Construction of Cologne Cathedral, begun in 1248, was finally completed in 1880.
The medieval project was designed as a vast Gothic shrine for the relics traditionally associated with the Three Kings. Work progressed for centuries, but construction slowed and stopped around the 16th century, leaving the cathedral unfinished.
A renewed 19th-century enthusiasm for Gothic architecture revived the project. Construction resumed in 1842, following surviving medieval plans and drawings. Modern techniques, including iron roof supports, helped builders complete the original design.
The finished cathedral was celebrated on 15 October 1880, 632 years after its foundation stone was laid. A common mix-up is the date 1842: that marks the resumption of construction, not the completion. The cathedral later held the title of the world’s tallest building until 1884.