Cologne Cathedral dominates the German skyline with its twin spires and dark, imposing stone facade. While millions visit this Gothic masterpiece annually, few know the secrets hidden within its ancient walls. For instance, the building survived fourteen bomb hits during World War II without collapsing. Furthermore, the construction took so long that the original architectural plans were lost for centuries. Prepare to climb the steps of history.
Cologne Cathedral
Builders took 632 years to finish the massive structure. Construction began in 1248, but they only placed the final stone in 1880.
Cologne Cathedral houses the bones of the Three Wise Men. Archbishop Rainald von Dassel brought these famous relics from Milan to Germany in 1164.
Alllied forces hit the church with fourteen aerial bombs during World War II. However, the twin spires remained standing in the flattened city because pilots used them as a navigational landmark.
A local legend claims the first architect made a bet with the devil. The devil promised to finish the cathedral first, but the architect’s clever wife tricked him, saving her husband’s soul.
The dark color of the exterior comes from a chemical reaction, not just dirt. Specifically, the sandstone reacts with sulfuric acid in the rain, which turns the stone permanently black.
Cologne Cathedral holds the largest swinging bell in the world. The “St. Peter’s Bell” weighs a staggering 24 tons (53,000 pounds).
A modern stained-glass window features 11,263 random colored squares. Artist Gerhard Richter used a computer to design this pixelated masterpiece in 2007.
The roof support structure is made of iron, not wood. This metal frame from 1860 is one of the oldest large steel structures in the world, predating the Eiffel Tower.
Cologne Cathedral briefly held the title of the tallest building in the world. It reigned supreme from 1880 until the Washington Monument surpassed it in 1884.
Maintenance costs roughly €30,000 every single day. Wind, rain, and pollution constantly damage the delicate stone, so stonemasons work on the building year-round.
Peregrine falcons nest in the high towers. These birds of prey use the cathedral as an artificial cliff to hunt pigeons in the city below.
The Gero Crucifix is the oldest large sculpture of the crucified Christ north of the Alps. Remarkably, this oak carving has hung in Cologne Cathedral since the late 10th century.
Visitors must climb 533 stone steps to reach the viewing platform. Unfortunately, no elevator exists for tourists who want to see the panoramic view of the Rhine River.
A full-size concrete model of the finial stands outside the main entrance. This replica shows visitors the massive scale of the ornaments that sit 157 meters (515 feet) above them.
Cologne Cathedral builders found the original medieval plans in a bean sack. Someone discovered half of the parchment in an attic and the other half in Paris centuries later.
