Cologne Cathedral
Rising 157 metres above the Rhine, Cologne Cathedral is the seat of the Archbishop of Cologne and one of the supreme achievements of Gothic architecture. Construction began in 1248 to house the relics of the Three Kings, but work stalled in the late Middle Ages and the half-finished structure stood for centuries with a medieval crane perched atop its south tower. The cathedral was finally completed in 1880 according to the surviving original plans, making it for a brief period the tallest building in the world.
The interior is a forest of soaring piers leading the eye toward stained-glass windows that span seven centuries, from medieval glass to a dazzling pixelated window designed by Gerhard Richter in 2007. The Shrine of the Three Kings, a gilded medieval reliquary, remains the cathedral's spiritual heart and the destination of pilgrims for generations.
Miraculously surviving the devastation of World War II that flattened much of the surrounding city, the twin-spired silhouette became a symbol of Cologne's endurance. Today around six million visitors a year climb its tower, attend Mass, or simply stand in awe beneath its vaults, making it Germany's single most popular tourist destination.
- Annual visitors
- ≈ 6,000,000
- Location
- 50.9414, 6.9583
- Local time
- 00:33 (Europe/Berlin)
🕘 Visiting hours
| Mon–Sat | 10:00–17:00 |
| Sun | 13:00–16:00 |
Tourist sightseeing window; Sundays/holidays open later due to services. Ticketed entry begins July 2026.
✨ Saints & blessed venerated here
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The Three Magi (Three Kings) Saint
Their relics rest in the Shrine of the Three Kings behind the high altar; the cathedral was built to house them.
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Saint Peter Saint
Official patron and dedicatee (Hohe Domkirche St. Petrus).
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Saint Mary Saint
Co-titular of the cathedral; the east choir and several chapels dedicated to her.
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Saint Felix Saint
Milanese martyr enshrined in the upper Shrine of the Three Kings.
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Saint Nabor Saint
Milanese martyr enshrined alongside Felix in the Shrine of the Three Kings.
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Saint Irmgardis of Cologne Saint
Enshrined in her trachyte sarcophagus (c. 1280) in the St. Agnes Chapel.
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Saint Ursula Saint
Patron of Cologne, depicted in Stefan Lochner's Altar of the City Patrons.
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Saint Gereon Saint
Patron of Cologne, depicted in Lochner's City Patrons altarpiece.
Care & donations
Hohe Domkirche zu Köln (Cologne Cathedral)
Donations accepted via the Dombau-Verein (cathedral building society) and on-site collection boxes
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