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5 unusual facts about Cologne Cathedral


Cathedral of La Plata

Inspired by the European cathedrals of Amiens and Cologne, its plans were drawn by architect Ernesto Meyer under the direction of city planner Pedro Benoit.

Cologne Cathedral

Also as part of the events of World Youth Day, Cologne Cathedral hosted a televised gala performance of Beethoven's Missa Solemnis, performed by the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra and the London Philharmonic Choir conducted by Sir Gilbert Levine.

Nabor and Felix

The relics associated with Felix and Nabor are situated in a chapel in Cologne Cathedral.

Shawnee Mission East Choraliers

The choir has performed at Carnegie Hall, Cologne Cathedral in Cologne, Germany, Great St. Mary's Cathedral in Cambridge, the Pantheon and at the Thomaskirche (St. Thomas Lutheran Church), a church in Leipzig, Germany where Johann Sebastian Bach held the position of cantor.

St. John's Day, Masonic feast

The guild of masons and carpenters attached to Cologne Cathedral was known as the Fraternity of St. John the Baptist.


Architecture of the medieval cathedrals of England

By comparison, the largest cathedrals of Northern France, Notre Dame de Paris, Amiens, Rouen, Reims and Chartres, are all about 135–140 metres in length, as is Cologne in Germany.

Brabantine Gothic

Besides minor influences by the High Cathedral of Saints Peter and Mary in Cologne, the architecture builds on the classic French Gothic style as practiced in the construction of cathedrals such as those in Amiens and Reims.

Candy cane

According to folklore, in 1670, in Cologne, Germany, the choirmaster at Cologne Cathedral, wishing to remedy the noise caused by children in his church during the Living Crèche tradition of Christmas Eve, asked a local candy maker for some sweet sticks for them.

Doppelkirche Schwarzrheindorf

The church was probably built as a private chapel for Arnold of Wied, provost of Limburg Cathedral, Cologne Cathedral and the Basilica of Saint Servatius in Maastricht.

Joachim Meisner

It was widely recognized that Meisner was criticizing the stained-glass window in Cologne Cathedral by Gerhard Richter, which was revealed just weeks before and of which he disapproved.

Master Gerhard

Meister or Master Gerhard (* c 1210/1215 allegedly in Reil – 24 or 25 April 1271 in Cologne) was the first master mason of Cologne Cathedral.


see also

Coat of arms of Cologne

The Coat of Arms of the City are Argent, on a chief Gules three crowns Or. Since the second half of the 16th century (between 1550 and 1580) the arms altered to Argent eleven gouttes of tar Sable (5/4/2), on a chief Gules three crowns Or. The three crowns symbolize the Magi (Three Wise Men) whose bones are said to be kept in a golden sarcophagus in Cologne Cathedral (see Shrine of the Three Kings at Cologne Cathedral).

Organs and organists of Cologne Cathedral

The organists of Cologne Cathedral have included Josef Zimmermann, Clemens Ganz and Winfried Bönig.

Ulrich Rückriem

Born in Düsseldorf, Rückriem spent his years of apprenticeship as a stonecutter in Düren, followed by employment as a journeyman at the Dombauhütte workshops of Cologne Cathedral.