Oberpostdirektion Köln
Regional postal authority for the Cologne area from 1850 to 1993, headquartered in the Altstadt-Nord district.
The Oberpostdirektion Köln was the regional authority responsible for postal and telecommunications services in the Cologne area. It operated from 1850 until 1993, after which two successor directorates of the privatised postal service briefly took its place.
Source: Wikipedia
At a Glance
- Type
- Mid-level postal administration authority
- Established
- 1 January 1850
- Active
- 1850 to 1993
- Jurisdiction
- Administrative districts of Cologne and Aachen
- Location
- Altstadt-Nord neighbourhood, Innenstadt borough
- Subordinate offices
- Telecommunications offices in Cologne, Aachen, Bonn, and Düren
The most significant structure in the district of the former Oberpostdirektion Köln is the Colonius telecommunications tower, completed in 1981 – an architectural legacy of an authority founded as far back as 1850, meaning it shaped over 140 years of Cologne's postal history.
Things to do here
- Admire the historic administrative building on Clever Straße / Wörthstraße
- Take photos of the striking architecture
- Trace Cologne's postal history from 1850 to 1993
- Stop by while strolling through Altstadt-Nord
- Let your gaze wander to the nearby Colonius telecommunications tower
Role and Jurisdiction
As a mid-level authority, the Oberpostdirektion oversaw postal operations across its district. It held continuous responsibility for the Cologne administrative district from 1850 to 1993, and for the Aachen district during the periods 1871–1876 and 1943–1972. Its subordinate offices included the three Cologne telecommunications offices as well as those in Aachen, Bonn, and Düren, along with the Cologne telecommunications equipment depot.
Buildings
From 1893, the authority shared a building in Cologne's city centre with the main post office and the main telegraph office. It later vacated those premises and moved to Clever Straße 32 / Wörthstraße. The Colonius telecommunications tower, completed in 1981, stands as a landmark within the former district.
Privatisation
Following the privatisation of the federal postal service, the Direktion Köln of Deutsche Bundespost Postdienst took over from 1993 to 1995, succeeded in turn by the Direktion Köln of Deutsche Post AG until 1997.
Timeline
- 1850Oberpostdirektion Köln established (1 January)
- 1871Responsibility extended to the Aachen administrative district
- 1876Responsibility for Aachen district temporarily ended
- 1893Moved into representative building with main post and telegraph office
- 1943Responsibility for Aachen district resumed
- 1972Responsibility for Aachen district permanently ended
- 1981Cologne telecommunications tower (Colonius) completed
- 1993Converted into Direktion Köln of Deutsche Bundespost Postdienst
Map
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Sources & links
Auto-generated, last verified: 2026-06-26
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