As of:
Translated from German; if there are differences, the German version applies.
Inside the cathedral: six stops
Cologne Cathedral holds works of art from more than a thousand years – this tour picks out six that the Cathedral Chapter (Domkapitel) itself names or describes as outstanding. In the interior they range from the Gero Cross (around 970) to the south transept window after Gerhard Richter (2007); the Cathedral Treasury shows pieces from the 4th to the 20th century.1,
1 · Shrine of the Three Kings
According to the Cathedral Chapter, the Shrine of the Three Kings (Dreikönigenschrein) behind the high altar is the largest and artistically most important reliquary of the Middle Ages. It was made from around 1190 to around 1220, begun in the workshop of the goldsmith Nicholas of Verdun (Nikolaus von Verdun) and continued by workshops from Cologne and the Meuse region. The Gothic cathedral was, in a sense, built as a stone casing for this shrine.3
How to recognise it: a golden shrine in the centre of the choir, behind the high altar.
Good to know: After being taken to safety from the French revolutionary troops in 1794, the shrine was shortened by one bay; the restoration of 1961–1973 largely restored its original form. It has stood behind the high altar since 1948.3,
What is inside the Shrine of the Three Kings? According to the Cathedral Chapter, the bones of the Three Kings that Archbishop Rainald von Dassel brought from Milan to Cologne in 1164: Emperor Frederick Barbarossa had given them to him in Pavia on 11 June 1164, and the journey to Cologne took 43 days. The skulls rest behind the trapezoidal plate on the front of the shrine; in the past they were shown to pilgrims through this opening.4 Where the bones originally came from is told by the Cologne tradition, which the Cathedral Chapter quotes from a breviary of 1521: Empress Helena is said to have brought them to Constantinople, and Bishop Eustorgius from there to Milan. That is legend, not evidence. According to the same text, relics of the martyrs Felix and Nabor also came to Cologne.4
In the war: in 1942 the shrine was taken to Schloss Pommersfelden near Bamberg, and later back to Cologne into an art bunker beneath the north tower.4 Dating: An older leaflet of the Cathedral Chapter gives “approx. 1190 – after 1230”.1
2 · Gero Cross
The Cathedral Chapter regards the Gero Cross (Gerokreuz) as the first surviving monumental sculpture after antiquity and the earliest monumental depiction of the dead Christ on the cross. According to the Cathedral Chapter, it was donated by Archbishop Gero (976) and hangs on the east wall of the Chapel of the Cross. The halo of rays and the marble altar were only added in 1683.5
How to recognise it: a wooden crucifix with closed eyes in front of a Baroque halo of rays.
3 · Milan Madonna
The Milan Madonna (Mailänder Madonna, around 1280/90) is the oldest devotional image of the Virgin Mary in the Gothic cathedral. The painted wooden figure comes from the Dombauhütte, the cathedral’s building workshop; the painted finish, sceptre and crown are additions from a restoration around 1900. It probably replaced an image of the Virgin from Milan that was lost when the Old Cathedral burned.6
4 · Altar of the City’s Patron Saints (Stefan Lochner)
According to the Cathedral Chapter, the Altar of the City’s Patron Saints (Altar der Stadtpatrone) by Stefan Lochner is the most important work of the late Gothic Cologne school of painting. It originally stood in the city council’s chapel and was brought to the cathedral in 1810 at the instigation of Ferdinand Franz Wallraf. Today it stands in the Lady Chapel, where Mass is celebrated daily.7
Dating: The page on the altar gives “around 1442”, the older leaflet “approx. 1445”.7,
5 · South transept window (Gerhard Richter)
Gerhard Richter’s window in the south transept consists of 11,263 glass squares in 72 colours, covering 106 square metres. Richter determined the distribution of the colours with a random generator – but only for one half; the other mirrors it. It was installed in 2007.8
Why a modern window here? The previous window of 1863 showed three holy rulers and three holy bishops; it was destroyed in the Second World War. The colourless emergency glazing of 1948 was considered too bright from the start – only 59 years later did a coloured solution follow.8 Note: We do not show the window as a photo (copyright, see Photography).
6 · Cathedral Treasury (separate ticket)
The Cathedral Treasury (Domschatzkammer) lies in medieval vaults beneath the sacristy and displays reliquaries, liturgical objects and textiles from the 4th to the 20th century. These include the grave goods from the Frankish graves found in the cathedral excavations. Usually open 10:00–18:00, ticket €8 or as a combined ticket with the tower.2 → Beneath the cathedral
If you have more time
On its website the Cathedral Chapter describes many other works, including the choir stalls, the Bible windows, the Bavarian windows and the statue of St Christopher, as well as a themed tour “Der Dom und die Juden” (The Cathedral and the Jews). For these we refer you to the official tour at koelner-dom.de/rundgang (in German).