Page 408 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Germany

406  WESTERN GERM AN Y C OL OGNE (K Ö LN)  407

Cologne Cathedral (Kölner Dom) . Gothic Stalls VISITORS’ CHECKLIST
The massive oak
The most famous Gothic structure in Germany, Pinnacles stalls, built in 1308–11, Practical Information
were the largest that
the Kölner Dom is also unusually complex, Elaborately have ever been made Cathedral: Open May–Oct: 6am–
decorated
whether in terms of its splendour, its size pinnacles top in Germany. 9pm; Nov–Apr: 6am–7.30pm.
Treasury: Domkloster 4. Tel (0221)
or even simply the date of its construction. the supporting 17 94 05 30. Open 10am–6pm
The foundation stone was laid on 15 August pillars. daily. 8 & Viewing platform:
1248, the presbytery consecrated in 1322. Open Jan, Feb & Nov, Dec: 9am–
The cathedral was built gradually until 4pm; Mar, Apr & Oct: 9am–5pm;
May–Sep: 9am–6pm. & Organ
around 1520. It then remained unfinished recitals: Jun–Aug: 8pm Tue.
until the 19th century, when Romanticists Exhibition of Rubens tapestries:
revived interest in it. The building Whit Sunday until Corpus Christi.
was finally completed in 1842–80,
according to the rediscovered,
original Gothic designs.

High Altar
The Gothic altar slab, which dates back
to the consecration of the presbytery,
depicts the Coronation of the Virgin Mary,
flanked by the 12 apostles.

. Shrine of the Three Kings
This huge Romanesque
reliquary was made by
Nikolaus von Verdun in
1190–1220, to hold the
Cathedral Interior relics of the Three Kings,
The presbytery, the ambulatory and which were brought to
the chapels retain a large number Cologne in 1164 for
of Gothic, mainly early-14th-century, Emperor Friedrich I
stained-glass windows.
Barbarossa. It is
decorated with
scenes from the
KEY Salvation History.
1 Petrusportal, or the portal of
St Peter, the only one built in the
second half of the 14th century,
has five Gothic figures.
2 Buttresses support the entire
bulk of the cathedral.
Main
3 Semicircular arches transfer entrance
the thrust of the vaults onto
the buttresses.
4 The contemporary German Mailänder
artist Gerhard Richter created an Madonna
abstract stained-glass collage in 2007. This fine early-Gothic
carving of the Milan
Madonna and
Engelbert Reliquary (around1630) Child dates from
The cathedral treasury is famous for its large . Altar of the Magi around 1290. It is
collection of golden objects, vestments and This splendid altar (around 1442), the work of Stephan Lochner, currently displayed
the fine ornamentation of its liturgical books. is dedicated to the Three Kings, the patrons of Cologne. in the Marienkapelle.
For hotels and restaurants in this area see pp500–501 and pp526–9

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