What is the height of the spire of Cologne Cathedral?

The spires of Cologne Cathedral rise about 157 meters above the ground, making 157 meters the accepted answer.

Cologne Cathedral’s two west towers dominate the city skyline. The south tower is commonly measured at 157.22 meters, while the north tower is only a few centimeters different, so quiz references often round the height to 157 meters. The measurement is to the tips of the towers’ openwork Gothic spires.

Construction began in 1248, following a medieval plan inspired partly by Amiens Cathedral. Work stopped for centuries before the project resumed in the 19th century; the cathedral was finally completed in 1880, 632 years after its foundation stone was laid.

A common mix-up is confusing the cathedral’s tower height with its length, which is about 144.5 meters. Another is assuming the building remains the world’s tallest church: Ulm Minster is taller, but Cologne remains the world’s tallest twin-spired church.