Cologne Cathedral was finally completed in 1880.
Construction began in 1248 to create a vast Gothic pilgrimage church for the Shrine of the Three Kings. Medieval work progressed for centuries but stalled around the 16th century, leaving the cathedral unfinished. The surviving medieval façade plans later became crucial to the building’s revival.
Construction resumed in 1842 during the Gothic Revival, supported by the Central-Dombauverein and the Prussian state. Nineteenth-century builders followed the medieval design while using modern techniques, including iron roof structures. The celebrated completion ceremony took place on 15 October 1880, 632 years after the foundation stone was laid.
The date can be confused with 1842, which marks the restart of construction, or with the medieval building period. Cologne Cathedral also continued to need repairs after 1880, especially following wartime damage, but those restoration campaigns do not change the accepted completion date. Its twin spires rise about 157 metres, making it the world’s tallest twin-spired church.