When medieval cathedrals call, I must answer

The fussy tourist
Feb 2, 2019
2 min read

Updated: Aug 7, 2019

A day trip to the German city of Cologne to check out one of the most majestic example of gothic architecture in the world.

Maybe one day is not enough to visit the fourth most populous city in Germany. Rest assured, it will take you no longer than the short walk from the train station to old town to pick up Cologne's young and multicultural vibe and experience its charming medieval feeling, preserved despite the sistematic bombings of WW2, thanks to a reconstruction project that respected the city's old layout.

Cathedral Church of Saint Peter

Attracting 20,000 visitors a day, the Kölner Dom is one of the most spectacular example of Christian architecture in the world. Started in 1248 to house the reliquary of the Three Kings, it remained unfinished until 1840 and was completed, based on the medieval plan, only in 1880. The cathedral is the largest gothic church in Northern Europe and its two huge spires give it the largest façade of any church in the world and the record for the tallest twin-spired church (157 m). Being easily spotted from the air, Cologne Cathedral was hit 14 times by bombs during WW2 and, despite the damages, it remained standing.

You can admire the cathedral in all its magnificence and appreciate how it dominates and shapes the city skyline, from the 360° Panorama Platform of the Köln Triangle (tickets cost 3 €). This skyscraper is situated on the opposite side of the river Rhein with respect to the cathedral and can be reached on foot by crossing the Hohenzollern bridge.

Where to eat

Brauhaus Sünner im Walfisch | Innenstadt | $$ | walfisch.de

This historic Brauhaus is located at a 7 minutes' walk from the cathedral and a 2 minutes' walk from the Rhein promenade. Established in the 17th century, the brewery still serves traditional food, like the juicy pork shank with roasted potatoes in the picture below, accompanied by pints of Sünner, their craft Kölsch beer.