed deciduous woodland and areas with pioneer tree species such as birch, goat willow and European aspen. Thus, not only the open water but also the shoreline features and trees shape the character of the protected area. To date, 72 bird species have been recorded there; 28 of them have been considered current breeding birds since 2013.

Railway Settlement and Monuments

Since 2003, the original railway settlement, together with its green space and its multi-storey apartment blocks, detached houses and terraced houses, has been protected as a group of listed buildings. Designed by architect Martin Kießling, the listed settlement invites you to take a walk through the history of the neighbourhood. A dedicated section of the route introduces six notable sites and explains their history and significance for visitors interested in industrial history and architecture.

One example of how design and everyday life come together is the historic archway on the central axis of the row of houses on Rather Straße. As a distinctive feature of the garden settlement, it gave residents access to the gardens behind the houses. The sundial at Langobardenplatz is another special feature of the settlement: it stands on the central axis of a circular building and is considered the only known fixed sundial on a building in Cologne to have survived the Second World War intact and to remain in its original condition to this day.

A specific date for a monument walk was the 2024 Open Monument Day. On Saturday, 7 September, a two-hour, two-kilometre walk visited important monuments in the settlement, including houses, a sundial and a square. The meeting point was Bahnhofsplatz 2a; Steinstraße S-Bahn station was listed as a travel reference.

Church, Office Tower and Railway History

The Church of the Holy Spirit stands in the centre of Gremberghoven. Large windows and an open interior roof define its architecture. Its history also includes a change of use: in 2005, the Catholic parish made the church available to the Serbian Orthodox Christian community, which adapted the interior to Orthodox liturgy.

Another striking building is the ABC Tower, built in 2003. The office tower on Ettore-Bugatti-Straße is a highly visible landmark in Gremberghoven’s commercial districts. At 65 metres tall and with 17 storeys, it creates an architectural contrast with the residential buildings of the historic railway settlement.

The open-air museum at Bahnhofplatz focuses on the history of the railway and its importance to Gremberghoven and the region. Its exhibits include a historic station clock, the old axle of a steam locomotive and the former Gremberghoven station sign. Together with the settlement and its monuments, the museum offers a distinct way to explore local railway history; nature enthusiasts will find a very different focus at Kiesgrubensee, with its body of water, trees and birdlife.

Discover more destinations: Köln-Brück, Worringen, Junkersdorf, Cologne.

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