Cologne Cathedral: Once The Tallest Building?

Construction of the Cologne Cathedral began in 1248 and was completed in 1880, 632 years later. At 157 metres (515 feet) tall, it was the tallest building in the world for four years until the completion of the Washington Monument in 1884. The cathedral is a renowned monument of German Catholicism and Gothic architecture and was declared a World Heritage Site in 1996.

The tallest building in the world from 1880-1884

From 1880 to 1884, the tallest building in the world was the Cologne Cathedral in Cologne, Germany. The cathedral's construction began in 1248 and was finally completed in 1880, 632 years after construction commenced. The cathedral is a renowned monument of German Catholicism and Gothic architecture and was declared a World Heritage Site in 1996.

The cathedral's height of 157.38 m (516.3 ft) made it the tallest building in the world, a title previously held by Lincoln Cathedral in Lincoln, England, which stood at 160 m (520 ft). However, the spire of Lincoln Cathedral collapsed in 1549, and its previous height was not surpassed for a long time.

Following the completion of the Cologne Cathedral, the title of the tallest building in the world was held by the Washington Monument, which was capped in 1884 and stood at a height of 169 m (554 ft). However, the Washington Monument was soon surpassed by the Eiffel Tower, which was built in 1889 and reached a height of 300 m (980 ft).

The tallest structure in the world before the Washington Monument

The Washington Monument, an obelisk in Washington, D.C., was the tallest structure in the world between 1884 and 1889. Before that, the tallest structures were Lincoln Cathedral (1311-1548) and Cologne Cathedral (1880-1884).

Lincoln Cathedral

Lincoln Cathedral, located in Lincoln, England, was the tallest structure in the world for over two centuries, from 1311 to 1548. At 525 feet (160 metres) tall, it surpassed the height of the Great Pyramid of Giza when its central spire was completed.

Lincoln Cathedral is a Gothic cathedral constructed mainly between 1192 and 1250. It is considered one of the most important Gothic buildings in Europe and is renowned for its architecture, particularly its vaulted ceiling. The cathedral was declared an international treasure during World War II and was the subject of a major restoration project in the 1970s.

Cologne Cathedral

Cologne Cathedral, officially known as Hohe Domkirche Sankt Petrus, is a Catholic cathedral located in Cologne, Germany. It is a renowned monument of German Catholicism and Gothic architecture and was declared a World Heritage Site in 1996.

Construction of Cologne Cathedral began in 1248 but was halted around 1560, leaving the structure unfinished. Attempts to complete the cathedral began around 1814, but proper funding was not secured until the 1840s. The edifice was finally completed according to its original medieval plan in 1880, four years before the construction of the Washington Monument.

Cologne Cathedral stands at 515 feet (157 metres) tall, making it the tallest twin-spired church in the world, the second tallest church in Europe, and the third tallest church of any kind in the world. The cathedral features two huge spires that give it the largest façade of any church globally.

The construction of the Washington Monument, an obelisk honouring George Washington, began in 1848 and was completed in two phases, with a lengthy hiatus due to funding issues and the American Civil War. The monument stands at 554 feet 7 inches (169 metres) tall and was the tallest structure in the world from 1884 to 1889, when it was surpassed by the Eiffel Tower in Paris.

The tallest twin-spired church in the world

At 157 metres (515 feet) tall, the tallest twin-spired church in the world is the Cologne Cathedral in Germany. It is the third-tallest church in the world of any kind and the second-tallest in Europe. It is also the largest Gothic church in Northern Europe and has the second-tallest spires in the world.

The construction of the cathedral began in 1248 but was halted in the years around 1560. Work did not restart until the 1840s, and the edifice was completed to its original medieval plan in 1880. The towers of the church have been the tallest twin towers for religious use, but they will lose this title when a pair of 420-metre Mosque minarets in Mecca are completed.

