Cologne Cathedral
The most visited sight in Germany
Cologne Cathedral is the seat of the Archbishop of Cologne and is officially known as the "Hohe Domkirche Sankt Petrus" (High Cathedral Church of Saint Peter). The Gothic building is the most visited sight in Germany and has been listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1996.
Size and construction history
Until 1884, the cathedral was the tallest building in the world at 157.4 m (516 ft). Even today, it is the third-tallest church in the world and its west façade has the largest surface area of any church. The cathedral of the Archdiocese of Cologne was originally built to house the supposed bones of the Three Wise Men, which are still in the Shrine of the Three Kings today. The construction period of the cathedral from 1248 to 1880 (with an interruption between 1528 and 1823) is considered the longest in human history after that of the Great Wall of China.
Richter window
In addition to its historical treasures, Cologne Cathedral also contains modern art. The Richter window in the south transept was inaugurated in 2007 and is the cathedral's most recent window. It is a mosaic of 11,263 color squares in 72 colors on a total area of 106 m² (1141 sq ft). The common name of the window is derived from its designer Gerhard Richter.
Facts
- Location: City of Cologne
- Height: 157.4 m (516 ft)
- Built: Between 1248 and 1880 (with interruption)
- Architectural style: Gothic
- Denomination: Roman Catholic
- UNESCO World Heritage Site: Cologne Cathedral (1996)
Cologne Cathedral Folding Card
This special souvenir note is dedicated to Cologne Cathedral. It is printed on genuine security paper and features a gold foil patch, UV color as well as haptic elements. While the vertically designed obverse depicts the façade of the cathedral, the famous Richter window and an illustration of the Three Wise Men, the reverse shows a view of the cathedral and the Hohenzollern Bridge over the Rhine as well as the Petersglocke (Peter's bell).
Obverse: Cologne Cathedral, Richter window, Three Kings, Star of Bethlehem
Reverse: Cologne Cathedral, Hohenzollern Bridge, ground plan, Petersglocke (Peter's bell), main entrance, crowns and drops from the city's coat of arms
| Dimensions: 145 x 70 mm (5.71 x 2.76 in) Material: Paper |
