Visiting the famous Cologne Cathedral
I’m standing in a crowded train, on my way back to the Netherlands. So I won’t write a long story but I do have some pictures for you.
This afternoon, I was in the largest city in western Germany, Cologne, which is best known for the famous Cologne Cathedral that holds the shrine of The Three Wise Men, a holy relic brought by Archbishop Rainald von Dassel back in the mid-12th century. Because of these relics, the cathedral became one of the most important places of pilgrimage in Europe.
The impressive cathedral covers almost 8,000 square meters of floor space and can hold more than 20,000 people. The Gothic cathedral features the second-tallest spires in Northern Europe; on the crowded square, I could only capture the full cathedral in a wide-angle photo that looks steeply upwards (and I know: the man on the right didn’t do any funny walks)
Fun fact: at 157.38 meters, the northern tower is 7cm taller than the southern one.
Due to the building’s impressive Gothic architecture, the shrine of the Three Wise Men, the outstanding stained-glass windows and the many other important works of art, UNESCO declared Cologne Cathedral a World Heritage Site in 1996.
The interior shot with the sky blue details was extraordinary. I love cathedrals, my favorite is Sainte-Chapelle and of course Notre Dame (will definitely plan a trip when the restoration is complete). Cathedrals are so rich with history. Even thought I’m not catholic and have non-traditional views about just everything, I feel safe & protected in cathedrals.
What an incredible afternoon you had!
Seeing this magnificent structure through your eyes is beautiful to behold.
So much history, wonderful sacred relics and artifacts with treasured meaning. I can only imagine the experience. It would be so much to take in. The breathtaking architecture challenges the eyes to appreciate each detail inside and out. Holy statues throughout and the stained glass is sublime. But The Shrine of The Three Wise Men takes my breath away. It’s stunning!
Thank you so much for sharing this, I love it.