Heidi Norton
Cologne Cathedral is a Roman Catholic cathedral in the centre of Cologne, Germany. It is open daily and visitors can enter for free. However, there are different opening times for the cathedral and its tower, and visitors are expected to respect worshippers during services. The cathedral is a renowned monument of German Catholicism and Gothic architecture and was declared a World Heritage Site in 1996.
What You'll Learn
Opening times
Cologne Cathedral is open all year round, with different opening times for the summer and winter months. From May to October, the cathedral is open from 6 am until 9 pm. In the winter months, from November to April, it closes earlier at 7:30 pm. On Sundays and public holidays, the cathedral is open from 1 pm until 4:30 pm.
The cathedral is free to visit and is open every day of the week. However, visitors are expected to respect worshippers during services and remain silent inside the cathedral. There is no entry during services and special events.
If you wish to climb the tower, you will need to pay a small fee. The tower is open daily from 9 am, closing between 4 pm and 6 pm, depending on the time of year. The exact times for the tower are as follows:
- January-February: 9 am-4 pm
- March-April: 9 am-5 pm
- May-September: 9 am-6 pm
- October: 9 am-5 pm
- November-December: 9 am-4 pm
A combined ticket to the tower and the treasure chamber is also available, costing 6 euros per adult. Guided tours are available in English from Monday to Saturday between 10 am and 2:30 pm, and on Sundays and holidays at 2:30 pm. The ticket cost for English guided tours is 7 euros for adults and 5 euros for children and students.
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Entry fees
Entry to the Cologne Cathedral is free, but there are fees for certain other areas.
The Cathedral is open daily from 6 am to 7.30 pm between November and April, and from 6 am to 9 pm between May and October. On Sundays and holidays, the Cathedral is open from 1 pm to 4.30 pm.
The Cathedral's tower has an admission fee of 3 euros. The tower is open daily from 9 am, closing between 4 pm and 6 pm, depending on the time of year.
A combined ticket to the Cathedral's treasure chamber and tower is available for 6 euros per adult. Guided tours are also available in English, costing 7 euros for adults and 5 euros for children and students.
The Cathedral's treasury can be visited for a small fee (as of 2023, 6 euros full-price and 3 euros for concessions).
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Visiting the tower
The tower of Cologne Cathedral is open to visitors, who can climb the 533 steps to the top of the South Tower for a small fee of €3. The climb takes you past the bell chamber, where you can see the cathedral's eight bells, including the largest freely swinging church bell in the world, St. Peter's Bell, which weighs 24 tonnes. The tower offers impressive views of the city and the Rhine from a height of approximately 100 metres. The opening hours for the tower are 9 am until 4 pm or 6 pm, depending on the time of year.
A combined ticket for the tower and the treasure chamber is also available for €6 per adult. The treasure chamber is located in the Medieval sacristan crypt and houses a collection of church treasures, including holy relics, liturgical items, textiles, and artworks made from gold, silver, bronze, and ivory.
Guided tours of the cathedral are available in English, costing €7 for adults and €5 for children and students. These run from Monday to Saturday between 10 am and 2:30 pm, and on Sundays and holidays at 2:30 pm.
The cathedral is open daily from 6 am until 7:30 pm (November to April) and 6 am until 9 pm (May to October). On Sundays and public holidays, the opening hours are 1 pm until 4:30 pm. It is free to enter the cathedral, but visitors are expected to respect worshippers during services.
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The cathedral's history
The history of Cologne Cathedral is a long and fascinating one. The site has been occupied by Christian churches since the 4th century, with the current building dating back to the 13th century.
The story of the cathedral as it stands today began in 1164, when the Archbishop of Cologne, Reinald von Dassel, brought the supposed bones of the Three Wise Men to the city from Milan. This elevated the status of the cathedral, and a shrine was built to house the relics between 1190 and 1225. The shrine, a masterpiece of medieval goldwork, is considered one of the most sophisticated goldsmith's works of the Middle Ages.
The foundation stone of the new Gothic cathedral was laid on 15 August 1248, with construction beginning around the same time. The original building, known as the Old Cathedral, was destroyed by fire in the same year. The new cathedral was designed in the Gothic style, emulating French church architecture. The first master builder was Master Gerhard, who worked on the planning and ground plan. The cathedral was designed according to the northern French model and the most modern architectural style of the time.
Construction of the cathedral continued for centuries, with many interruptions due to war and financial difficulties. The choir was completed in the 14th century, and the foundation for the south tower was laid in 1360. The two bells, Pretiosa and Speciosa, were cast in 1448/49 and are still part of the cathedral's bell set. Work continued on the transept, side aisles, and north tower in the later 15th century.
In the 16th century, construction was halted due to the Reformation and the Thirty Years' War. The project stalled for over 300 years, and the city's panorama was dominated by the incomplete south tower with a large wooden crane standing some 184 feet above the ground.
Interest in completing the cathedral was reawakened in the 19th century by supporters of the German Romantic movement and their enthusiasm for the Middle Ages. King Friedrich Wilhelm IV laid a new cornerstone in 1842, and work resumed in earnest under the direction of architects Ernst Friedrich Zwirner and Richard Voigtel. The cathedral was finally completed in 1880, 632 years after construction began.
At the time of its completion, the Cologne Cathedral was the tallest building in the world, standing at 157 metres. It held this distinction until 1884 when the Washington Monument was completed. The cathedral suffered extensive damage during World War II but remained standing, and repairs were completed by 1956.
Today, the Cologne Cathedral is a renowned monument of German Catholicism and Gothic architecture, attracting around 6 million visitors a year. It is Germany's most-visited landmark and was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1996.
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Architectural features
Cologne Cathedral is a Gothic masterpiece, renowned for its medieval architecture and artistic masterpieces. The building is a testament to the enduring strength of European Christianity.
The cathedral is a five-aisled basilica, with a projecting transept and a tower façade. The nave is 43.58 m high, with side aisles reaching 19.80 m. The western section, nave and transept were started in 1330, with a slight change in style, but this is not noticeable in the overall building. The 19th-century work faithfully follows the medieval forms and techniques, as can be seen when compared to the original medieval plan on parchment.
The original liturgical appointments of the choir are still largely intact. These include the high altar, made from an enormous monolithic slab of black limestone, believed to be the largest in any Christian church; the carved oak choir stalls (1308-11); the painted choir screens (1332-40); the fourteen statues on the pillars in the choir (c. 1300); and the great cycle of stained-glass windows, the largest cycle of early 14th-century windows in Europe.
The cathedral also features the Medieval statue of St. Christopher, the shrine of the Three Kings, the crucifix of Bishop Gero, the oldest known large crucifix, and five stained glass windows that were given by Ludwig I of Bavaria.
The cathedral's towers give it the largest façade of any church in the world. The towers for its two huge spires stand 515 feet (157 metres) tall, making it the tallest twin-spired church in the world.
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Frequently asked questions
The cathedral is open daily from 6 am to 8 pm. Tourists can visit the cathedral as a World Heritage Site generally between 10 am and 5 pm on weekdays, 1 pm and 4 pm on Sundays, and until 8 pm in the tower hall after evening mass.
Entry to the cathedral is free. However, there is an admission fee to access the Cathedral Treasury and the Tower. A Combination ticket for both areas is also available.
Cologne Cathedral has a specific dress code that must be adhered to. Only small bags and rucksacks (maximum A4 size) are allowed inside. Visitors should also be prepared for identity checks by cathedral staff.
