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Some Christian families attend at least one special church service during the long Easter weekend, and what better way is there to celebrate the resurrection than at a historical cathedral surrounded by beaming stained glass windows, an amazing orchestra and breath-taking gothic architecture planted in the center of one of Germany’s oldest cities, Cologne?
The “Kölner Dom,” or Cologne Cathedral, is the largest gothic cathedral in Northern Europe. The construction of the cathedral began in 1248 and wasn’t completed until the 19th century, so needless to say, the church didn’t pop up to its full potential overnight. After its completion in 1880, it was the tallest building in the world for four years until the Washington Monument was built, making it the second tallest. Subsequently, Cologne can be described as “the cathedral city.”
The cathedral has been a tourist attraction since the Middle Ages and can house up to 20,000 people at a time. Each year, more than 6 million people come to Cologne to see the church, which makes it one of the most visited attractions in Germany.
Locals love their church, and some make it a point to appreciate the cathedral just as much as tourists do.
“For locals, the cathedral is one of the most important things in Cologne,” said Christopher Flaskam, a volunteer in the secretary’s office at the cathedral. “Special Catholic events, such as Easter, Christmas, etc., are a local highlight of the city. You can pretty much say that they are proud of their cathedral.”
Arriving at Cologne’s main train station, Köln Hauptbahnhof, the first thing you will see when you step into the city center is the cathedral’s giant facade and two tall towers designed as if they were reaching toward the sky (or the heavens) — a typical gothic style feature. It’s truly an unbelievable experience that you have to see for yourself.
Entering into the cathedral you immediately notice the 140-foot-high baldachin style arches, and in the back of the altar is the relic of the three holy Magi, “Dreikönigenschrein,” one of the church’s most popular features. If you visit the cathedral at the right moment of the day, you will notice the sun beaming in through the newly designed stained glass windows.
To get a beautiful lighting in the altar room, the best time to visit the cathedral is around noon or in the afternoon, Flaskam said, “when the sun shines through the cathedral’s newest window(s).”
Another popular feature is the cathedral’s almost 330-foot-high south tower where visitors can walk up 533 steps to the top of the dome to see a phenomenal view of the city and the river. It’s a challenging and time consuming climb up, but it’s worth every step. On the way you will pass St. Peter’s Bell, the largest free-hanging bell in the world weighing 24 tons.
If you get to the cathedral early enough, around 10 a.m., or come later in the evening, it’s less crowded and you will more than likely have no problem getting a seat to enjoy a traditional Mass. The orchestra plays music in compliance with the Mass, which varies on a weekly basis. Once a month there are special symphonic concerts, “Musik am Dreikönigenschrein,” held in the dome.
During Easter Mass all of the seats are usually full and people have to stand on the sides of the church. The Mass is televised, so people can also enjoy it from home.
After experiencing a church service, take advantage of one of the tours the church offers in German or English. Learning more about the cathedral’s full history can give you more appreciation of what the church is all about.
For more information about guided tours and Masses, visit the cathedral’s website at www.koelner-dom.de.
