The Cologne Cathedral, also a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is a Gothic church. It houses many art treasures, the most celebrated of which is the Golden Shrine of the Three Magi, said to hold the remains of the Three Wise Men. Other important relics include the Gero Crucifix, Northern Europe's first monumental crucifix, and the Bell of St. Peter, the world's largest free-swinging bell weighing 24 tonnes.
To counter the ill-effects of ageing, this cathedral is under constant renovation, prompting Professor Barbara Schock-Werner, the incumbent chief architect of the cathedral, to call it an eternal construction site. One of the major repair works carried out on this cathedral was after World War II, during which it was pounded with aerial bombs. But, in spite of this severe attack, it did not collapse completely and stood tall amidst the ruined city - a divine intervention, perhaps?
The Cologne Cathedral is open on all days, from 6am to 7:30pm; guided tours are also available. There are admission charges to visit the treasure chamber and to climb the 509 steps leading to the observation platform, which offers a marvelous panorama of Cologne. It is to be noted that the opening times for the tower differ depending on the month of the year. More information on: www.koelner-dom.de.
