The breathtaking Cologne Cathedral in Germany has captured the imagination of countless TikTok users, with one particular video showcasing the building’s distinctive architecture racking up over 30 million views.
Many people sharing videos have remarked that the cathedral was “632 years in the making” a fact that might sound incorrect, but is actually true.
Construction on the grand Gothic structure began in 1248, but construction came to a standstill in the mid-16th century, leaving the edifice incomplete.
It wasn’t until 1814 that efforts to finish the cathedral resumed, however, it would take until 1840 before sufficient funds were gathered to see the project through.
In 1880, the cathedral marked its completion – 632 years since the laying of the first stone.
Not only does the cathedral boast an arresting architecture, but it also features a unique colour palette brought about by utilizing stones such as trachyte and sandstone, unlike other similar structures, which are often predominantly made from limestone.
Beyond its external allure, the interior houses prized possessions like The Shrine of the Three Kings, which contains the relics of the Magi (or the three Wise Men), and the ancient St. Peter’s Staff dating back to the 4th century.
Though it never reached completion during the medieval era, the cathedral today houses several original stained glass windows from that period, alongside recreated ones meticulously designed from historical drawings from this period.
In World War II, despite enduring fourteen strikes by Allied forces, which badly damaged the structure, remarkably, the Cathedral stood firm while the surrounding city was levelled to the ground.
In 1996, more than a century after the building’s completion and nearly 750 years after its construction began, the cathedral earned a spot on UNESCO’s World Heritage List of culturally significant sites.
Eight years later, in 2004, the cathedral was added to the ‘World Heritage in Danger’ list due to plans for nearby high-rise developments. Fortunately, these plans were abandoned, and it was removed from the list in 2006.
The daily upkeep and ongoing preservation and restoration efforts come with a hefty price tag of approximately €30,000 per day. Nevertheless, those who have marvelled at this breathtaking site would likely agree that it’s well worth the investment.
Regarding these ongoing efforts, the Cologne Tourism website states: “About 100 people from the Dombauhutte (cathedral masonry office) work every day to maintain the Cathedral as Germany’s most popular landmark and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.”
“‘When the Cathedral is finished, the world will end’ is an old Cologne saying. Even after the 632 years of construction, work thus continues on God’s eternal building site.”
