Exploring Cologne Cathedral: How Long Should You Plan?

The Cologne Cathedral is one of the largest churches in the world, and it took more than 600 years to build. The cathedral is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is considered one of the most important landmarks in Germany. It is also home to the Shrine of the Three Wise Men, a golden reliquary alleged to hold relics from the biblical Magi. The cathedral is open daily from 6:00 am to 8:00 pm, and tourists can visit between 10:00 am and 5:00 pm on weekdays and between 1:00 pm and 4:00 pm on Sundays. Depending on the crowds, visitors typically spend one to two hours at the cathedral. If you plan to climb the 533 steps to the top of the tower, you should plan for an additional 30 to 45 minutes.

Climbing the South Tower

The entrance to the tower is outside the main cathedral, around the side of the building, where you'll also find the ticket office. The climb starts at a separate access structure on the side of the cathedral. The route up is on the right-hand side of the stairs, and the descent is on the left. It can get tight when you encounter people coming down, as the steps are sometimes narrow and slippery.

About halfway up, you'll pass St. Peter's Bell, also known as "decker Pitter" ("fat Peter") by the people of Cologne. Cast in 1923, it weighed 24,000 kilograms with a diameter of 3.22 metres, making it the largest bell in the world swinging on a straight yoke until 2016. Take a short break here to learn about its history and admire the view.

Once you reach the observation deck, you'll be rewarded with panoramic views of the city centre of Cologne and the Rhine. On a clear day, you can even see the Siebengebirge. Take your time at the top to enjoy the view, as the platform can get crowded. The descent can be dizzying, as you'll be retracing the same spiral staircase.

The South Tower is open to visitors from 10:00 to 20:00 (8 pm). The last entry is 30 minutes before closing. The climb costs €6 for adults and €3 for concessions, with family tickets available for €12.

Visiting the Treasury

The Cologne Cathedral Treasury is the largest in Germany and is said to be the richest. It is located in the basement of the cathedral and can be accessed through a small door at the left corner of the cathedral once you reach the podium inside. The treasury is open to visitors all year round, from 10:00 to 18:00, with an entrance fee of €5 per adult and €10 for a family ticket.

The treasury contains a rich collection of relics and artefacts from the Middle Ages, including liturgical vestments, manuscripts, chalices, insignia of archbishops and cathedral clergy from the 4th to the 20th century, and early examples of Christian art, some over 1000 years old. The objects on display are still used for ecclesiastical purposes and are not simply museum pieces.

One of the most famous items in the treasury is the Shrine of the Three Kings, a golden reliquary attributed to Nicholas of Verdun. The shrine is said to contain the bones of the Biblical Magi, or Three Wise Men, and is the largest reliquary in the Western world. Other notable items include the legendary crosier of St Peter (10th-16th centuries), the Shrine of the Cross of Cologne (an early 12th-century Byzantine triptych containing a fragment of the True Cross), and one of the finest surviving Late Gothic monstrances, made in Cologne around 1400.

The treasury also contains some outstanding medieval illuminated manuscripts, such as the Limburg Gospels from Reichenau.

Viewing the stained glass windows

The Cologne Cathedral contains over 20,000 square feet of stained glass windows, which were crafted over nearly eight centuries. The medieval windows were removed before the Allied air raids of 1944, which is why they still stand today.

The oldest window in the cathedral is the famous 13th-century Bible Window, believed to be the earliest stained-glass window in Germany. The Window of the Nativity and the Window of St. Peter and the Tree of Jesse date back to 1507 and 1509, respectively. Several other windows date back to the mid to late 1800s.

The Cathedral's original windows were destroyed in World War II and replaced in 1948 by a simple ornamental glazing that was in need of restoration. In 2003, the cathedral chapter decided to have the window renewed, and the new window was inaugurated in 2007. The new window, designed by Cologne artist Gerhard Richter, covers a surface area of 106 square metres and consists of 11,263 glass squares in 72 colours.

The clerestory windows in the choir of the cathedral contain the largest series of stained glass windows still extant from the fourteenth century in Europe. Ninety-five per cent of the glass is original.

Admiring the Shrine of the Three Kings

The Shrine of the Three Kings, also known as the Dreikönigsschrein or Der Dreikönigenschrein in German, is a key highlight of the Cologne Cathedral. This magnificent shrine is believed to contain the bones of the Biblical Magi, or the Three Wise Men, who visited the baby Jesus after his birth. It is a gilded sarcophagus adorned with gold and silver, as well as an array of jewels dating back to the early 13th century. With its impressive size of 153 cm (5 ft) in height, 220 cm (7.2 ft) in length, and 110 cm (3.6 ft) in width, it stands as the largest reliquary in the Western world.

The shrine's history is deeply intertwined with the development of the city of Cologne. The relics of the Three Kings were first brought to the city by Archbishop Rainald von Dassel in 1164, gifted to him by Holy Roman Emperor Frederick Barbarossa. The construction of the present-day Cologne Cathedral commenced in 1248 to house these important relics properly, and it took over six centuries to complete, finally finishing in 1880.

The shrine itself was crafted between 1180 and 1225 by renowned medieval goldsmith Nicholas of Verdun. It showcases intricate decorations that depict the stories of the Three Magi, the Virgin Mary, and the life of Christ. The shrine features 74 high-relief figures in silver-gilt, excluding smaller additional figures in the background. The sides are adorned with images of prophets, apostles, and evangelists, all identified by their inscriptions. The shrine is encircled by offertory candles and twenty-four lamps, with a grand chandelier hanging above, symbolising the Heavenly Jerusalem.

On July 20, 1864, the shrine was opened, revealing human remains and coins from the time of Archbishop Philip I. The relics were inspected, and the bones were subsequently returned to the shrine. This event further solidified the shrine's significance, attracting a constant stream of pilgrims to Cologne.

When visiting the Cologne Cathedral, you can find the Shrine of the Three Kings situated above and behind the high altar. Its intricate details, artistic mastery, and historical significance make it a true masterpiece worth admiring and exploring.

Attending a Mass

Cologne Cathedral is a Catholic Church and the seat of the Archbishop of Cologne. It is also Germany's most visited landmark, attracting an average of 6 million people a year. As such, Masses are held several times a day to accommodate the many worshippers and visitors who pass through its doors.

On working days (Monday to Saturday), Masses are held at 6:30 a.m., 7:15 a.m., 8:00 a.m., 9:00 a.m., and 6:30 p.m. Devotion takes place from Monday to Friday at 6:00 p.m. On Sundays, Masses are held at 7:00 a.m., 8:30 a.m., 10:00 a.m., 12:00 midday, 5:00 p.m., and 7:00 p.m. The Divine Office is held at 6:00 p.m. on Sundays.

The first Sunday of every month sees a Chapter Mass celebrated in Latin to accommodate the many Catholics who visit the cathedral and whose native language is not German. The High Mass at 10:00 a.m. is partially conducted in Latin, allowing Mass-goers of all languages to pray together.

The cathedral is open daily from 6:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., but these hours may change to accommodate Masses, so it is recommended that visitors check the up-to-date Mass times before their visit.

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