Cologne Cathedral, Koeln, Germany

Cologne Cathedral is a Roman Catholic Cathedral and the seat of the Archbishop of Cologne. It is dedicated to Saint Peter and to the Blessed Virgin Mary.

History of Cologne Cathedral dates back in 870. The Old Cathedral burned to the ground in 1248 and construction of the present Gothic cathedral started in the same year. The foundation stone was laid by Archbishop Konrad von Hochstaden but the construction of the Cologne Cathedral lasted until 1880. Construction works ceased in 16th century and were not renewed until 1842 when the Central Cathedral Building Society of 1842 was established.

The civic society promoted and financed the completion of Cologne Cathedral after the original design. The cathedral was damaged in an aerial bomb attack during the World War II. It was restored in 1956.

Picture of Cologne Cathedral, Germany
The Cologne Cathedral houses the Shrine of the Three Kings which is believed to hold the remains of the Three Wise Men (the Three Magi). Among the most important treasures of the Cologne Cathedral are also the Gero Crucifix dating from 10th century and the Milan Madonna dating from 1290. The treasure chamber also houses precious reliquaries,liturgical articles, robes and insignia of the archbishops from the 4th to 20th centuries and numerous medieval sculptures.


With its 157,4 meters (516 feet) high towers the Cologne Cathedral is one of the world's tallest churches and most popular pilgrim and tourist sites. Since 1996 the cathedral is inscribed in the UNESCO World Heritage List.

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