"Would you pay $11,000 to visit a cathedral? Visited May 24, 2024 as part of a day tour group. Took 632 years to build, started in 1248, due to lack of funds, only finished in 1880. During WW2 all the glass panes were removed for safekeeping. Allied bombers used the twin spires as a navigational aid. The church took 14 bomb hits from near misses of neighboring structures, tearing huge holes in the roof. However the walls and twin spires remained intact. The entire city of Cologne is of new construction, rebuilt after the end of the war in 1945. The church was rebuilt by 1956, but the colored glass panes were put in much later. I've seen the church on Youtube when a German Panther tank knocked out an M4 Sherman tank, and then dueled an M26 Pershing tank on March 6, 1945 in front of the cathedral. The Panther had the first opportunity to fire but hesitated to shoot, as it did not recognize the brand new M26, not seen before in fighting in WW2. Place is admission free, open 6am to 9pm with 20,000 visitors a day. Some climb the 553 stairs to reach the top. Wearing of hats and sometimes bulky daypacks not allowed inside the cathedral. Black streaks on the outside from sulfuric acid in the rain reacting with the limestone. As luck would have it, the entire week prior to our coming was clear, but our visit was marred by rain. Wore my waterproof shoes but those who wore Hoka shoes would have to dry their shoes, pants and socks overnight. Had to remove our hats prior to entry, so it was a bad hair day in the wind and rain. This was part of our $11,000 two week Viking Rhine River cruise package, with a morning excursion to Cologne, before leaving for the Netherlands. We only had three hours to visit, and would not want to be late, with the ship leaving promptly at noon, with or without you."
