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Cologne Cathedral facts for kids

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Koelner Dom
The cathedral, seen from the west.

Cologne Cathedral (officially:Hohe Domkirche St. Petrus) is the Roman Catholic cathedral, in Cologne in Germany. The cathedral has a height of 157.25 metres. This makes it the second-highest in Germany and the third-highest in the world. The cathedral in Ulm, the Ulm Minster at 161 m it is the highest in the world. The Basilica of Our Lady of Peace of Yamoussoukro is also higher, at 158 metres, but it only has the status of a minor basilica, it is not a cathedral. The cathedral is also the third-biggest church, built in Gothic architecture. The Seville Cathedral in Seville, Spain, and the Milan Cathedral in Milan, Italy are bigger.

The Cologne Cathedral was built in Gothic style from 1248. It was planned to make the cathedral like the one in Amiens. The choir was consecrated in 1322. The first bell could be hung in one of the towers shortly after 1410. Around 1510 building was stopped, because people had lost interest. The last payment for its construction was made in 1560.

For 300 years, Cologne had an unfinished cathedral. The cathedral was finished in 1880, still following original plans.

The cathedral is a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1996. The cathedral is the most popular sight in Germany. In 2001, there were five million visitors, in 2004, there were six million visitors.

Pope Benedict XVI visited the cathedral in 2005.

Images for kids

  • Köln Cathedral on the banks of Rhine 01

    Cologne Cathedral on the banks of Rhine

  • CologneCathedralBell02

    Petersglocke; a person stands to the right of bell clapper

  • Botanischer-Garten-am-Dom-um-1820

    The unfinished cathedral as in 1820, engraved by Henry Winkles. The huge crane on the tower of the cathedral is visible in the picture.

  • Johannesfranciscus-Michiels bau-des-doms-koeln-1855

    The unfinished cathedral as in 1855. The medieval crane was still in place, while constructions for the nave had been resumed earlier in 1814.

  • Rheinpanorama 1856 detail Dom

    The unfinished cathedral as in 1856. The east end had been finished and roofed, while other parts of the building are in various stages of construction.

  • Hasak - Der Dom zu Köln - Bild 02 Westseite

    The west front of the completed cathedral in 1911

  • Warning sign in cologne

    US soldier and destroyed Panther tank, 4 April 1945.

  • Cologne cathedral aerial (25326253726)

    A "Bird's eye view" shows the cruciform plan

  • Cologne cathedrale vue sud

    The cathedral from the south

  • Koelner-dom-spire

    The exterior of one of the spires

  • Cathedral main entrance

    The main entrance shows the 19th century decoration

  • Koelner dom blick nach osten

    The flying buttresses and pinnacles of the Medieval east end

  • Koelner Dom Innenraum

    The nave looking east

  • Cologne Cathedral interior

    Interior of the Medieval east end, showing the extreme height

  • Koelner dom neue orgel

    This "swallows' nest" organ was built into the gallery in 1998, to celebrate the cathedral's 750 years

  • Gerokreuz full 20050903

    The Crucifix of Bishop Gero, 10th century, the oldest known large crucifix

  • Kölner Dom - Christophorus (2008)

    Medieval statue of St. Christopher

  • Cologne Cathedral window, interior view (2)

    Petrus- und Wurzel Jesse-Fenster, 1509

  • Cologne Cathedral window, interior view (1)

    Anbetungs-Fenster, 1846

  • Richter window Cologne Cathedral

    Modern stained glass window by Gerhard Richter

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Catedral de Colonia para niños

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