Cologne Cathedral - the third tallest cathedral in the world

Cologne Cathedral, officially called the Cathedral of St. Peter and St. Mary, is a Roman Catholic church and the seat of the Archbishop of Cologne. At a height of 157 metres, it is the second tallest church in Germany after Ulm Cathedral, and the third tallest in the world.

Cologne Cathedral is the third largest Gothic cathedral after the cathedrals of Seville and Milan. A stone's throw from the city's old quarter and the Hohenzollern bridge, it is a famous landmark at the heart of this city on the Rhine, with capacity for approximately 4,000 worshippers. Started in 1248 and finally completed in 1880, the cathedral is considered a masterpiece of Gothic architecture.

It is one of the most magnificent Christian ecclesiastical buildings and has become the symbol of Cologne. The shrine containing the remains of the Three Kings was donated by Emperor Barbarossa and transferred from Milan to Cologne in 1164, making the city a popular European pilgrimage site. The annual Cologne Cathedral Pilgrimage in September attracts nearly 100,000 people.

As a world heritage site, Cologne Cathedral is one of the most popular and most frequently photographed sights in Germany. The shrine containing the relics of the Three Kings is considered a remarkable medieval treasure, the most significant reliquary shrine in the western world. The Ottonian Gero Cross on the rood altar is the oldest large sculpture of the crucified Christ in the Christian west and thought to be the precursor of the triumphal crosses in medieval churches. The cathedral has two winged altars: the "Klarenaltar" (the Altar of the Poor Clares) from the 14th century, adorned with 36 paintings and 25 sculptures, and the altar of the city's patron saints by local sculptor Stephan Lochner. With 104 seats, the choir is one of the largest of its kind and the cathedral treasury is one of the richest in Europe, featuring a collection of manuscripts and vestments. A trip to the top of the tower is also a truly memorable experience. Open daily. Audio tours, guided tours and tours for children available.

Contact:
E-Mail: dompropstei@metropolitankapitel-koeln.de
Internet: http://www.koelner-dom.de/