Cologne Cathedral (Kölner Dom) 
Cologne Cathedral from the east, with Museum Ludwig on the right.
For more and larger photos, see our Cologne Cathedral Photo Gallery.
Cologne Cathedral remained intact after the bombings of World War II.
Two views of the soaring west front of Cologne Cathedral.
South side of Cologne Cathedral, with Christmas market stands.
The south portal.
The breathtaking Gothic nave by night, looking east.
An evening service in the choir, watched over by the Three Magi.
The golden Shrine of the Magi, studded with Byzantine jewels.
The vaulted east apse by night.
North choir aisle, leading into the ambulatory.
The 10th-century Gero Cross.
Ex-votos (gifts) pinned to the dress of a miraculous statue of Mary.
Dedicated to the saints Peter and Mary, Cologne Cathedral (Kölner Dom) is the seat of the Catholic Archbishop of Cologne. Cologne Cathedral is the greatest Gothic cathedral in Germany and has been Cologne's most famous landmark for centuries. Once the tallest building in the world, Cologne Cathedral still boasts the world's largest church façade.
The cathedral's main treasure is a golden reliquary containing the remains of the Three Magi of Christmas story fame. These relics and other treasures have made Cologne Cathedral a major pilgrimage destination for centuries.
History
Cologne Cathedral stands on the site of a 4th century Roman temple, followed by a square church known as the "oldest cathedral" commissioned by Maternus, the first Christian bishop of Cologne. A second church built on the site, the "Old Cathedral," was completed in 818. This burned down on April 30, 1248.
Construction of the present Gothic church began in the 13th century and took, with interruptions, more than 600 years to complete. The new structure was built to house the relics of the Three Magi, taken from Milan by Holy Roman Emperor Fredrick Barbarossa and given to the Archbishop of Cologne, Rainald von Dassel in 1164.
The foundation stone of Cologne Cathedral was laid on August 15, 1248, by Archbishop Konrad von Hochstaden, and the choir was consecrated in 1322. After this initial rapid progress, construction work gradually came to a standstill, and by the year 1560, only a torso had been built.
Only with the 19th century Romantic enthusiasm for the Middle Ages and the commitment of the Prussian Court did construction work resume. 1824 saw the addition of the towers and other substantial parts of the cathedral, mostly according to surviving medieval plans and drawings.
The completion of Germany's largest cathedral was celebrated as a national event in 1880, 632 years after construction had began. The celebration was attended by Emperor Wilhelm I.
The cathedral suffered 14 hits by World War II aerial bombs but did not collapse and reconstruction was completed in 1956. In the northwest tower's base, an emergency repair carried out with bad-quality brickstones taken from a nearby war ruin remained visible until the late 1990s as a reminder of the War, but then it was decided to reconstruct this section according to the original appearance. It is possible to climb a spiral staircase to a viewing platform about 98 metres above the ground.
In 1996, the cathedral was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List of culturally important sites and in 2004, it was placed on the "World Heritage in Danger" list.
What to See
The 19th century exterior of Cologne Cathedral is faithful to the original medieval plans, except for the modern steel roof. At its completion, Cologne Cathedral was the world's tallest building, overtaking the Cathedral of Strasbourg. In 1884, it lost the title to the Washington Monument, but Kölner Dom still boasts the largest church façade in the world.
The building is rarely completely free of scaffolding and renovation work, as wind, rain, and pollution slowly eat away at the stones. The Dombauhütte, which does the repairs, is said to employ the best stonemasons of the Rhineland.
Inside, the most celebrated work of art in the cathedral is the Sarcophagus of the Magi, a large gilded sarcophagus dating to around 1200. The largest reliquary in the western world, the exterior is seven feet of gilded silver and jewels. Images of Old Testament prophets line the bottom and the 12 apostles decorate the top. Inside, the reliquary holds three golden-crowned skulls believed to belong to the Three Magi.
These relics were acquired by Cologne in the 12th century and put the city on the pilgrimage map. Cologne Cathedral is still an important stop for modern pilgrims. The Three Magi do not play a large role in the life of Jesus, but they are honored for being the first pilgrims. Their precedent inspired medieval pilgrims to travel far to worship Jesus.
The Gero Cross (Gero-Kreuz), near the sacristy, is the oldest surviving monumental crucifix north of the Alps. Carved in 976 in a style ahead of its time, the crucifix depicts Jesus neither suffering nor triumphant, but with his eyes closed, dead. It is both a powerful religious image and a wonderful piece of art. With the Magi reliquary and the Madonna of Milan, the Gero Cross is one of the three major pilgrim stops in the cathedral.
The Chapel of the Virgin (Marienkapelle) contains The Patron Saints of Köln, painted in 1442 by Stefan Lochner. The painting is notable for its photographic realism (note the varieties of herbs in the foreground) and believable depth.
In the Sacrament Chapel is the Madonna of Milan (Mailänder Madonna), a wooden sculpture depicting Mary and the child Jesus. Dating from around 1290, this statue is associated with miracles and has attracted pilgrims for centuries.
The choir is surrounded by 13th and 14th century art: carved oak stalls, frescoed walls, painted statues and stained glass. The Treasury, outside the cathedral's left transept, is housed in the cathedral's 13th-century stone-cellar vaults. The six dim rooms contain a variety of glittering chalices, crosses, and reliquaries, plus fine examples of bishops' garb.
Quick Facts
| Names: | Cologne Cathedral; Kölner Dom |
| Type of site: | Cathedral |
| Faith: | Roman Catholic |
| Status: | Active |
| Dates: | 1248-1880 |
| Architecture: | Gothic and Neo-Gothic |
| Address: | Am Hof, Köln, Germany |
| Phone: | 0221/92584731 |
| U-bahn: | Hauptbahnhof |
| Hours: | Cathedral: Daily 6am-7:30pm, except during religious services. Cathedral tower: Daily 10am-6pm. Treasury: Daily 10am-6pm |
| Cost: | Cathedral: Free Treasury and cathedral tower: each 5€ adults, 2.50€ children. |
| Tours: | Excellent English-language tours are one hour, £4, Mon-Sat at 10:30 and 2:30, Sun at 2:30, meet inside front door of cathedral. |
| Tips: | The altar and choir area is closed during confession (Mon-Fri 7-9am, Sat 2-4pm) |
Location Map
Below is a location map and aerial view of Cologne Cathedral. Using the buttons on the left, zoom in for a closer look or zoom out to get your bearings. Click and drag the map to move around. For a larger view, see our Cologne Map or get our free Google Earth download.
Related Travel Resources
- Cologne Hotel Reviews - TripAdvisor
- Cologne Car Rentals - AutoEurope
- Cologne Travel Forum - TripAdvisor
- Germany Rail Passes - discount train tickets and passes
Sources
- Personal visits (December 2005, December 2007-February 2008).
- Kölner Dom - official website
- Kölner Dom (Cologne Cathedral) - Frommers.com
- The Three Kings and the Star - Archaeology
More Information
- Cologne's Landmark - City of Cologne Official Site
- Cologne Cathedral - UNESCO World Heritage
- Cologne Cathedral - The Christian Traveler (travelogue)
- Cologne Cathedral - Virtual Tourist (user reviews)
- Cologne cathedral threatened by tower blocks - The Guardian, July 7, 2004
- Cologne Cathedral - Trip Advisor (user reviews)
- Dom - AAA European Travel
- Heidi Klum's Germany - American Way (the supermodel, who grew up near Cologne, suggests German sights including Cologne Cathedral)
