Kölner Dom

An absolutely gorgeous cathedral that words cannot do justice. It’s amazing presence is visible as you drive into the city. The sheer size of the dom is unbelievable and exceptionally difficult to catch on camera – I visited in December, and amidst a day of continuous rain, no matter how far I walked back I was unable to capture the entire dom.

The interior is breathtaking, I advise taking the time to look around. Each section of the dom has its own beauty, from the images depicted in the stained glass windows, to the pictures depicting various stories, the statues and don’t forget to look at the ceiling and the floor – again beautiful and not to be missed!

First thing you see when you exit the Hauptbahnhof is this huge stunning cathedral. Very nice and compelling!!

WAHNSINNIG IMPOSANT! Muss himmlisch ausgesehen haben, in diesem hellen Stein, welcher ständig nach-restauriert werden muß

One of the most beautiful Churches all over the world. The main attraction in cologne u have must seen.

Don’t forget, no caps or hats inside, otherwise will catch and inform u one of the ‘Domschweizer’ the church supervision.

OK - the tourist guide says "you have to visit the cathedral". And you have to.

Yep: it's great, it's overwhelming, it's a superlative. But apart from the things you see, it's worth to get to know and explore the things you don't see. For example:

1. Greatest steel construction of its time: Enquire with the cologne tourism agency about tours of the roof construction of the cathedral. Before the Eiffel Tower has been built in 1889, the cathedral's roof construction was the greatest steel installation in the world. It's worth seeing it.
2. Muslims welcome: In the 1960s, 400 Muslims have been admitted to one of the aisles to lay their prayer mats down for celebrating the end of Ramadan. "No big deal", as the cathedral's chapter uttered. "In history of the cathedral, it has always been normal to provide space for people with other beliefs".
3. Big church, small community: Take some time to have a look around the surrounding community of the cathedral. It is actually the formal church for the community - that means for only about 300 people living in direct vicinity of the cathedral!
4. Does the Vatican own the cathedral? - No, it doesn't. And even the Pope has, formally speaking, nothing to say inside the cathedral. In accordance with the land register of cologne, the cathedral is owned by the "Hohe Domkirche (vertreten durch das Metropolitankapitel) zu Köln" (High church of Cologne, represented by the metropolitan chapter). The metropolitan chapter is the representative of the German episcopal churches and has got 112 elected members. The chapter represents the Cologne cathedral legally and retains domiciliary rights. That means that neither Cologne's lord mayor, nor the vatican, or the bishop have the power to decide about what's going on inside the cathedral. That led, for example, to the funny situation that the grand window by the German artist Gerhard Richter was installed in 2007 although the bishop opposed expressively. If the bishop had been in power in Bamberg, Munich, or Speyer, he could have intervened. Not in Cologne.

Visiting Cologne means to explore the Cologne cathedral for most of the visitors. The "Kölner Dom" as the impressive building is called in germany has been built between 1248 and the mid 18th century. For me it was always a sign that buildings, especially churchs, under construction like the Sagrada Familia in Barcelona will be finalised one day. To whom belongs the cathedral ? To nobody but the people of Cologne ! The catholic church uses the cathedral for it´s services but has never been willing to pay for maintenance. The craftsmen who maintain the church work in the so called "Dombauhütte" and are reporting since three years to a lady - first time this happens in the Dom´s history. The Dombauhütte is financed through donations and a lottery - no further support has been delivered neither through the wealthy catholic church nor through the city of Cologne. A lot of sayings and stories were built around the Dom´s history which are worth to be studied when staying in the city. If you look carefully for the stone figures outside of the Dom´s building you can find some nice surprises: Is it the first chief constructor Gerhard (see front portal next to the right entrance) who fell to death from the Dom´s scaffold after a lost bet with the devil or is it the cologne "Geissbock" (located next to the Dombauhütte)- the mascot of the local football club 1.FC Köln. The church is still used for catholic services but it is getting harder and harder to find a momentum of silence when thousands of tourists steadily walk through the scenery. The special position of religion and faith is a Cologne topic since hundreds of years - in the city´s history the battle for might between the bishops and the citizens only came to an end when the french under Napoleon entered the city around 1800. He did not only bring useful things like garbage collection and duty for registration to the city, he began to number and cartograph the city as well. For this reason the city´s perfume, "Kölnisch Wasser" is wearing the addition 4711 to it´s name because it was brewed in a house named 4711 following the french order. Coming back to the cathedral it is today the start- and end point to many city tours due to it´s central location at the city´s main rail terminal. The black sand stone the Dom is made of came mainly from an area only 20 kilometres away from Cologne, the Siebengebirge near Bonn. Today other stones from across Europe were used to recosntruct parts of the Dom because the original stone is to soft to constantly resist against pollution and weather conditions - consequently the colour may vary from a dark black to a light beige. Like every church there is one pair of hawks - but only one situated between the towers of the cathedral. They find their quarries amongst thousand of doves living in the city centre threatening the older buildings due to their aggressive excrements. The outstanding meaning that the cathedral has for the western part of the country is demonstrated as it was chosen for the representation of Northrhine Westfalia on the backside of the 2 € - coin. Many stories more to tell about the place, come to hear and come to see.

