The Köln Cathedral at Christmas Time

Construction of Cologne Cathedral began in 1248 but stopped around 1560, unfinished. Attempts to complete the construction began around 1814 but the project was not properly funded until the 1840s. The cathedral was completed to its original medieval plan in 1880. The towers for its two huge spires give the cathedral the largest façade of any church in the world.

This is Germany’s most visited landmark, attracting an average of 6 million people a year. At 515 ft, the cathedral is the tallest twin-spired church in the world, the second tallest church in Europe after Ulm Minster, and the third tallest church of any kind in the world.

The cathedral played a role in the bombardments, in that its twin spires were an easy navigational touchstone for Allied bombers. The cathedral endured 14 bomb hits and was heavily damaged, but the structure remained, looming above the rest of the ruined city.

The Cathedral Treasury was closed this evening, but if you are able to get in to see it, you will find this shrine:

From Wikipedia, about The Shrine of the Three Kings:

The Shrine of the Three Kings (German Dreikönigsschrein or Der Dreikönigenschrein),Tomb of the Three Kings, or Tomb of the Three Magi is a reliquary traditionally believed to contain the bones of the Biblical Magi, also known as the Three Kings or the Three Wise Men. This shrine is a large gilded and decorated triple sarcophagus situated above and behind the high altar of Cologne Cathedral in western Germany. Built approximately from 1180 to 1225, it is considered the high point of Mosan art by various historians and scholars, and ranks amongst the largest reliquary in the Western world.

The shrine has gone through periods of damage and restoration during the 16th century. Although the shrine has always been on display, it was not until the 19th century when the relics were unveiled to the public. The relics of the three kings were first exhibited to public display in the 12th century.

Adorned with intricate decorations, the shrine’s surfaces narrate the stories of the three Magi, the Virgin Mary, and the life of Christ. These narratives are depicted with figures meticulously rendered gold-plated silver.