Cologne Cathedral: Master Builders And Their Legacy

The Cologne Cathedral, also known as the Kölner Dom, is a Gothic cathedral located in Cologne, Germany. Construction began in 1248 but was halted around 1560 due to a loss of funding and interest in Gothic architecture. The project was restarted in the 1840s, and the cathedral was finally completed in 1880. The original design was made by stonemason Gerhard of Reil, who took inspiration from other European cathedrals. When the building resumed in 1842, architects Ernst Friedrich Zwirner and Richard Voigtel took ownership of the process, carefully adhering to the original plans.

The cathedral's long construction history

The construction of the Cologne Cathedral began in 1248 but was halted in the years around 1560, left unfinished. The original structure was designed by Master Gerhard, the first master builder of the cathedral, who worked on the planning and ground plan. The foundation stone was laid by Archbishop Konrad von Hochstaden. The cathedral was designed according to the northern French model and the most modern architectural style of the time: the Gothic style.

Work on the cathedral continued in the following decades, although there were repeated interruptions due to war and financial difficulties. Construction of the choir was completed in the 14th century, and the foundation for the south tower was laid in 1360. In 1448/49, the two bells Pretiosa and Speciosa were cast, which are still part of the cathedral's set of bells. In the later 15th century, construction work continued on the transept, the side aisles, and the north tower.

In the 16th century, work on the cathedral was interrupted due to the Reformation and the Thirty Years' War and was not resumed until the 19th century, resulting in a break in construction of more than 300 years. During this period, the project lacked proper funding, and Gothic architecture lost its place and value in society, which is believed to be one of the reasons for the construction stoppage.

Attempts to restart the construction were made over the next 300 years, but it was not until the 1840s that there was a successful push by the public and the Protestant Prussian Court to finish the cathedral. With funding raised by the city, citizens, and government organizations, construction was restarted in 1842. The first new foundation stone of the restarted build was laid by King Frederick William IV. The architects Ernst Friedrich Zwirner and Richard Voigtel took over the project, working with respect for the original designs and finishing what Master Gerhard had started.

The completion of Germany's largest cathedral was celebrated as a national event on 15 October 1880, 632 years after construction had begun. The cathedral, with its height of 157 meters, became the tallest building in the world, a title it held for four years.

Even after its completion, work on the cathedral has continued, with repairs and maintenance being carried out regularly to preserve the structure. The cathedral suffered damage during World War II and underwent significant restoration work in the post-war years.

The shrine of the Three Wise Men

The Shrine of the Three Kings, also known as the Tomb of the Three Kings or the Tomb of the Three Magi, is a large gilded sarcophagus that is situated above and behind the high altar of Cologne Cathedral in western Germany. The shrine is a reliquary, which traditionally holds the bones of the Biblical Magi, also known as the Three Kings or the Three Wise Men.

The shrine was built between 1180 and 1225 and is considered the high point of Mosan art by various historians and scholars. It is adorned with intricate decorations that narrate the stories of the Three Magi, the Virgin Mary, and the life of Christ. These narratives are depicted with figures meticulously crafted from gold-plated silver. The shrine is approximately 110 cm wide, 153 cm high, and 220 cm long, and is shaped like a basilica. The basic structure is made of wood, with gold and silver overlay decorated with filigree, enamel, and over 1,000 jewels and beads.

The relics of the Three Kings were first brought to Constantinople (now Istanbul) by Empress Helena, the mother of Emperor Constantine the Great, in the year 313. Helena embarked on a search for all possible objects and places associated with Jesus of Nazareth, and during her search, she allegedly discovered his grave and the cross on which he died. She is also said to have found the grave of the Three Wise Men.

Emperor Constantine gave the relics of the Three Kings to the Milanese bishop Eustorgius, who embedded them in a marble sarcophagus and transported them to Milan on an ox cart. The relics remained in Milan for over seven centuries until Emperor Frederick I, known as Barbarossa, besieged the city in 1162. The Archbishop of Cologne, Rainald von Dassel, who was part of Barbarossa's army, asked for the relics as spoils of war. On July 23, 1164, von Dassel entered Cologne with the relics, describing them as:

> an incomparable treasure, more valuable than all gold and precious stones.

The arrival of the relics turned Cologne into an internationally renowned place of pilgrimage, attracting countless pilgrims from all over Europe. The construction of a new, Gothic cathedral began in 1248 to accommodate the large number of pilgrims. The new cathedral took 632 years to complete and was finally finished in 1880.

The Shrine of the Three Kings has undergone periods of damage and restoration throughout its history. In the 16th century, several gems, pearls, and a large cameo were stolen from the shrine. The shrine was opened in the 19th century, revealing human remains wrapped in valuable silk fabrics from Palmyra (present-day Syria), dating back to late antiquity. While the identities of the remains have been questioned, experts agree that whoever is in the shrine has been revered for many centuries.

The Gothic style and design

The Cologne Cathedral is a Gothic masterpiece, designed in the Gothic style in emulation of French church architecture. It is the largest Gothic church in northern Europe, and the second tallest church in Europe. The cathedral was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1996.

