Page 536 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Europe

534  GERM AN Y , A USTRIA , AND SWITZERLAND

Cologne Cathedral Cathedral
Exterior
The history of Germany’s greatest Gothic Built out of
cathedral is long and complicated. The porous sandstone,
the facade is
foundation stone was laid on August 15, susceptible to
1248, the chancel was consecrated in 1322, environmental
and building work continued until about impurities, such
1520. The cathedral then stood unfinished as traffic fumes.
until the 19th century, when the original
Gothic designs were rediscovered. It was
finally completed in 1842–80. Precious
works of art include the fabulous Shrine
of the Three Kings, the Altar of the
Magi, and an early-Gothic carving of
the Virgin Mary (c.1290) known as
the Mailänder (Milanese) Madonna.

Cathedral Interior
The chancel, the ambulatory,
and the chapels retain a large
number of Gothic, mainly
early 14th-century, stained-
glass windows.

KEY
1 The Petrusportal is the only
entrance built in the Middle Ages.
Of the figures flanking the doorway,
five were original Gothic statues, but
these have been replaced by copies. Main
2 Buttresses support the entire entrance
bulk of the cathedral.
3 Elaborately decorated pinnacles
top the supporting pillars.
4 The north tower, at 157.38 m
(516 ft), is slightly higher than the
south tower.

Englebert Reliquary (c.1630)
The treasury on the north side of the cathedral is famous
for its large collection of gold objects, vestments, and
the beautifully decorated liturgical books.
For hotels and restaurants see pp546–8 and pp549–51

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