Cologne Cathedral/ Kölner Dom, Cologne

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Hm, the question is how to start my writings about the magnificent Cologne Dom? If any building in any place on earth completely dominates the town, it is this cathedral which can be seen from every position inside and outside the city. What makes it so special? Not only the huge proportions or its positions right in the heart of the town, the cathedral is pure beauty, perfectly constructed and highly artistic decorated in every of its even smallest details. Besidess, it is far of being mincing.

Coming into Cologne by train, boat or bus, the most distinctive landmark which can be seen from afar is the Cologne Cathedral. Construction of the Gothic church began in 1248 and took, with interruptions, more than 600 years to complete and was finally finished in 1880. The two towers are 157m tall, the cathedral is 144m long and 86m wide. The cathedral is dedicated to Saints Peter and Mary. Cologne Cathedral remains the tallest Gothic structure in the world and is the seat of the Archbishop of Cologne.

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On the Western Facade of the Kolner Dom are three portals

Each portal on the western facade has one door, while the middle portal has two.

The middle portal, called also the main portal, is 9.30 meters wide and, including its gable, more than 28 meters high.
To the left is the portal of the Three Holy Kings which shows the presentation of the Son of God to the peoples of the world.
To the right is the Peter's Portal which refers to the spreading of the teachings of Christ through the apostles.

All three portals also celebrate the most important saints of the Cathedral.

The floor of the Kölner Dom is decorated with magnificent old mosaic, being the largest work of art in the Cathedral.
The firm Villeroy & Boch was the one to produce the ceramic mosaic pieces, created to last more than the normal mosaic.

The overall length Kölner Dom outside is of 144,58 m, while the overall width outside is 86,25 m.
The height of the ridge turret is 109,00 m.
The total built over area is of 7.914 qm and the windows surface is of 10.000 qm.

This magnificent wooden crucifix was donated by Archbishop Gero and is the oldest monumental figure of the Crucified Christ that is still in existence
In the Old Cathedral the crucifix was placed in the centre of the church near Gero's tomb.
In the new Cathedral it was placed around 1270 above the Altar of the Chapel of Saint Stephen, and around 1350 it was moved to its actual place on the east wall of the Chapel of the Cross.

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The altar piece was created in 1442 for the Chapel of Cologne's City Council by the painter Stefan Lochner and is now decorating the altar in the centre of the Chapel of the Virgin.
This winged masterpiece is the most important work of the Late Gothic Cologne school.

The shine of the Three Magi is adorned with works in gold and silver, precious and semi-precious stones, carved gemstones and cameos from Antiquity.
The representations covers the History of Salvation from the beginning of time to the Last Judgment.