The ground plan design of the cathedral is in the shape of a Latin Cross, as is standard for most Gothic cathedrals. It has two aisles on either side, supporting one of the highest Gothic vaults in the world. Externally, the outward thrust of the vault is taken by flying buttresses in the French manner. The eastern end has a single ambulatory, with the second aisle resolving into a chevet of seven radiating chapels.

The interior of the cathedral is equally stunning, with some of the highest walls of a church in the world. The medieval choir is highly detailed, with tall arcades, a narrow triforium gallery lit by windows with intricate tracery, and tall shafts that sweep unbroken from the floor to their capitals at the spring of the vault. The vault is of a plain quadripartite arrangement. The choir retains many of its original fittings, including the carved stalls and a large stone statue of St Christopher.

The Cologne Cathedral features Gothic innovations such as large vaulted ceilings, large stained-glass windows, pointed arches, and flying buttresses. These designs led to many innovations that we still see today and reimagined what standard post and beam buildings could look like.

The cathedral's restoration and completion

The restoration and completion of the Cologne Cathedral is a story of determination and perseverance. The construction of this Gothic masterpiece began in 1248 but was halted around 1560 due to a lack of funding and a shift in architectural tastes. For almost 300 years, the cathedral remained unfinished, with a large wooden crane standing atop the south tower, scarring the Cologne skyline.

In the 19th century, there was a renewed interest in completing the cathedral. Led by the Protestant Prussian Court and supported by the public, efforts to raise funds for the project gained momentum. The Central-Dombauverein, founded in 1842, played a crucial role in financing the project, contributing two-thirds of the enormous costs. The Prussian state supplied the remaining third, recognising the project's potential to improve relations with its Catholic subjects.

The first new foundation stone was laid by King Frederick William IV in 1842, marking the resumption of construction. Architects Ernst Friedrich Zwirner and Richard Voigtel oversaw the work, faithfully adhering to the original medieval plans and drawings. Using more modern construction techniques, they completed the nave and added the towers, staying true to the Gothic style. The bells were installed in the 1870s, with the largest, St. Petersglocke, cast in 1922.

Finally, on 15 October 1880, the completion of Germany's largest cathedral was celebrated as a national event, 632 years after construction had begun. Emperor Wilhelm I attended the festivities. At a height of 157.38 metres, the cathedral was the tallest building in the world for four years until the completion of the Washington Monument.

Even after its completion, the work on the cathedral continued. Repairs and maintenance are constant, as wind, rain, and pollution slowly erode the stones. The cathedral's master builder, Barbara Schock-Werner, noted that a "Cologne Cathedral without scaffolding is not a pipe dream but a nightmare," highlighting the ongoing preservation efforts.

The cathedral's interior and artworks

The interior of the Cologne Cathedral is adorned with intricate details, including a French-style layout of a tall arcade, a delicate triforium gallery, and elaborate tracery that merges with the windows above. The clerestory windows are long, with some figurative glass in the lower sections, and the entire structure is unified by tall shafts that stretch uninterrupted from the floor to the vault's spring.

The cathedral's medieval choir is more diverse and intricate than the 19th-century structure, featuring original fixtures such as carved stalls that survived vandalism by French Revolutionary forces. A large stone statue of St. Christopher stands near the previous entrance to the cathedral before its completion in the 19th century. The nave boasts stunning 19th-century stained-glass windows, including the Bayernfenster, a set of five windows donated by Ludwig I of Bavaria, showcasing the German painterly style of the time.

The High Altar, one of the cathedral's treasures, was erected in 1322 and is made of black marble with a solid 4.5-meter-long slab on top. The sides and front are adorned with white marble niches housing statues, with the Coronation of the Virgin as the central piece.

The most renowned artwork in the cathedral is the Shrine of the Three Kings, commissioned by Philip von Heinsberg, Archbishop of Cologne from 1167 to 1191. Created by Nicholas of Verdun, it is believed to house the relics of the Three Wise Men. The shrine is a massive reliquary in the form of a basilica, crafted from silver and bronze, gilded and embellished with architectural details, figurative sculptures, gemstones, and enamels.

The Gero Crucifix, located near the sacristy, is a large oak crucifix with traces of gilding and paint. Believed to have been commissioned around 960 for Archbishop Gero, it is the oldest large crucifix north of the Alps and the earliest known free-standing Northern sculpture of the medieval period.

The St. Mary's Chapel houses an altarpiece by the renowned Gothic artist Stefan Lochner, depicting the altar of Cologne's patron saints. The radiating chapels, completed in 1265, served as burial places and house the relics of Saint Irmgardis in the St. Agnes' Chapel. Her trachyte tomb is believed to have been crafted by the cathedral masons' guild around 1280.

The cathedral also boasts an impressive collection of stained-glass windows, including the oldest in Germany, dating back to the 13th century and regarded as the earliest intact 'Bible window'. Another notable window is the modern stained-glass masterpiece by Gerhard Richter, installed in 2007, composed of 11,500 pieces of coloured glass resembling pixels, randomly arranged to create a colourful "carpet".

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