Page 72 - DK Eyewitness Travel Guides - The World's Must-See Places

70 Cologne Cathedral

The history of Germany's greatest Gothic cathedral (Gothic Style, see
p.54) is unusually long and complicated. The foundation stone of the
present cathedral was laid on August 15, 1248, and the presbytery
consecrated in 1322. The cathedral was built gradually until around
1520, but remained unfinished until the 19th century. The building
was finally completed in 1842-80, according to the rediscovered,
orig ina I Gothic designs. Once the wo rid's ta I lest building, Cologne
Cathedral still boasts the world's largest church fa<;ade.

-<View of the
cathedral from
the Rhine River
EARLIER CHURCHES

Several churches had come and gone on
the site by the time the first cathedral was
completed in 870. Today's larger Gothic
cathedra I became necessary because of
the number of pilgrims wanting to see the
Shrine of the Three Kings.

-<Pinnacles A Shrine of the Three Kings
This huge Romanesque reliquary
-< Gothic Stalls was made by Nikolaus von Verdun
The massive oak stalls, built in in 1181-1220 to hold the relics of
1308-11, were the largest that had the Three Kings. The relics, acquired
ever been made in Germany. by the cathedral in the 12th century,
put Cologne on the pilgrimage map.

-< Mailander Madonna
r This fine early-Gothic
carving of the Mi I an
Madonna and Child dates
from around 1290. It is
currently displayed in
the Marienkapelle.

-< High AI tar
The Gothic a I tar slab, which
dates back to the consecration
of the presbytery, depicts the
Coronation of the Virgin Mary,
flanked by the 12 Apos ties.

KEY DATES
1248 1265 c.1530 1794 1801 1842-80 1996
Work begins on a The outer walls 11\brk on the cathedral French troops use The cathedral is Building work Cologne cathedral
new cathedral to of the choir and halts w~h the south the cathedral as a reconsecrated and the recommences and the becomes a UNESCO
house the relics of adjacent chapels tOV\Ier 190 ft (58 m) warehouse and stables c~y'scitizens demand cathedral is finished World Heritage Site. entrance
the Three Kings. are completed. in height during the French that it is completed. according to the
Re>JOiutionary 'Mlrs. medieval plans.