SKIMMING

COLOGNE CATHEDRAL

GERMANY'S GOTHIC SANCTUARY

Construction on Germany's Cologne Cathedral took more than six centuries to complete, beginning in 1248 and ending in 1880. During that time, construction was halted for nearly 300 years but finally continued when the Prussian government commissioned the 19th century architect Ernst Friedrich Zwirner to continue the project in 1842.

Upon its completion, the Cologne Cathedral stood as the globe's tallest building for several years, boasting 157-metre twin spires and the largest facade of any church in the world: its western facade alone is over 60 meters wide.

The cathedral also houses one of Europe's most precious reliquaries: the Shrine of the Magi, which reputedly contains the bones of the Three Kings who visited the infant Jesus. This gilded shrine was brought to the archbishop of Cologne from Milan by the Holy Roman Emperor Frederick Barbarossa in 1164.

During World War II, the city of Cologne was bombed, causing extensive damage to the cathedral. It is believed pilots didn't want to destroy it completely as it served as a navigational landmark from the air. It was finally restored to its original luster in 1956, and today, visitors can still attend mass in its Gothic nave.

Image credit: cocoparisienne/Pixabay

SCANNING

COLOGNE CATHEDRAL

GERMANY'S GOTHIC SANCTUARY

Construction on Germany's Cologne Cathedral took more than six centuries to complete, beginning in 1248 and ending in 1880. During that time, construction was halted for nearly 300 years but finally continued when the Prussian government commissioned the 19th century architect Ernst Friedrich Zwirner to continue the project in 1842.

Upon its completion, the Cologne Cathedral stood as the globe's tallest building for several years, boasting 157-metre twin spires and the largest facade of any church in the world: its western facade alone is over 60 meters wide.

The cathedral also houses one of Europe's most precious reliquaries: the Shrine of the Magi, which reputedly contains the bones of the Three Kings who visited the infant Jesus. This gilded shrine was brought to the archbishop of Cologne from Milan by the Holy Roman Emperor Frederick Barbarossa in 1164.

During World War II, the city of Cologne was bombed, causing extensive damage to the cathedral. It is believed pilots didn't want to destroy it completely as it served as a navigational landmark from the air. It was finally restored to its original luster in 1956, and today, visitors can still attend mass in its Gothic nave.