Cologne Cathedral

23 Fascinating Facts about Cologne Cathedral

1. Location: Cologne Cathedral stands in the heart of Cologne’s city center, right next to the main train station and just a few steps from the Rhine. Thanks to its central location at Domplatz, it is one of the city’s most famous and easily accessible landmarks.
2. Significance: At around 157 meters tall, Cologne Cathedral is currently the fourth tallest church in the world. Only the Sagrada Familia in Barcelona, Ulm Minster, and the Basilica of Notre-Dame de la Paix in Ivory Coast surpass it in height. The cathedral is widely regarded as Cologne’s defining landmark and ranks among the most famous and most visited attractions in Germany.
3. Early History: Long before Cologne Cathedral was built, the site was occupied by a Roman residential quarter near the city wall and the northern gate. It is likely that the bishop’s church of Roman Cologne already stood here in early Christian times, although this cannot be conclusively proven archaeologically. What is certain, however, is the existence of a large early medieval church complex dating back to the 6th century. This complex included a baptistery with a baptismal font located east of today’s choir. Beneath the choir, archaeologists also uncovered graves as well as remains of an early Christian pulpit and a masonry priest’s bench.
4. The Old Cathedral: Before Cologne Cathedral was constructed, a large Carolingian bishop’s church known as the Old Cathedral stood on this site. This monumental structure was built around 800 and consecrated in 873. Measuring about 95 meters in length, it was one of the largest churches of its time north of the Alps.
5. Rise as a Pilgrimage Site: Cologne’s rise as a major pilgrimage destination began in 1164 with the arrival of the relics of the Three Wise Men. Archbishop Rainald of Dassel brought these relics to Cologne from Milan as spoils of war after the city had been conquered by Emperor Frederick Barbarossa. According to Christian tradition, the relics are believed to be the mortal remains of the three wise men from the East who, according to the Bible, brought gifts to the newborn Jesus. Their presence turned Cologne into one of the most important pilgrimage centers in Europe. In response to this growing religious significance, the decision was later made to build a new monumental cathedral.
6. Construction History: The foundation stone of Cologne Cathedral was laid on August 15, 1248, and the first major phase of construction was ceremonially completed in 1322. Work continued for some time but came to a halt after 1520 and remained suspended for more than 300 years. During this period, the cathedral stood as a vast unfinished structure that shaped the city’s skyline. The main reasons for this interruption were financial difficulties, the Reformation, and the political and social upheavals of the early modern era.
7. French Occupation: During the French occupation from 1794 to 1814, Cologne Cathedral temporarily lost its religious function and was closed for worship in 1796. During this time, it was used as a storage facility and at times even as a prisoner of war camp. It was not until the 19th century, following the end of French rule and the reorganization of the archdiocese, that the cathedral regained its role as a spiritual center.
8. Completion: In the early 19th century, interest in completing Cologne Cathedral was revived. This renewed momentum was driven in particular by the art collector Sulpiz Boisserée, the rediscovery of medieval architectural plans, and a growing enthusiasm for Gothic architecture. In 1842, the Prussian king Frederick William IV officially ordered construction to resume. After centuries of interruption, the cathedral was finally completed in 1880. At the time of its completion, it was both the tallest building in the world until 1884, when the Washington Monument surpassed it, and the tallest church in the world until 1890, when Ulm Minster exceeded its height.
9. Medieval Facade Plan: A crucial factor in the completion of Cologne Cathedral was a medieval facade plan known as “Riss F.” This parchment drawing from the 13th century, measuring over 4 meters in height, depicts the cathedral’s west facade with remarkable precision and consists of several joined sheets of parchment. The first half of the plan was discovered in 1814 in the attic of the inn “Zur Traube” in Darmstadt. The second half surfaced a few years later with an antiquarian in Paris. Today, the original is preserved in the cathedral’s building archive, while a scaled reproduction is on display in the cathedral treasury.
10. Financing: The Central Cathedral Building Association was founded in 1842 to raise funds for the completion of Cologne Cathedral. Through membership fees, donations, and a cathedral lottery, the association financed a large portion of the construction costs until the cathedral was completed in 1880. To this day, the association continues to support restoration work and covers a significant share of the ongoing maintenance costs.
11. World War II: During World War II, much of the city of Cologne was destroyed by heavy air raids. Cologne Cathedral was also struck multiple times by bombs and suffered significant damage. Large sections of the vaults in the nave and transept collapsed, and numerous windows as well as parts of the interior furnishings were lost. After the war, an extensive reconstruction effort began, gradually restoring the cathedral throughout the 1950s.
12. Building Materials: Cologne Cathedral is constructed primarily from natural stone, especially trachyte from quarries in the region around Cologne, along with various types of sandstone and limestone that were added over the centuries. Because the cathedral has been continuously restored and maintained for hundreds of years, a wide variety of stone types from different construction phases can still be seen on the exterior facade today. Its dark coloration results from natural weathering, air pollution, and chemical reactions within the stone, which over time have formed black crusts of gypsum and dirt.
