Cologne Cathedral

1 - This cathedral is one of the largest churches in the world. It is 144 metres long and 86 metres wide. Its two towers rise 157 metres into the sky. It has seating for more than 1,500 people, its windows cover an area of more than 10,000 square metres, and its heaviest bell, the “Dicke Pitter”, weighs 24,000 kilograms.

2 - Construction of the cathedral began in August 1248. But it was not completed until 632 years later, in October 1880. Cologne Cathedral was intended as a fitting place to house the earthly remains of the Three Wise Men. Their relics had been looted in Milan and brought to Cologne.

3 - These kings are said to have followed a star 2,000 years ago, which led them to the newborn child Jesus. The Bible tells us that they came to pay him homage.

4 - Some of their remains are said to have survived after their deaths. These remains are called relics. In the Middle Ages, people hoped that they would be cured of all sorts of illnesses if they visited relics and prayed near them. Many pilgrims also came because priests promised them an indulgence. This meant a remission of the punishments they expected to suffer for their sins in the afterlife after their deaths.5 - The remains of the Three Wise Men were especially revered. This was good business for the city of Cologne, because all the visitors brought money into the city. A magnificent cathedral was intended to attract even more pilgrims.

6 - Construction took a long time and was very expensive. It was paid for mainly through donations from pilgrims. The new cathedral gradually rose higher and higher. By 1389, the first mass could already be held there, and a tower 57 meters high had also been completed. But around 1530, construction came to a halt: the necessary funds were lacking.

7 - A few years earlier, Martin Luther had called for reforms to the Catholic Church. Above all, he had criticised the sale of indulgences. This led to a split in Christianity. Many people no longer believed in the power of relics, and fewer and fewer pilgrims came to Cologne. Construction on the cathedral came to a halt for about 300 years. In the 19th century, it was decided to complete the church after all. Technical options had improved by then, allowing, for example, sturdy iron girders to be used for the roof structures. But it took almost another 40 years to reach the goal.

8 - The finely crafted shrine containing the bones of the Three Wise Men stands directly behind the altar. This Shrine of the Three Kings is 2.20 metres long, 1.10 metres wide and 1.53 metres high. It is adorned with 74 figures and decorated with more than 1,000 precious stones and pearls. It took goldsmiths 40 years to create this masterpiece.

9 - Cologne Cathedral now stands 250 meters from the Rhine, on a hill 17 meters high. It is surrounded by the cathedral plaza, with the main train station and Hohenzollern Bridge nearby. Around 6 million visitors come to the cathedral every year. Construction work is still carried out at the cathedral every day. The work is mainly aimed at preserving this unique building. Damage has to be repaired time and again. Some stones and statues have been damaged by severe air pollution and need to be replaced.