Kölner Dom

An Introduction to the Cologne Cathedral

Presented by: Thom Sheehan11 April 2011

Cologne◦ 4th largest city in

Germany, largest in Nordrhein-Westfalen

◦ Population: 998,105 (December 2009)

◦ Originally part of the Holy Roman Empire founded in 38 B.C.

◦ Kept its influential status throughout the centuries

◦ Major cultural and arts center within Germany

Cologne

Location of Cathedral

Location originally at edge of city walls.

Early permanent location for Catholic assemblies.

Several churches dating back to 1170 have been built here, but have all been destroyed or replaced.

Begin video at 7:38

HistoryIn 1164, archbishop Rainald von Dassel

brought the relics of the Magi to Cologne. This transformed Cologne into one of the most important Pilgrimage sites in all of Europe.

With an increase in visitors came the need for a more adequate and impressive cathedral. Deconstruction of the old cathedral had to take place before the building of the current Kölner Dom could begin in 1248

Western Facade

Timeline of Construction

870- First cathedral drafted & built. Stood until 13th Century. 1164- relics of the Magi brought to Cologne by Archbishop

Rainald van Dassel Western choir kept standing to hold services

1248- Archbishop Conrad lays first cornerstone 1322- Gothic choir consecrated

Portions of new building sectioned off the hold masses and religious meetings.

1530- Construction halted by lack of funds and interest. Elaborate furnishing continued on interior, but little was

done to the exterior for nearly 300 years. 1794- Invasion from French Revolution forced the

Archbishop and cathedral chapter to flee Building used as mainly a warehouse during French

occupation

Timeline of Construction cont’d

1801- Pressure from residents of Cologne forced building to be re-consecrated

1842- New interest in building sparks continuation of construction Funds gathered from Prussian treasury and Zentral Dombau Verein.

Close to one billion U.S. dollars today 1842-1880- Intesive building phase, finished in 1880.

Original Medieval plans followed strictly, but modern materials and techniques were used in construction

1944-5-Heavily damaged by 14 aerial bombings from The Allies during WWII

1956- Rebuilding of Cathedral from war damage complete, except for one section called the Kölner Domplombe (Cathedral filling/seal).

After being hastily finished during the initial repairs and then left as a reminder of the war, it was decided in the late 1990’s to mend it to its original appearance.

1996- Cathedral added to UNESCO World Heritage list of important cultural sites.

2004- placed on “World Heritage in Danger” list due to encroaching high-rise buildings. It was later removed from this list in 2006 after a limit was set on the heights of buildings built near the Cathedral’s West Façade.

Cathedral during construction in 1856

Stained-glass window installed in 2007, which had been left as plain

glass since WWII

Cathedral Layout

Architectural Facts About Cathedral

Built in the Gothic Style which was popular in the Medieval Period (12th-16th Century) Modeled heavily after Amiens Cathedral in France

Materials that were locally available were used for construction, such as regionally quarried limestone and locally harvested timber.

Tallest building in the world from 1880-1890 at over 515 feet tall (157 meters)

The Nave

facing east

Gothic Architecture

Uses unique elements such as clustered columns and sharply-pointed spires and arches. Flying buttresses were implemented to support load-bearing walls from the exterior

Ribbed-vaulting was used to leave space for windows higher up in the walls than in previous styles.

More attention was given to detail when it came to exterior appearance. Finer, more extravagant decorations were used.

Extra emphasis on verticality and interior light was given. Pointed arches had both visual and architectural

benefits. Visually they suggested an aim towards Heaven, while architecturally they allowed for the coverage of larger, as well as irregularly shaped, areas.

Ribbed- Vaulting & Clustered Columns

Flying Buttresses

Exterior detail above

South Façade

Kölner Dom TodayThe Cologne Cathedral, or, officially, Hohe Domkirche St.

Peter und Maria, is a major tourist attraction for the city.On World Youth Day, 18 August, 2005, and estimated 1,000,000 visitors came to the Dom during Pope Benedict XVI’s apostolic visit.

Tourism lasts year- round at the cathedral due to its open-door policy and inexpensive entrance fee. It is still a hugely popular catholic pilgrimage site.

For those willing to climb the 500+ steps up the narrow spiral staircase the viewing platform offers breathtaking views of the surrounding area from 98 meters up.

Aerial view from east

Due to the constant maintenance and care given to the Due to the constant maintenance and care given to the Cathedral, it has been dubbedCathedral, it has been dubbedDie Ewige Baustelle,Die Ewige Baustelle, or “the or “the

eternal construction site”. Maintenance is still controlled by the eternal construction site”. Maintenance is still controlled by the Zentral Dombau Verein Zentral Dombau Verein today.today.

Bibliography

*All Images used are sited via HYPERLINK (click through to source), unless they are of my personal collection.

Cologne Statistics:

http://www.it.nrw.de/statistik/a/daten/amtlichebevoelkerungszahlen/rp3_dez10.html

Information regarding History:

http://www.german-architecture.info/GERMANY/GER-008.htm

http://www.destination360.com/europe/germany/cologne

http://www.newworldencyclopedia.org/entry/Cologne_Cathedral

http://www.koelner-dom.de/geschichte.html?&L=1

Information regarding Architecture and Building:

http://books.google.com/books?id=k7ytJ-gXonMC&printsec=frontcover#v=onepage&q&f=false

http://www.essential-architecture.com/STYLE/STY-ME04.htm

http://www.pitt.edu/~medart/menuglossary/INDEX.HTM

http://www.thefullwiki.org/Cathedral_diagram

Video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Xw4W_dog3U&feature=player_embedded#at=466

-Found through Official Cologne Cathedral Website

Maps:

http://www.welt-atlas.de/map_of_cologne_1-152

Google Maps