EL-DE House (NS Documentation Centre)
EL-DE-Haus / NS-Dokumentationszentrum
The former Gestapo headquarters in Nazi-era Cologne. The basement cells still bear more than a thousand inscriptions left by prisoners.
From 1935 to 1945, EL-DE House served as the Gestapo headquarters in Cologne, and it is now the NS Documentation Centre. The most striking feature is the ten cells in the basement, where more than 1,800 inscriptions and drawings made by prisoners with pencils and fingernails survive on the walls, in several languages. The permanent exhibition upstairs covers daily life, persecution and resistance in Nazi-era Cologne. Panels have English captions, and audio guides can be rented. It is closed on Mondays, and admission is about €5–6. The subject matter is heavy, but it suits visitors interested in World War II history. It is about a 10-minute walk from the cathedral.
Opening hours
Tue–Fri 10:00–18:00, weekends 11:00–18:00; closed Mondays
Nearby sights
- Kolumba
- Schildergasse & Hohe Straße
- Romano-Germanic Museum
- Basilica of St. Gereon
- Früh am Dom
- Christmas Market at Cologne Cathedral
- Cologne Cathedral
- Farina Fragrance Museum