Cologne Cathedral: Construction Commencement And Historical Significance

The construction of the Cologne Cathedral, a renowned monument of German Catholicism and Gothic architecture, began in 1248. The cathedral was declared a World Heritage Site in 1996 and is Germany's most visited landmark, attracting an average of 6 million people a year.

Construction began in 1248

Construction of the Cologne Cathedral began in 1248, but it was not the first building on that site. The history of the site goes back to the 4th century when it was first occupied by Christian churches. The immediate predecessor to the cathedral was the Old Cathedral or Hildebold Cathedral, consecrated in 870 or 873.

The construction of the new cathedral in 1248 was prompted by the arrival of the relics of the Three Kings (or Three Wise Men) in 1164. The Archbishop of Cologne, Reinald von Dassel, brought the supposed bones of the Three Kings from Milan to Cologne, elevating the status of the city and turning it into a major pilgrimage site. The modest Old Cathedral was no longer considered adequate, and so a new, Gothic cathedral was planned.

The foundation stone of the new Cologne Cathedral was laid on 15 August 1248 by Archbishop Konrad von Hochstaden. The design of the cathedral was based on northern French models and the latest architectural style: the Gothic style. The master builder, or first master builder, was Master Gerhard, who likely only worked on the project for a few years.

The construction of the new cathedral led to the demolition of the Old Cathedral. However, this process was mishandled, and a fire destroyed not just the intended part of the old structure, but almost the entire cathedral. The Shrine of the Three Kings was saved from the fire. The remaining western parts of the Hildebold Cathedral were temporarily rebuilt to allow for religious services to continue.

The first phase of construction of the new cathedral focused on the eastern arm, which was completed in 1322. Work then began on the western part. However, construction would be interrupted several times over the following centuries due to war, financial difficulties, and a loss of interest in Gothic architecture. The project would not be completed until 1880, 632 years after it began.

It was completed in 1880

Construction of the Cologne Cathedral began in 1248, but it was not completed until 632 years later, in 1880. The long construction time was due to various interruptions, including war and financial difficulties. In fact, the project was halted for around 300 years, from the 16th century until the 19th century, when Prussia annexed the Rhineland and the city of Cologne became part of the Prussian state.

The completion of the cathedral in 1880 was a significant event, celebrated nationally and attended by Emperor Wilhelm I. The cathedral stands at 157 metres (515 feet) tall, and at the time of its completion, it was the tallest building in the world.

The cathedral was built according to the original medieval plan, using modern construction techniques, such as iron roof girders. The nave was completed, and the towers were added, with the bells installed in the 1870s. The completion of Germany's largest cathedral was a testament to the enduring strength of European Christianity and a symbol of German unity and nationhood.

The Cologne Cathedral is a renowned monument of German Catholicism and Gothic architecture, attracting an average of 6 million visitors per year. It was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1996, recognised for its exceptional intrinsic value and the artistic masterpieces it contains.

The cathedral is a Gothic masterpiece

Construction of the Cologne Cathedral, a masterpiece of Gothic architecture, began in 1248. The laying of the foundation stone in that year was presided over by Archbishop Konrad von Hochstaden. The cathedral was designed by Master Gerhard, the first master builder, according to the northern French model and the most modern architectural style of the time: the Gothic style.

The construction of the cathedral took place in several stages over 632 years and was finally completed in 1880. During this period, successive builders were inspired by the same faith and a spirit of absolute fidelity to the original plans. The cathedral is a testament to the enduring strength of European Christianity.

The Cologne Cathedral is the largest Gothic church in northern Europe and features immense twin towers that stand 515 feet (157 metres) tall. The cathedral was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1996 and is Germany's most visited landmark, attracting an average of 6 million people a year.

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 new cathedral was designed in the Gothic style, emulating French church architecture. The choir was consecrated in 1322, but construction continued for several centuries.

The Cologne Cathedral is characterised by its many treasures, including the High Altar, which is made of black marble, and the Shrine of the Three Kings, which is presumed to be the most famous installation. The nave of the cathedral, with a length of about 120 metres, was built over seven centuries in five construction epochs. Despite this, it has a strictly uniform, High Gothic form, and the original plan was so complete that all later master builders stuck to it.

The entire architecture of the Cologne Cathedral is designed to accommodate the largest possible windows. The windows cover an area of about 10,000 square metres, which is approximately the footprint of the building. Of all the great cathedrals, Cologne has the largest window area in proportion to the length of the church. About 1,500 square metres of the window area is preserved from the Middle Ages.

It was inspired by faith and the relics of the Three Kings

Construction of the Cologne Cathedral began in 1248, but its origins lie in the acquisition of the relics of the Three Kings. The Archbishop of Cologne, Reinald von Dassel, brought the supposed bones of the Three Kings (also known as the Three Wise Men or the Biblical Magi) to the city in 1164.

The relics had been discovered by Helena, mother of Emperor Constantine I, in Jerusalem. Helena was an avid collector of holy relics, and she is said to have found the grave of the Three Kings during her search. She brought the remains back to Constantinople (modern-day Istanbul) and gave them to the Milanese Bishop Eustorgius in 314, who transported them to Milan, Italy, in an ox cart.

In 1162, Milan was besieged and fell to von Dassel, who took the relics as spoils of war before returning to Germany. The relics were considered incredibly valuable, and von Dassel described them as "an incomparable treasure, more valuable than all gold and precious stones." To house these important relics, a new cathedral was needed.

The Shrine of the Three Kings was built between 1180 and 1225 by the renowned medieval goldsmith Nicholas of Verdun. The shrine is a large gilded and decorated triple sarcophagus situated above and behind the high altar of Cologne Cathedral. It is considered the high point of Mosan art and is one of the largest reliquaries in the Western world.

The construction of the new Cologne Cathedral began in 1248, and it took over 600 years to complete. The cathedral was designed in the Gothic style, emulating French church architecture. The foundation stone was laid in 1248 by Archbishop Konrad von Hochstaden, and the choir was completed and consecrated in 1322. However, construction was interrupted several times due to war, financial difficulties, and the Reformation, and the cathedral was not finished until 1880.

The relics of the Three Kings are still housed in the Cologne Cathedral, and the cathedral itself is a major attraction for tourists and pilgrims, as well as a renowned monument of German Catholicism and Gothic architecture. It was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1996.

It's Germany's most visited landmark

Construction of the Cologne Cathedral began in 1248, but it is now Germany's most visited landmark, attracting an average of 6 million visitors per year. It is a renowned monument of German Catholicism and Gothic architecture and was declared a World Heritage Site in 1996.

The cathedral is the largest Gothic church in Northern Europe and has the second-tallest spires of any church in the world, after Ulm Minster. Its two huge spires give it the largest façade of any church in the world. The choir has the largest height-to-width ratio, 3.6:1, of any medieval church.

Cologne's medieval builders had planned a grand structure to house the reliquary of the Three Kings and fit for its role as a place of worship for the Holy Roman Emperor. Despite being left incomplete during the medieval period, Cologne Cathedral eventually became unified as "a masterpiece of exceptional intrinsic value" and "a powerful testimony to the strength and persistence of Christian belief in medieval and modern Europe".

The cathedral is a major tourist attraction, with many visitors travelling there as part of a Christian pilgrimage. It covers a considerable amount of ground, towering over its city of roughly 10 million. It is also the tallest twin-spired church in the world and the third tallest church of any kind in the world.

The cathedral's construction was halted in the years around 1560, leaving it unfinished. Attempts to complete the construction began around 1814, but the project was not properly funded until the 1840s. The edifice was finally completed, to the original plan, in 1880.

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