Geometric and Topological Properties of Random Algebraic Varieties

Venue

The conference is organized by the Department of Mathematics of Cologne University. All lectures will take place in the "Hörsaal" on the second floor of the building of Mathematisches Institut (also see here), whereas refreshments during the coffee breaks will be available in room R204 of the same building. There will be an information desk near "Hörsaal".

Accomodation

We have reserved a contingent of hotel rooms for invited participants. The coordinates are:

Hotel Flandrischer Hof
Flandrische Straße 3 - 11
50674 Köln
Germany
http://www.flandrischerhof.de

We will give more instructions for the participants about the reservations of hotel rooms in the registration procedure which shall be open soon.

How to get to Cologne

Most European visitors will either take the train to Cologne main station ("Köln Hauptbahnhof") or arrive by air at Cologne/Bonn Airport (Code: CGN). Visitors from overseas will usually fly to Frankfurt/Main Airport (Code: FRA). From Frankfurt, there is an efficient and fast ICE train connection to Cologne. Therefore do not try to change flights in Frankfurt and fly into Cologne. If you arrive with Lufthansa or StarAlliance, note that the train connection Frankfurt Airport <-> Cologne has a Lufthansa flight number. You can very conveniently check in and out at Cologne Main Station (Airport code: QKL), and you will often get the train ride for free as a "connecting flight". Düsseldorf airport (code: DUS) is also close to Cologne. At Düsseldorf airport there is a train station from where there are frequent connections to "Köln Hauptbahnhof".

How to get to Hotel Flandrischer Hof

From Köln Hauptbahnhof

If you arrive at Cologne main station ("Köln Hauptbahnhof"), then proceed downstairs to the subway station that is located under the main entrance hall of the train station at the side of the cathedral. From there take a subway (# 16 or 18, direction to "Neumarkt") and get off at "Neumarkt" (2 stops). Then walk up the stairs to find the tram station (take # 1, direction to "Weiden" or # 7, direction to "Frechen"). Get off at the next stop called "Rudolfplatz". The trip costs EUR 1.90 (look for K="Kurzstrecke"=short trip; up to 4 stops in total including stop of origin) and tickets can be bought from the vending machines in the stations, at some stops and inside the trams. Unfortunately only coins are accepted. If you know a bit of the city center, maybe you prefer to walk directly to Rudolfplatz; this should take about 15 minutes from the main station. Once you are at "Rudolfplatz" the hotel is within 1 minute walking distance: cross Rudolfplatz and take the next street to the right.

From Köln Messe/Deutz

Many regional or long-distance trains also stop at "Köln Messe/Deutz", from where you can directly get on tram # 1, direction to "Weiden" or # 7, direction to "Frechen", without changing at "Neumarkt". Then follow the instructions from the last paragraph. From "Köln Messe/Deutz" it is too far to walk to the hotel.

From Köln-Bonn Airport

Take a local train or S-Bahn from Köln/Bonn airport to either "Köln Hauptbahnhof" or "Köln Messe/Deutz" and then follow the instructions above. You will need a ticket "Preisstufe 1b" which costs EUR 2.80. A taxi will be about EUR 40-50.

How to get from Hotel Flandrischer Hof to the Department of Mathematics

It is easy to walk from the hotel to the Department of Mathematics, see here.

Alternatively, walk to "Rudolfplatz" which is just around the corner from the hotel. There look for buses # 136 (direction to "Hohenlind") or # 146 (direction to "Deckstein") and take either bus to exit at "Hildegardis-Krankenhaus". Then turn left into the street "Weyertal" and after a short walk you will see the mathematics department's building on the left hand side (street address: Weyertal 86-90). For each of the bus trips you will need to buy a ticket K="Kurzstrecke"=short trip, which is EUR 2.20.