Chicago on the Rhine – Cologne's dark side, with pimps, gambling and the red-light district

Welcome to post-war Cologne – gritty, seedy, and full of stories that are more thrilling than any crime novel. Between Eigelstein and the Friesenviertel, we will follow in the footsteps of a milieu that earned Cologne its legendary nickname “Chicago on the Rhine.”

From the 1950s to the 1980s, life here pulsed between gambling dens, red-light bars and shady pubs. Pimps, gamblers, crooks and “Mädcher us dem Leeve” (girls from the underworld) shaped the character of entire streets. Where cafés and boutiques can now be found, different rules once applied – and it was not uncommon for fists to decide what was right and what was wrong.

On this extraordinary city tour, you will hear the stories of Cologne's most notorious underworld figures: from Schäfers Nas and Dummse Tünn to the legendary Abels Män, the “most handsome pimp in Cologne.” You will learn how the red-light district operated, where the scene gathered and why some pubs were famous far beyond the city limits.

At authentic locations, you will experience a piece of the city's history that has long been hidden. Amid quirky anecdotes, real-life criminal cases and quintessential Cologne characters, a vivid picture emerges of a time when Cologne was simultaneously lively, dangerous and fascinating.

A tour for anyone who wants to discover true crime, fascinating city history and the colourful darker sides of Cologne.