Visit the Cologne Cathedral in Germany

The Cologne Cathedral is one of the most visited landmarks in the world and one of the best known monuments in Germany. As the second tallest Gothic structure on the planet, it is a top tick off on life's must-see list.

The cathedral is known is Germany as the Kölner Dom or the Domkirche St. Peter und Maria. It is the seat of the Archbishop of Cologne and under administration of the Roman Catholic Church. The Cologne Cathedral was built to house relics of the Magi. The relics were given to the Archbishop of Colgne, Rainald of Dassel, in 1164. Today visitors can view the Sarcophagus of the Magi, a large gilded sarcophagus dating from the 13^th century, and the largest reliquary in the Western world. It is thought to hold the remains of the Three Wise Men.

Although the relics were bestowed upon Cologne's Archbishop in 1164, construction of the cathedral didn't begin until some 80 years later in 1248 under Archbishop Konrad von Hochstaden. Initial progress on the cathedral was rapid but ceased by the year 1560. For several centuries, the cathedral stood half built. Then in 1842, construction resumed and 40 years later, in 1880, the Cologne Cathedral stood complete and true to its original plan. The endeavor spanned over 600 years and cost over $1B in today's money. It was one of the most extensive and expensive construction projects ever undertaken.

The front façade is distinguished by two towers each 157 meters (515 feet) tall. At the time of its completion, the Cologne Cathedral stood as the tallest building in the world. A combination of medieval stone architecture and modern steel construction, the cathedral marks the landscape of the city with its impressive exterior.

Inside, the visitor is awestruck by the sheer magnitude of space. Ornamented arches and spires climb to the soaring ceiling flanked by fluted columns, gilded reliefs and intricate stained glass. In addition to the Shrine of the Three Kings reliquary the cathedral houses many other works of art. The Gero-Kreuz or Gero-Cross, the first monumental crucifix in Northern Europe and the oldest cross north of the Alps can be found here. In the cathedral's Sacrament Chapel is a wooden sculpture from 1290 known as the Mailänder Madonna.

An impressive collection of the cathedral's treasures live in the chancel, a historic vaulted chamber dating back to the 13^th century. Here the visitor can view precious reliquaries, liturgical articles, robes and insignia of the archbishops dating back to the 4^th century. Included in this collection is St. Peter's staff and chain, two cross reliquaries, a Gothic bishop's staff from 1322 and an elector's sword from around 1480.

As a prominent feature in Cologne's skyline, the cathedral wasn't immune to attacks during WWII. In total, 14 aerial bombs collided with the structure. However, when the war ended the Cologne Cathedral was still standing. Reconstruction began immediately and was completed in 1956.

Ongoing repair and maintenance work is a constant at the cathedral to combat the effects of rain and pollution on the structure's stonework. The best stonemasons in the region work continuously to keep the structure maintained and it is rare to see the building without scaffolding.

But stonemasons aren't the only ones able to get into the cathedral's heights. A viewing platform can be reached by visitors by climbing 509 steps to a height of 98 meters above ground. The tower ascent offers an excellent panoramic view of the city, the Rhine and the surrounding area. Another benefit of making the climb is to see some of the cathedral's 12 bells including the largest free-swinging bell in the world. A special guided tour, called "Over the Roofs," is available for groups interested in the cathedral's ongoing restoration.

Another guided tour offers visitors the chance to explore the excavations under the cathedral where foundations of earlier Roman and Romanesque buildings remain. Also available are guided tours of the treasures and precious objects or tours of the cathedral's 12 bells.

The Cologne Cathedral became an UNESCO World Heritage site in 1996. It was briefly listed on the World Heritage in Danger list in 2004 due to nearby high rise development but was saved when the city's building authorities set stricter limits on nearby construction. Today, its towers rise clear above the city landscape and its gothic presence remains true to its medieval beginnings.