Cologne Cathedral

The Cologne Cathedral stands 157 metres tall, making it the tallest Roman Catholic cathedral in the world. Its purpose was to house the treasured Shrine of the Three Holy Kings, which it does to this day. It has dominated the skyline of Cologne and is the pride of the people ever since its completion in 1880.The Cologne Cathedral is one of the largest churches in the world and Germany's most visited landmark with approximately 20,000 visitors each day. It is also a World Heritage Site.Once you enter the cathedral, walk down the centre aisle then look up to see one of the tallest Gothic vaults known to man. Marvel at the arresting stained glass windows, 5 of which were gifted to the church by King Ludwig I of Bavaria. In 2007, German artist Gerhard Richter designed a 20-metre stained glass window based on a modern interpretation of the original medieval style.As you near the High Altar you will see the shrine for which the cathedral was built. An impressive example of medieval gold craftsmanship and decorated with jewels, the sarcophagus houses the mortal remains of the "Three Wise Men". It is said to be the largest, most extravagant shrine in the Western world.There are a multitude of ancient religious artefacts to admire. Next to the sacristy you will see the Gero-Kreuz. This is the oldest surviving crucifix monument in Northern Europe. A 13th-century wooden sculpture of the Virgin Mary with infant Jesus, known as the Milan Madonna, can be found in the Sacrament Chapel. If you visit the Treasure Chamber you will find an array of ancient relics dating back as far as the 4th century.There is the school of thought that believes the Cologne Cathedral is a miracle in itself as it survived bomb attacks from allied forces throughout WW II, despite the rest of central Cologne suffering considerable damage. Another opinion is of course that the giant towers were a navigational point of reference for pilots and was therefore left alone.Entrance to the main hall is free of charge however there is a small fee to enter the Treasury Chamber and Cathedral Tower. Centrally located, the cathedral is next to Cologne's main train station. Take the U-Bahn to the station Dom/Hauptbahnhof and you will find a pay-as-you-go parking facility nearby.