Cologne Cathedral is the undisputed No. 1 landmark of the city on the Rhine. Today’s mother church of the Archdiocese of Cologne can look back on a history of over 1700 years and is one of the largest cathedrals in the Gothic architectural style. Due to its uniform and well-balanced architectural form, Cologne Cathedral is also considered a “perfect cathedral” by art historians. Even after its completion in the 19th century, it was seen as a national shrine for Germany. But when Cologne Cathedral remained almost intact in the midst of Cologne’s city centre, which had been severely destroyed in the Second World War, it was finally regarded as a “miracle” and an emotional symbol of the will to live in post-war Germany. It has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1995.
