Cologne Cathedral facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Cologne Cathedral
The Cathedral of St. Peter
Hohe Domkirche St. Petrus Kölner Dom
Cathedral façade
50°56′29″N 06°57′30″E / 50.94139°N 6.95833°E / 50.94139; 6.95833
Location	Cologne
Country	Germany
Denomination	Roman Catholic.
Website	koelner-dom.de
History
Status	Cathedral
Dedication	Saint Peter
Architecture
Functional status	Active
Style	Gothic
Years built	1248–1560 1842–1880 1950s–present (restoration)
Specifications
Length	144.5 m (474 ft)
Width	86.25 m (283.0 ft)
Number of spires	2
Spire height	157 m (515 ft)
Bells	11
Administration
Archdiocese	Cologne
Province	Cologne

The Cologne Cathedral (also known as Kölner Dom in German) is a huge Catholic church in Cologne, Germany. Its official name is Hohe Domkirche Sankt Petrus, which means "Cathedral Church of Saint Peter". It's the main church for the Archbishop of Cologne.

This amazing building is a famous example of Gothic architecture. It was named a World Heritage Site in 1996. It's also Germany's most visited landmark, with about 6 million visitors each year!

Standing at 157 m (515 ft) tall, it's the tallest church in the world with two spires. It's also the second tallest church in Europe, right after Ulm Minster.

Building the Cologne Cathedral started way back in 1248. But it stopped around 1560, leaving it unfinished for a long time. Work began again in 1842 and the cathedral was finally completed in 1880. Its two massive spires give it the largest front of any church in the world.

Even though it was unfinished for centuries, Cologne Cathedral became known as a "masterpiece." It shows how strong Christian beliefs were in Europe, both long ago and more recently. In Cologne, only the telecommunications tower is taller than the cathedral.

History of Cologne Cathedral

Building Through the Ages

When construction started on the Cologne Cathedral in 1248, the spot was already very old. Other buildings had stood there before. The earliest might have been for storing grain. Later, a Roman temple was built there.

But from the 300s onwards, Christian churches were built on the site. One was called the "oldest cathedral." Another church, the "Old Cathedral," was finished in 818. Sadly, it was destroyed by fire in 1248 while they were preparing for the new cathedral.

Starting the Medieval Masterpiece

A very important event happened in 1164. The Archbishop of Cologne, Rainald of Dassel, got the relics of the Three Kings. These were taken from a church in Milan, Italy. These relics were super important for religious people and brought many pilgrims to Cologne.

Church leaders wanted a special place to keep these relics. So, they decided to build a grand new church in the popular Gothic architecture style. They were inspired by the Amiens Cathedral in France.

The first stone of the new cathedral was laid on August 15, 1248. The eastern part of the church was finished in 1322. Work continued on and off for centuries. But by 1473, construction mostly stopped. The south tower was only partly built, with a huge crane left on top. This crane stayed there for 400 years and became a famous landmark!

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  The unfinished cathedral in 1820. You can see the huge crane on the tower.

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  The unfinished cathedral in 1855. The medieval crane was still there.

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  The unfinished cathedral in 1856. The east end was finished, but other parts were still being built.

Finishing the Giant in the 1800s

The cathedral in 1880, almost finished.

In the 1800s, people became very interested in the Middle Ages again. When the original building plans for the cathedral's front were found, it sparked new excitement. Even though the government was Protestant, they worked with the church to finish the cathedral.

People formed a group called the Central-Dombauverein in 1842. This group raised two-thirds of the massive cost! The government paid the rest. Work started again in 1842, following the old medieval plans. But they used newer building methods, like iron beams for the roof. The main part of the church (the nave) was completed, and the tall towers were added. The bells were put in during the 1870s.

The completion of Germany's largest cathedral was a huge national celebration on October 15, 1880. This was 632 years after construction first began! The German Emperor himself attended the celebration. At 157.38 m (516.3 ft) tall, it was the tallest building in the world for four years!

Surviving World War II

During World War II, Cologne Cathedral was hit by bombs fourteen times. Even though it was badly damaged, it was one of the few buildings left standing in a city that was almost completely destroyed. Its tall twin spires were an easy landmark for Allied planes to spot.

On March 6, 1945, a tank battle happened near the cathedral. A German tank was destroyed by an American tank very close to the spires. Videos of this battle still exist today.

Repairs to the war damage were finished in 1956. A small repair on the northwest tower, made in 1944 with poor bricks, was visible until 2005. It was a reminder of the war.

Since 1946, archaeologists have been digging under the cathedral. They wanted to see if the bombings damaged the foundations. These digs have uncovered amazing details about even older buildings on the site.

Today, repair and maintenance work is always happening on the cathedral. Wind, rain, and pollution slowly wear away the stones. A special workshop called the Dombauhütte employs skilled stonemasons just for this purpose.

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  The completed west front of the cathedral in 1911.

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  An American soldier next to a destroyed tank near the cathedral in 1945.

Cologne Cathedral in the 21st Century

On August 18, 2005, Pope Benedict XVI visited the cathedral. This was part of the World Youth Day 2005 celebrations. About one million pilgrims visited the cathedral during this time!

On August 25, 2007, the cathedral got a beautiful new stained glass window in its south side. The window is 113 m² (1,220 sq ft) big and was made by German artist Gerhard Richter. It's made of 11,500 pieces of colored glass, arranged randomly by a computer. It looks like a colorful "carpet"!

On January 5, 2015, the cathedral's floodlights were turned off. This was a protest against a demonstration happening nearby.

A World Heritage Site

Cologne Cathedral on the banks of the Rhine River.

In 1996, the Cologne Cathedral was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List. This list includes places that are very important culturally.