13. The Shrine of the Three Kings: The Shrine of the Three Kings is the most famous artwork in Cologne Cathedral and is considered the largest and most significant reliquary of the Middle Ages. It was created from around 1190 by the workshop of the renowned goldsmith Nikolaus of Verdun, together with other artists. The precious shrine is located in the choir and houses the relics that, according to Christian tradition, are venerated as the remains of the Three Wise Men. With its elaborate design of gold, silver, gemstones, and numerous figures, it ranks among the most valuable and impressive works of art in Europe.
14. High Altar: The high altar of Cologne Cathedral stands at the center of the choir and was consecrated in 1322 in honor of the Apostle Peter. The monumental altar table is clad in black marble and features a top slab made from a single stone, which is considered the largest stone in the entire cathedral. Directly behind the high altar stands the Shrine of the Three Kings, placing two of the cathedral’s most important artworks side by side.
15. Choir Stalls: Behind the high altar in the choir of Cologne Cathedral are some of the largest surviving medieval choir stalls in Europe. Their substructure dates from 1308 to 1311, and the stalls include a total of 104 seats made of oak. For many centuries, members of the cathedral chapter used these seats during daily services.
16. Gero Crucifix: The Gero Crucifix was likely created around 970 and is one of the oldest surviving monumental crucifixes north of the Alps. The nearly 3 meter tall wooden sculpture depicts Christ not as a triumphant victor over death, but as a lifeless figure with his head bowed and eyes closed. Today, the crucifix is located in the Chapel of the Cross in the northern aisle and is regarded as a milestone of medieval art due to its strikingly realistic portrayal.
17. Altar of the City’s Patron Saints: The Altar of the City’s Patron Saints was created around 1442 by the Cologne painter Stefan Lochner. This important late Gothic winged altarpiece shows, on its open side, the city’s most important patron saints, including Mary with the Christ Child as well as the Three Wise Men, who are especially venerated in Cologne. Originally located in the council chapel of Cologne’s town hall, the altar was moved to the cathedral in the 19th century. Today, it stands in the Chapel of Mary in the northern ambulatory of the choir.
18. Stained Glass Windows: The stained glass windows of Cologne Cathedral cover an area of around 10,000 square meters and are among the most significant examples of glass art in Europe. Some of the oldest windows date back to the 13th century, while many others were created in the 19th century or reconstructed after the destruction of World War II. Particularly well known is the modern Richter Window in the south transept, installed in 2007 and composed of 11,263 colored glass squares in 72 different shades. It replaced a 19th century window depicting holy rulers and bishops, which was destroyed during World War II. For decades afterward, the opening remained only temporarily glazed until the current window was installed.
19. Cathedral Treasury: The cathedral treasury of Cologne Cathedral is located on the north side of the building and was opened in 2000. It is housed underground in historic vaulted cellars and displays valuable reliquaries, liturgical objects, and ceremonial crosses dating from the 4th to the 20th century across six exhibition rooms. Access is provided via a modern cube-shaped structure clad in dark bronze panels. Because of its strong contrast with the Gothic facade, this structure was controversial when it first opened.
20. St. Peter’s Bell: The St. Peter’s Bell of Cologne Cathedral, known in the local Cologne dialect as “Decke Pitter,” weighs around 24 tons and is one of the largest freely swinging bells in the world. It was cast in 1923 in the Thuringian town of Apolda and has a diameter of 3.22 meters. The bell hangs in the southwest tower of the cathedral and is only rung on special occasions such as major religious holidays or significant events.
21. Viewing Platform: In the south tower of Cologne Cathedral, at a height of around 100 meters, a viewing platform offers sweeping views over Cologne, the Rhine, and the surrounding region. Visitors reach the platform by climbing 533 steps, which begin with a narrow spiral staircase and continue via metal staircases. Along the way, the ascent also passes the cathedral’s bell chamber, where several of its famous bells are housed.
22. Legend of the Devil’s Stone: According to an old cathedral legend, a powerful storm in 1434 tore a large stone from the roof of Cologne Cathedral and hurled it through the vault into the interior of the church. The rock is said to have landed near the shrine of the Three Wise Men without damaging the valuable relics. Popular belief explained this event by claiming that the devil had thrown the stone, but that his attack was ultimately thwarted by divine intervention.
23. UNESCO World Heritage Site: Cologne Cathedral has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1996 and is regarded as one of the most important masterpieces of Gothic architecture in Europe. Between 2004 and 2006, it was temporarily placed on the List of World Heritage in Danger. The reason was the planned construction of high-rise buildings on the right bank of the Rhine, which UNESCO believed could compromise the cathedral’s historic skyline and visual impact. After the plans were revised and stricter protection measures for the cityscape were introduced, the cathedral was removed from the list again in 2006.