Cologne Cathedral of St. Mary and St. Peter

Cologne – the historical and religious center of Germany form ancient times. It was constructed on the banks of Rhine and settled as a city by the Holy Roman Empire.

The Cologne Cathedral was included into the UNESCO World Heritage List as the important historical sight remaining ancient events and relics and as an excellent example of the Gothic architecture.

The city inhabitants after Christianity adoption began to assemble Christian community for religious services near the city wall and Rhine river. The magnificent historical figure of the medieval Germany, Emperor Charlemagne, commenced the construction of the church for Cologne Christians at the very place of their assembling. Thus, in 870 the Cologne Cathedral began constructing. Initially it has two altars – one for the Mother of the God and another for the St. Peter. The church was not big and served as the parish cathedral. The things did not change until 1164 when the Magi relics were brought to Cologne and placed in the church. The relics attracted thousands of pilgrims and had to be enlarged and consecrated as the saint place.

The 13 th century construction works continued till 18 th century. The Gothic cathedral comprised the shrines of archbishops and the Three Holy Kings, added four more altars and some chapels including the Chapel of the Cross.

Historically such a prolonged construction was caused by numerous wars and lack of money. But Cologne inhabitants created tens of legends to explain such a long building. They became the vital part of the German legends and some of them are still living and perceived by the listeners are the real stories.

One of the legends says that the church architect could hardly draw the new church plan and had to bed with the devil who gave him the plan. The stake was the architect’s and his family members’ souls. His wife managed to save them but the construction which was almost ready immediately fell down. Another legend tells about the very first days of the church when Charlemagne decided to build it. The place of the construction housed hundreds of ghosts which were wayward souls of the Roman soldiers. The workers were full of fear and could not start work. The Archbishop Hildebald managed to conjure the ghosts out by praying at the church place the whole night.

One of the most attractive legends has even the evidence – the huge fallen stone which the devil threw to the saint shrines.

The Cathedral presents the ideal Gothic elements in numerous mosaics, towers’ construction, impressive buttresses and altars’ decoration.

Related links:

Cologne Cathedral photo gallery