In 2004, it was put on the "World Heritage in Danger" list. This was because there were plans to build tall buildings nearby that would block the view of the cathedral. But in 2006, the cathedral was removed from this list. The authorities decided to limit the height of new buildings around it.

As a World Heritage Site and home to the Shrine of the Three Kings, Cologne Cathedral is a major attraction. Many tourists and pilgrims visit it. You can even climb 533 stone steps up a spiral staircase to a viewing platform! It's about 100 m (330 ft) high and gives an amazing view over the Rhine River.

Workers are always trying to fix the black color on the sandstone. This happens because the stone reacts with acid rain, which is caused by air pollution.

Architecture of the Cathedral

The design of Cologne Cathedral is very similar to Amiens Cathedral in France. It's shaped like a Latin Cross, which is common for Gothic cathedrals. It has two aisles on each side. These help support one of the tallest Gothic vaults (arched ceilings) in the world!

Outside, you can see the flying buttresses. These are like stone arms that support the walls and help hold up the heavy roof. The eastern end of the church has a circular walkway with seven small chapels branching off it.

Inside, the medieval choir (the area near the altar) is very detailed. It has tall arches, a narrow gallery with windows, and beautiful stone patterns. The tall windows let in lots of light. The whole inside feels very grand, with tall columns reaching up to the ceiling.

The choir still has many of its original features, including carved wooden seats. A large stone statue of Saint Christopher looks down from above.

The main part of the church (the nave) has many stained glass windows from the 1800s. Five of these, called the Bayernfenster, were a gift from a king and show a German painting style.

From the outside, especially from far away, the cathedral is known for its huge spires. They are very German in style, with open stonework, similar to those on Ulm Minster and Strasbourg Cathedral.

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  An aerial view shows the cross shape of the cathedral.

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  The cathedral seen from the south.

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  A close-up of one of the spires.

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  The main entrance with its detailed 19th-century decorations.

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  The flying buttresses and spires of the medieval east end.

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  The inside of the nave, looking towards the east.

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  The very tall interior of the medieval east end.

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  This "swallows' nest" organ was built in 1998 to celebrate the cathedral's 750th anniversary.

Cathedral Dimensions

A drawing from the 1800s showing a cross-section of the choir.

The ground plan (layout) of the cathedral.

Treasures of Cologne Cathedral

One of the most important parts of the cathedral is the high altar, put in place in 1322. It's made of black marble with a huge top slab 15 ft (4.6 m) long. The front has white marble carvings showing figures, with the Coronation of the Virgin in the middle.

The most famous artwork is the Shrine of the Three Kings. It was started in 1190 and is believed to hold the remains of the Three Wise Men. This shrine is a large, golden box shaped like a church. It's decorated with silver, gold, sculptures, and gemstones. When it was opened in 1864, bones and clothes were found inside.

Near the sacristy (a room for church items) is the Gero Crucifix. This is a large cross carved from oak, with traces of paint and gold. It was made around 960 and is the oldest large cross north of the Alps. It's also the earliest known large free-standing sculpture from the medieval period.

In the Sacrament Chapel, you'll find the Mailänder Madonna ("Milan Madonna"). This is a beautiful Gothic carving of the Virgin Mary and baby Jesus. It was made around 1290. The altar dedicated to the patron saints of Cologne has a painting by Stefan Lochner.

After 1265, the chapels around the altar were used for burials. The relics of Saint Irmgardis are in St. Agnes' Chapel. Her stone coffin was made around 1280.

Other valuable artworks are kept in the Cathedral Treasury.

On an inside wall, there are two stone tablets. They have rules carved into them from the 1200s, explaining how Jewish people were allowed to live in Cologne.

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  The Crucifix of Bishop Gero, made in the 900s. It's the oldest known large crucifix.

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  The Shrine of the Three Kings.

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  A medieval statue of Saint Christopher.

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  The Dombild Altarpiece by Stefan Lochner, showing the Three Kings adoring Jesus.

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  The Petrus- und Wurzel Jesse-Fenster window from 1509.

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  The Anbetungs-Fenster window from 1846.

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  A modern stained glass window by Gerhard Richter.

Church Music and Bells

Cologne Cathedral has two large pipe organs. One was built in 1948 and the other in 1998.

The Bells of Cologne Cathedral

The cathedral has eleven church bells! Four of them are from the medieval period. The first was the 3.8-tonne Dreikönigsglocke ("Bell of the Three Kings"), cast in 1418. Two other very old bells, the Pretiosa (10.5 tonnes) and the Speciosa (5.6 tonnes), were installed in 1448 and are still there today.

The Petersglocke bell. A person stands next to its clapper to show how huge it is.

As the cathedral was being finished in the 1800s, people wanted more bells. The German Emperor Wilhelm I helped by giving them French bronze cannons captured in a war. These cannons were melted down to make new bells. One huge bell, the Kaiserglocke, was cast in 1873. It weighed over 27,000 kilograms! But it was melted down in 1918 to help with the German war effort.

The 24-tonne St. Petersglocke ("Bell of St. Peter") was cast in 1922. It was the largest free-swinging bell in the world for a long time. This giant bell is only rung on eight major holidays, like Easter and Christmas.

On March 3, 2022, cathedrals across Europe rang their bells together. Cologne Cathedral joined them to show support for Ukraine and pray for peace.

See Also

• Gothic cathedrals and churches
• List of Gothic Cathedrals in Europe
• Architecture of cathedrals and great churches
• Gero Cross
• Gothic architecture
• Gothic Revival architecture
• List of buildings and structures
• List of highest church naves
• List of cathedrals in Germany
• List of tallest structures built before the 20th century
• Medievalism