Cologne Cathedral

As we walked up to the largest Gothic cathedral in Germany, the magnificent Cologne Cathedral, we were struck by its size, detail and beauty.   The cathedral is locally referred to as The Dom is a UNESCO World Heritage site.

The cathedral was constructed over a period seven hundred years and was completed in 1880.  The outside is intricate in its detail.  The two soaring spires look over the city of Cologne.  There are 509 stairs to the top of the spires and the view is spectacular.  It was well worth the climb to the top.

Inside the cathedral there are many beautiful stained glass windows.  One dates back to the 1300’s.  Each tells a story, from the Birth of Christ Window to the Epiphany Window.   In a protected glass case is the Shrine of the Magi,  also referred to as the Shrine of the Three Wise Men.  There is a plate on the side that is removable and during the Epiphany, the 6th of January; the Festival of the Magi, the three skulls of the Wise Men with their golden crowns can be viewed through a screen.
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Viewing the lighting of the Cathedral at dusk was awesome.  The lighting starts out yellow at the top and then a green at the lower part of the cathedral. Then the entire cathedral is lit up in a bright yellow.  It was great to be able to see the Cathedral a night in person after seeing so many pictures in brochures.
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​The best way to show this beautiful structure is with pictures…..