We love the Cologne summer, but heat in the city is often quite suffocating. As the heatwaves are unlikely to abate, we have a few solutions for you.
The most effective ways to beat the heat are still: avoid the hottest hours at midday and in the afternoon, stay hydrated and wear a hat. If you do find yourself out and about at midday, try this app. With Shadowmap, you can plan your walks to avoid the sun wherever possible.
This interactive map allows you to visualize the shadows cast by buildings in real time or at a specific date and time. The second option is only available in the paid version. In any case, Shadowmap is very intuitive and easy to use. Simply enter the name of the city and move the mouse over the timeline to see how the position of the sun and the shadows change on the map. You can also zoom in and out to test your map skills.
And as you would expect, Cologne Cathedral casts the biggest shadow. But there is also cooling darkness on the Hohenzollernring.
F4 is a similar app that also allows you to see the shadowy areas, anywhere in the world. As with Shadowmap, you have to enter the name of the city and zoom in and out on the 3D map. The map is more detailed than Shadowmap and is also a good way to pass the time looking at your own city again and again.
Cologne to study and admire in between: you can put your knowledge of the city to the test and see the shadow at the same time. How good are these 3D animations?