Cologne Cathedral, Cologne — Visitor Guide & Things to Do Nearby

Cologne Cathedral is one of the greatest Gothic buildings in the world and the most visited landmark in Germany. Its twin spires, reaching 157 metres, dominate the skyline and were the tallest structures on earth when the building was finally completed in 1880. Construction began on August 15, 1248, and it took 632 years to finish. Work halted in the 1560s due to lack of funds and changing priorities, and the cathedral stood unfinished for three centuries. Construction resumed in 1842 after the original medieval plans were rediscovered, and the building was completed in 1880 in a remarkable act of historical fidelity. The cathedral was built to house the Shrine of the Three Kings (Dreikonigenschrein), a golden reliquary said to contain the remains of the biblical Magi. The shrine, completed around 1225, is the largest reliquary in Europe and remains the cathedral's greatest treasure. At 144.5 metres long and 86 metres wide across the transept, it is the largest Gothic church in Northern Europe. Inside, the Gero Crucifix, carved around 970 AD, is the oldest monumental crucifix in the Western world. During World War II, the cathedral was hit by 14 aerial bombs but remained standing, even as the rest of Cologne was reduced to rubble. Some believe the Allies used the spires as a navigation landmark, which may have spared it from complete destruction. The cathedral is a UNESCO World Heritage Site (since 1996) and receives around 6 million visitors a year. Entry is free, though tower climbs have a fee. On a Questo quest through Cologne, the cathedral is impossible to ignore, and its stories go as deep as its foundations.