Our pilgrimage group in front of Cologne Cathedral. We were warmly welcomed by the Jakobsgesellschaft Köln (Cologne St James Society) and presented with shells.
Cathedral tour
Bishop Maternus had the first church built in the 4th century. In 1248, the foundation stone was laid for a cathedral modelled on the French High Gothic style. It took another 600 years until the work was completed in 1880 at the insistence of the German Romantics. With the pointed towers, the largest church façade in the world was created: 61 metres wide and 157 metres high. If you climb up the south tower to the viewing platform, you will pass St Peter's bell. It is the largest free-swinging church bell in the world. world.
The choir, consecrated in 1322, is the architectural showpiece of the cathedral. The most valuable treasure is the golden shrine of the Magi in the basilica. The relics of the Magi were brought from Milan to Archbishop Raimund von Dassel in the 12th century as a gift from Emperor Frederick Barbarossa.
Detail
Interior view
named after the 8th century Bishop Agilolf of Cologne. It was made around 1520 and is an Antwerp reredos with scenes from the life and passion of Christ. 
Detail
was created between 1350 and 1360. It is one of the most important winged altars of the 14th century.
is placed centrally in the choir room and thus dominates it. It dates from the 13th century and is the largest medieval goldsmith's work in Europe.
City tour
On the left in the background you can see the crane houses
On the Way of St. James across the Rhine to our accommodation, the youth hostel, past thousands of love locks on the Hohenzollern Bridge
