Cologne Cathedral

Even as early as the late-Roman period, Christians from Cologne gathered on the square where the present cathedral now stands. The first cathedral building in the Carolingian style was completed around the year 870 and in the following centuries it was added to again and again. When in the year 1164, the relics of the Magi were brought to Cologne, the cathedral developed into an important place of pilgrimage. That is why a larger cathedral became necessary. The old cathedral was pulled down in 1248 and the building of a new Gothic cathedral was begun. The choir was already consecrated in 1322. Important works of art like the Gero cross and the relics of the Magi were placed there. The finished choir was separated from the other construction sites so that it could already be used for church services.

In about 1530 construction work had to stop because of lack of funds. However, the interior served as a church. That changed in 1794 when French troops occupied Cologne, desecrated the cathedral and used it as a storeroom and stables, among other things. In 1801 it was again made into a church. Building on the cathedral continued in 1842. The completion of the transept façades, the nave and the transept succeeded in 1864. The spires were completed in 1880 – 632 years after start of construction.

The cathedral was hit by fourteen bombs in World War Two, but not destroyed. However, restoration took a long time. Today, repairs are still being carried out, which are necessary because of war damage, weather and environmental pollution. The present cathedral has a total length of 114.58m and a total width of 86.25m. The two large towers are about 157 metres high. It is possible to walk up to the top of the towers. 509 steps lead to the top. Cologne Cathedral is nowadays one of the most important buildings in the whole of Germany. In 1996 it was appointed world cultural heritage by UNESCO as a “European masterpiece of Gothic architecture”).

There are many legends about Cologne Cathedral. One legend, for example, is about the Gero cross, one of the most famous cathedral treasures. The cross was donated by Archbishop Gero. Soon after that, it was with horror that a crack was discovered in the head of the Crucified. As it had already been consecrated, it could no longer be repaired by craftsmen. Archbishop Gero took a splinter of the cross and a piece of a host and placed them into the crack. As a result, the crack disappeared without a trace.