You can't argue with a building as imposing as Koln cathedral. The wow factor, on seeing it for the first time, is definitely still there, even though I first saw it 10 years ago. I wish I could remember that first impression. I must have been gobsmacked.

Even if this edifice wasn't linked to some amazing life memories, I still think it would be worth 5 stars! Marks for effort too, as it took over 600 years to finally be completed! Took 70 hits in the war without being destroyed too because it was built in a time when things were meant to last!

I was surprised to find out that it was Germany’s number 1 tourist attraction though. Not that it isn’t amazing, but I always assumed that more people went to Berlin, so an attraction there would be number 1. Then again Cologne is quicker and easier to get to from most of Europe, especially with the Eurostar now.

it´s great

Impressive!

It was in Summer 99 as my French Gf n I saw this Cathedral at the first time- n both of us were impressed and wanted to see the interior of this Catholic Temple and were tempted to go up high admiring the city.

I know some people who even climb up to the tower and over bear his/her Height phobia just to show off how much he/she sacrifice for him/her - as cheap as the idea of my son so that he could fly down his paper planes from the Tower of Bern Cathedral, rite? :p That was the reason why I didnt join my 2 male accompany as I revisited Cologne' Cathedral 2 years later as they insisted to take some pix on one of the towers.

Parking was nice and easy near the cathedral. Amazing place. Second time I’ve been. First time was during a foreign exchange and didn’t go inside the cathedral. Second time was during a holiday and went inside and climbed to the top of the tower. Quite exhausting but a fantastic view from the top.

After arriving in Koln/Cologne via the central train station as you emerge from the station I was struck with amazement and awe.

What an awesome cathedral. It is enormous. It is the largest Gothic cathedral in Northern Europe. There is no way to get a clear picture of this architectural masterpiece standing in front.
I tried and no matter how far I walked backward I could only photograph pieces.

Your best bet is to purchase postcards from the variety of souvenir shops that circle this beauty.

What a nice work they did there! I visited the Dom earlier this summer and was really surpirsed by it, I knew that it was one of the tallest Churches/Cathedrals of Europe but I didn’t know that it would be so beautiful inside and filled with treasures.

Actually it was here that plenty of the Vatican treasures were moved by one of the popes, since this was one of the biggest religious centres in the whole world. I was amazed to see there the Ark of the Magi, f you enter the church and go straight to the end you will see loads of people surrounding something, a golden coffin, that is the Ark! And it is amazing to be there and actually see it.

The cathedral itself is free and a very good experience, but if you go around the front through the left side (the way of the train station) you will find that there is a museum there (to be honest I don’t remember how much it was but it wasn’t that expensive), go in! If you are into history or if you like to be there where all the good stuff is you won’t regret it! You can find there the “real” shackles of St. Peter, bones from famous saints among many many treasures, like the Inside of the Ark of the Magi, the wooden part. And what really amazed me there was a cross, a beautiful cross that you could see miles away, when you come closer you will notice that the glass/crystal parts of it are shattered, this happened when a group of felons tried to steal it from the museum, I don’t know if they dropped it or if it got shot but it was an experience like if you were there when that happened. And I couldn’t stop but wonder who in the world could steal that? And I ask that in terms of dignity and in terms of expertise, cause that museum is well guarded, each room as an almost half a meter worth of safe doors. The museum is quite modern and it comprises of 3 underground floors.

At the front of the Cathedral you will find a real size example of the floret that sits right at the top of this majestic building and then you will have an idea of how big it really is! You can’t almost see the building in one go, you have to stand really far away to see it properly.

I went to Cologne just for the Cathedral (and some pretzels), if you are near go there! I highly recommend it!

I would like to join the list of the reporters about the most beautiful cathedral of cologne!

I, as a non-catholic, am still impressed every time I pass it. The effect it has on me is always a very impressive one.
I love to get up to the very top to enjoy the view over Cologne, though the stairs seem to be never-ending. It is advantageous that the buildings of Cologne are not very high, therefore the view is very extensive!

As an inhabitant of Cologne i am proud to have a world-known symbol in Cologne!

Very beautifull.
I was there with my big friend Daniel Hoff, and I stay a very good time in Koln, the Kölner Dom was one of the places I visited.

It’s a Cathedral and like many others are always nice to see and to observe.