Oh de Koln

It’s been 37 years in the making though that’s 595 less than the actual cathedral but Oh de Koln!

Way back then it was a mere pitstop on our way to the Munich Oktoberfest.

And a combination of too little time and too much booze meant we were in and out of the Gothic wonder.

Thirty-seven years is, of course, too long to pass before worshipping again at Koln (or Cologne) cathedral.

But with more time on our hands and without the distraction of a party of boozers we got to take in the full awe of the church.

And that meant getting in behind the church.

Not sure if there was a lift up then to the roof.

Our thirtysomething guide was naturally too young to have experienced it himself.

Closer to God

But it’s true what they say about the higher you go the closer to God you feel.

And for a time in the 19th century Koln Cathedral, at 157m tall, was the tallest building in the world.

Before Washington Monument was put up and Eiffel Tower rose above Paris.

And as striking as both those edifices are you do not get up so close to the Gothic intricacies of the Koln delicacies.

Although being this close to the gargoyles might make you feel like your mother-in-law is keeping an eye on you.

Mind you maybe that was the intention.

Down by the river

The panoramic views of course from the roof are sensational.

And there was a pang of jealousy looking down on the tourists enjoying their boat cruise along the Rhine.

Although, of course, they would have been looking up at us thinking the same.

The sheer scale of Koln Cathedral of course is impossible to capture on one viewing.

And that’s no doubt what they had in mind to get you through the door for the hundreds of services a year.

Germany’s magnet

And so we can see from its grandeur why it’s the most popular site in Germany with 20,000 visitors a year.

But why here?

Well, the bones of the Three Wise Men are said to reside there in a golden reliquary.

Get some cop-on yourself join the flock, it’s free to enter the church, onvs.

And a behind the scenes through the riggings tour.

And a lift and a spiral staircase up to that spectacular view is reasonably pitched.

Where like us I bet you exclaim Oh de Koln.

It certainly won’t be another 37 years before I’m back.

Particularly as I’m now a fixture and fitting at the German Travel Mart and am one of Lufthansa’s frequent flyers.