Cologne Cathedral is a Roman Catholic church in Cologne and the cathedral of the Archdiocese of Cologne.
It is considered one of the greatest masterpieces of Gothic architecture and has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1996.
At 157.22 meters, it is the fourth tallest church in the world and, after Ulm Minster, the second tallest religious building in Germany.
Construction began in 1248 and was not completed until 1880, after a total construction period of 632 years.
The light-filled design of the Gothic style, with its enormous windows, mitigated the destructive impact of bombing raids during World War II.