On our way home from the Netherlands yesterday we stopped in Köln to have lunch and see the cathedral. The cathedral is one of the best examples of Gothic architecture in Europe, and was well worth seeing again!
Construction on the cathedral began in 1248 and lasted until 1880! It is one of the world's largets churches and it is the largest Gothic church in Northern Europe. From 18880 till 1884 it was the tallest stucture in the world, until the Washington Monument was completed in Washington DC. And because of its enormous twin spires it has the largest church facade in the world.
The cathedral suffered seventy hits by aerial bombs during World War II. It did not collapse, but stood tall in an otherwise flattened city. The great twin spires are said to have been used as an easily-recognizable navigational landmark by Allied aircraft raiding deeper into Germany in the later years of the war, which may be a reason that the cathedral was not destroyed. It has been claimed that in June 1945 American troops used the cathedral as a rifle range. (Details found on Wikipedia)
Bas and Luna out front. Shows just how huge this church is!
Friezes and sculptures above the main door. These were done in the 19th century and lack the liveliness of the ones done around doors in an earlier period.
Here is an example from one of the transept doors done in an earlier period.
Vaulted ceiling and clerestory windows in the nave.
The plan is in the shape of a Latin Cross, as is usual with Gothic cathedrals. It has two aisles on either side, which help to support one of the very highest Gothic vaults in the world, being nearly as tall as that of the ill-fated Beauvais Cathedral, much of which collapsed. Externally the outward thrust of the vault is taken up by flying buttresses in the French manner. The eastern end has a single ambulatory, the second aisle resolving into a chevet of seven radiating chapels.
One of 5 windows given by Ludwig the 1st.
I love this shot. Shows a window done by Gerhard Richter in the southern transept.
And there's Luna enjoying the pews...
Detail from a triptych from the Altar of the City Patrons, ca. 1442. It is now used in the Lady's Chapel where mass is held every day. Detail shows St. Ursula, the patron saint of the city.
Window above the west facade (main entrance.)
Detail from the mosaic in the ambulatory. The mosaic covers the entire ambulatory, the choir and the crossing, and is therefore the largest work of art in the cathedral.
Shot of the spire above the crossing, an unusual feature, and flying buttresses supporting the nave.
Buttresses rounding the chevet, east of the southern transept.
Southern transept. This looks big enough to be the main entrance to a cathedral on its own!
Inside view of one of the spires, showing the open-work detail of the stone work. (Borrowed from Wikipedia.)
THEN, after lunch, we went to the Lindt Chocolate Museum! What a "treat!"
The museum included a little mini-assembly line. Picture below shows the chocolates coming out of the cooler.
And on their way to the wrapping machine...
Here they are getting wrapped in foil.
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And finally being boxed up!
Luna looking out over the Rhein.
So tantalizingly close, but so far!
Some of the famous Easter molds, including the one they still use in the foreground.
Shake, rattle and roll machine used to make the hollow shapes.
One huge bunny!
And finally, I couldn't pass this up without a picture... "Have YOU had YOUR pig today?"
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