Prepare for lots of dancing and partying in the streets, pubs and bars and plenty of Kölsch, the delicious local beer. At 11.11am on 11 November, Germany's "fifth season", Karneval, begins and the whole country goes barking mad.

The craziness reaches its real climax the week before Ash Wednesday. At 11.11am on 11 February the main carnival week in Cologne is declared officially open with the Women's Carnival Day, when the women of Cologne are deemed in charge of the city. On Carnival Sunday (14 February) a parade of local school children takes place. Then on Monday 15 February it's the turn of the main event (known in Germany as Rosenmonntag), when a cavalcade of groups with fabulously decorated lorries, tractors and bands starts out on a six-kilometre route through the centre of Cologne. Keep an eye out for the lorries carrying huge effigies lampooning Germany's politicians.

The day after (Shrove Tuesday), various parades take place in Cologne's suburbs, but if you're unaccustomed to partying Cologne-style you should probably just prepare for a hangover instead! It all draws to a more sedate close on Ash Wednesday when the tradition is to eat fish - pick any pub or restaurant on this day and you'll find it on the menu.

Cologne is said to be "the most Mediterranean" city in Germany. During the period of the Carnival, this hot temperament - usually hidden - comes to the surface. Get to know this facet of Germany, and celebrate with the locals during their biggest party of the year.