⛪ Cologne Cathedral
Germany
About This Sacred Site
Cologne Cathedral is the seat of the Archbishop of Cologne and Germany's most visited landmark. This High Gothic masterpiece took over 600 years to complete, from 1248 to 1880, and was briefly the world's tallest building. The cathedral houses the Shrine of the Three Kings, a magnificent gilded reliquary believed to contain the remains of the Biblical Magi who visited the infant Jesus. The shrine made Cologne one of the most important pilgrimage destinations in medieval Europe. The twin spires rise 157 meters, dominating the Cologne skyline beside the Rhine.
Key Facts
- •UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1996
- •Construction took 632 years, from 1248 to 1880
- •The Shrine of the Three Kings is the largest gilded reliquary in the Western world
- •The twin spires at 157 meters made it the world's tallest building from 1880 to 1884
- •Survived 14 aerial bomb hits during World War II but remained standing
Location
Coordinates: 50.9413, 6.9583
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