This was a special occasion for it was the celebration of the Assumption of the Virgin
Mary. It is located in Cologne, Germany, and is known as the largest Gothic church is Northern Europe. The main feature of the cathedral is it's twin towers which stand at approximately 157 meters tall. For a long time after the completion of the cathedral, it was considered the largest structure om the world. In fact it was not until 1884 that the Washington Monument surpassed it as the world's largest structure. The stained glass windows of the cathedral were finished in the 13th century. However, when the windows were destroyed during World War II, it was not until that they were replaced(in a modern style) by Gerhard Richter. Today, the cathedral consists of over 11,000 square panels of stained glass, including 72 solid colors. The construction of Cologne Cathedral was not considered finished until 1880 due to many centuries of delays and restoration. Troops of the French Revolution actually utilized the cathedral as a stable in 1790. Before it's construction, the site of the cathedral was put to use for a Christian church. In fact the earliest traces of a Christian church go all the way back to the 4th century. The foundation was laid in 1248, however it was not until around 1265 AD that the chevet and choir aisles were built and could be used for services. The final big restorations required for the cathedral date back to 1952, in order to repair the damage caused by World War II, and to return to the world the beauty that is the Cologne Cathedral.
“History of Cologne Cathedral.” History of Cologne Cathedral - Cologne Cathedral, www.colognecathedral.net/History-of-Cologne-Cathedral.html.
Lewis, Robert. “Cologne Cathedral.” Encyclopædia Britannica, Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc., 13 Sept. 2017, www.britannica.com/topic/Cologne-Cathedral.
It is pretty cool that for awhile it was the largest structure built. I also, like the twin towers that were built it really gives it a spooky gothic theme especially because it is close to halloween. It reminds me of a haunted a castle.
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ReplyDeleteVery Interesting, That it remained the tallest structure till 1884. I am sure that the stained glass in the cathedral is very beautiful.
ReplyDeleteIt's insane how many periods of history this structure went through until its completion! I loved your incorporation of historical events to represent the extent of time for construction and restorations. This sounds like such a beautiful cathedral, especially with the large amount of stained glass, and I would love to visit some day.
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