Vorgebirgsplatz
A heritage-protected green space from 1911/12 in Zollstock, designed by garden architect Fritz Encke – today a playground with old trees and a boules court.
since 1911
The Vorgebirgsplatz in Cologne's Zollstock district is a small, heritage-protected green space laid out in 1911/12 as an ornamental square with a fountain. It was designed by garden architect Fritz Encke, who as the city's garden director shaped numerous parks and squares across Cologne.
At a Glance
- District
- Zollstock
- Created
- 1911/12
- Designer
- Fritz Encke, municipal garden director
- Original size
- 0.23 hectares
- Today
- Playground with a boules court (since 2009)
- Status
- Listed monument
The fountain that once adorned the centre of the square was later replaced by a wooden play ship – turning the ornamental garden into a playground.
Things to do here
- Climb on the wooden play ship
- Play a round on the boules court
- Pause at the Stolpersteine memorial stones
Age comparison
Age compared with other places in Cologne.
From Ornamental Square to Playground
Originally the square was laid out with trees and planting as an ornamental garden, with a fountain at its centre. The fountain was later removed and a wooden play ship set up in its place, turning the site into a playground. A boules court was added in 2009. The old trees surrounding the square remain to this day.
A Place of Remembrance
In front of the surrounding houses, four Stolpersteine (stumbling stones) commemorate former residents who were victims of National Socialism. They make the Vorgebirgsplatz a quiet place of remembrance within the everyday life of the neighbourhood.
Map
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Address
Vorgebirgspl.
50969 Köln
Hours
So: 00:00–24:00
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Sources & links
Auto-generated, last verified: 2026-07-04
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