Cologne Cathedral

The most famous architectural monument, which belongs to Germany, is located on Cathedral Hill, in the middle of Cologne. This most beautiful Cologne Cathedral is a world-class landmark of the country, which belongs to the UNESCO lists.

The view of this building is simply breathtaking, because its height reaches 157 meters in height. This medieval building is a symbol of Cologne and is simply stunning in its grandeur. Not a single photograph can convey the grandeur that this famous sacred building represents.

According to legend, Cologne Cathedral exists thanks to the devil himself. A local architect named Gerhard was unable to bring this model of the cathedral to life and turned to the devil himself for help. He, in turn, set conditions that he would help the architect, but in exchange for his soul. The architect's wife, who happened to be a casual witness to the conversation, decided to save him, and at dawn, when the deal was about to take place, she beat her lover to it and gave her soul to the devil in exchange for the drawings. But, considering that the agreement was violated, the devil said that the city itself would develop until the construction of the Cologne Cathedral was completed.

By the way, when almost the entire city was destroyed during World War II, Cologne Cathedral survived. It served as a reference point for military bomber pilots.

The first cathedral, which was located on this site, was erected around 313 at the time of the introduction of the Christian faith in Europe. The second cathedral here, which was known as the "Old Cathedral," burned down without leaving a trace. It was only in 1248 that the construction of this modern landmark began on this territory, which is a Gothic masterpiece. All the builders who undertook this construction adhered to the original layout.

In 1164, the remains of the holy priests from the Milan shrines were sent to the Cologne Cathedral, and the cathedral itself served as their sarcophagus. Thanks to this, Cologne has gained a high status in Christianity.

Construction was suspended for a fairly long period of time and resumed only at the beginning of the 19th century. In 1880, the whole of Germany celebrated the completion of the great construction of the majestic cathedral, which was visited by William I.

But this grandiose structure constantly requires investments. Approximately 10 million euros are spent annually to support it.

This Cologne cathedral preserves the shrines, which include the relics of the Magi, which are housed in a casket with gilding and precious stones. There are also chapels here, which are luxuriously decorated. The Cathedral of Cologne houses the crucifixion of Christ, which was presented as a gift by Archbishop Hero, the Milanese Madonna, and the statue of St. Christopher. The highest point of the cathedral can be reached by climbing 509 steps.

Cologne Cathedral in Germany is very popular among tourists, as it is visited by about 20,000 guests every year.