{"id":7663,"date":"2022-04-27T11:22:35","date_gmt":"2022-04-27T15:22:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.aesu.com\/?p=7663"},"modified":"2022-04-27T11:22:35","modified_gmt":"2022-04-27T15:22:35","slug":"the-cologne-cathedral-masterpiece-of-gothic-architecture","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/bobeckmedia.com\/aesu\/the-cologne-cathedral-masterpiece-of-gothic-architecture\/","title":{"rendered":"The Cologne Cathedral \u2013 Masterpiece of Gothic Architecture"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"The<\/a>
One of the best and most celebrated Gothic buildings in the world is the Cologne Cathedral.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The Gothic architectural style has captured the imaginations of many travelers to <\/span>Europe<\/span><\/a>. Developed and popularized during the High Middle Ages, it was typically used as a design for the construction of massive churches, cathedrals, and <\/span>castles<\/span><\/a> throughout the West. And while the Gothic style as a whole isn\u2019t very popular for constructing new buildings, some of its design elements have survived \u2013 and it has even influenced some elements of popular culture. One of the best and most celebrated Gothic buildings in the world is the Cologne Cathedral. The construction of this masterpiece took over 600 years to complete, but many would agree that it was well worth the wait!<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

The Incomplete Cathedral<\/span><\/h2>\n

Work on Cologne Cathedral, officially known as the Cathedral Church of Saint Peter, began in 1248 CE. The building\u2019s foundation stone was laid in this year on a site that had already been the home of several buildings \u2013 some speculate that a Roman temple once occupied the cathedral ground. The Eastern arm of the building was completed and consecrated in 1322 and a temporary wall was erected so that the builders could continue on the project later. Work restarted on the western arm in the mid 14<\/span>th<\/span> century, but building ceased in 1473. The south tower of the structure was left incomplete up to the belfry level and a crane was left in place. This crane became a symbol of the Cologne skyline for the next several centuries.<\/span><\/p>\n

Rediscovery and Completion<\/span><\/h2>\n

Although there was some work done to the cathedral here and there, the unfinished cathedral remained a symbol of the city of <\/span>Cologne<\/span><\/a>. In the early 19<\/span>th<\/span> century, the development of the European Romantic movement led to a lot of enthusiasm for old Gothic architecture. During this time, the original plans for the fa\u00e7ade of the Cologne Cathedral were discovered, and Prussian leaders decided to commit to completing the Cathedral. While it was initially seen as a way to appease new Catholic subjects in the largely Protestant Prussian Empire, by the late 1800s the project came to symbolize the new nationhood of Germany after the unification of the separate states. The cathedral was finally completed on August 14, 1880 \u2013 over 630 years after the laying of the foundation stone \u2013 and the event was marked with a national celebration attended by Wilhelm I, emperor of the German Empire.<\/span><\/p>\n

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The Gothic architectural style has captured the imaginations of many travelers to Europe. Developed and popularized during the High Middle Ages, it was typically used as a design for the construction of massive churches, cathedrals, and castles throughout the West. And while the Gothic style as a whole isn\u2019t very popular for constructing new buildings, […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"postBodyCss":"","postBodyMargin":[],"postBodyPadding":[],"postBodyBackground":{"backgroundType":"classic","gradient":""},"footnotes":""},"categories":[39],"tags":[711,94,38],"class_list":["post-7663","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-germany-travel-tips","tag-cathedral","tag-cologne-cathedral","tag-germany-2"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nThe Cologne Cathedral \u2013 Masterpiece of Gothic Architecture - AESU Travel<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"One of the best and most celebrated Gothic buildings in the world is the Cologne Cathedral. 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