📸 Visit to Cologne Cathedral; 12 euros entry from today Construction of Cologne Cathedral began in 1248 by order of Konrad I and based on the design of master Gerhard, and it was completed in 1880 by order of Friedrich Wilhelm IV and on the basis of the plans of Ernst Friedrich Zwirner. Some historians and art history researchers have called this church “the most complete cathedral” and “a masterpiece of the Gothic style” due to the remarkable harmony and coherence in its architectural structure. The building was originally designed as the cathedral of the archbishops of Cologne, as well as a place for the burial and keeping of sacred relics related to the remains of the three Magi kings (the Three Wise Men). But after it was completed in the 19th century, it became a national symbol for Germany. This cathedral has been listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1996, and today it is considered one of Germany’s most visited tourist attractions.