The cathedral is a renowned monument of German Catholicism and Gothic architecture and was declared a World Heritage Site in 1996. It is Germany's most visited landmark, attracting an average of 6 million people a year.

The site of the cathedral has been occupied by Christian churches since about the 4th century. The choir was consecrated in 1322, but construction continued until 1560. The project then stalled for centuries, with a large wooden crane left standing about 56 metres above the ground, at the top of the south tower. Restoration work began in the 1820s, and in 1842 a new cornerstone was laid by King Frederick William IV of Prussia. The architects Ernst Friedrich Zwirner and Richard Voigtel carried out the enterprise, guided by architectural drawings made in about 1300.

The cathedral was badly damaged by Allied air raids in 1944, but the medieval windows had been removed beforehand. By 1948 the choir had been restored and was in regular use, and the rest of the interior was restored by 1956. In the late 20th century, work began to repair the effects of acid rain on the stonework.

The tallest building in Germany until 1890

The site of the Cologne Cathedral has been occupied by Christian churches since around the 4th century. An older cathedral was destroyed by fire in 1248, and work on the present cathedral began immediately after. The choir was consecrated in 1322, but construction continued until 1560, with some sources stating that it ended in 1520. The project then stalled for centuries, with a large wooden crane left standing some 184 feet (56 metres) above the ground, at the top of the south tower.

In the 1790s, troops of the French Revolution occupied Cologne and used the cathedral as a stable and a hay barn. Restoration work began in the 1820s, spurred on by Sulpiz Boisserée, a German proponent of the Gothic Revival movement. In 1842, a new cornerstone was laid by King Frederick William IV of Prussia, and work to complete the cathedral resumed. The architects Ernst Friedrich Zwirner and Richard Voigtel carried out the enterprise, guided by architectural drawings made in about 1300. Construction finally ended in 1880.

At the time of its completion, the Cologne Cathedral was believed to be the world's tallest structure, a distinction it held until 1884 when the Washington Monument was finished. It continued to be the world's tallest building until it was surpassed by the Ulm Minster in 1890. The cathedral was badly damaged by Allied air raids in 1944, but the medieval windows had been removed beforehand. By 1948, the choir had been restored and was in regular use again, as was the rest of the interior by 1956. In the late 20th century, work began to repair the effects of acid rain on the stonework.

The tallest building in Europe until 1876

Cologne Cathedral, located in Cologne, Germany, is a renowned monument of German Catholicism and Gothic architecture. It is Germany's most visited landmark, attracting an average of 6 million people per year. The cathedral is the tallest twin-spired church in the world, the second tallest church in Europe after Ulm Minster, and the third tallest church of any kind in the world.

The construction of Cologne Cathedral began in 1248 but was halted around 1560, leaving it unfinished for over 300 years. Work resumed in the 19th century, and the edifice was finally completed according to its original medieval plan in 1880, making it the tallest building in the world at the time. The cathedral's height of 157 metres (or 157.38 metres, according to some sources) was unmatched until the completion of the Washington Monument in 1884.

The foundation stone of Cologne Cathedral was laid by Archbishop Konrad von Hochstaden in 1248, and the building was designed according to the northern French model and the Gothic style, the most modern architectural style of the time. The construction process was lengthy and challenging, spanning over 600 years and enduring various interruptions due to war and financial difficulties. Despite these setbacks, the cathedral's completion in 1880 was celebrated as a national event, with Emperor Wilhelm I in attendance.

The cathedral's twin spires give it the largest façade of any church in the world. The interior features the Shrine of the Three Kings, a historical attraction believed to contain the relics of the Biblical Magi. The shrine is shaped like a basilica church, adorned with jewels, enamels, and sculptures.

Cologne Cathedral has endured damage over the years, notably during World War II when it was hit by 14 bombs. However, the building remained standing, even as most of the surrounding area was flattened. Repairs were completed in 1956, and the cathedral continues to undergo constant renovation and maintenance to preserve its structure.

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