Cologne Attractions

Venue: Cologne Cathederal    When: Daily

If there is one highlight that leaves a lasting impression for every visitor to Cologne, it is the city's magnificent cathedral. Its soaring spires are amongst Europe's tallest, stretching over 515 feet above the beautiful medieval city. The magnificent Gothic giant dominates the paved plaza below and its sheer size and grandeur are breathtaking.

The cathedral is Cologne's cultural landmark, the first thing visitors see and the single most impressive architectural wonder this city has to offer. Centuries of craftsmanship, inspiration and faith were invested in its construction. Building began in 1248, took a staggering 700 years to complete and gave rise to what is now Germany's most famous religious building.

Aside from the colossal scale of the cathedral, it can also claim to have the world's largest church facade and houses a wide variety of religious relics and artefacts. A unique highlight is the Milan Madonna, a 900 year-old gold and jewel-encrusted shrine of Mary and Jesus.

Visitors can also climb the 519 steps to the top of the spire for a closer view of the handcrafted stone work on the exterior, as well as a panoramic view of the city.