#80 Building Cologne Cathedral in the 13th century

Behind the construction of Cologne Cathedral lies a story of medieval ingenuity, hard labor, and decades ,later centuries, of dedication. Learn more about the methods, the workers, and the challenges that shaped one of Europe’s greatest Gothic structures.

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Construction phases of Cologne Cathedral

A medieval construction site

At 6:40 Min. The building of the choir of Cologne Cathedral starts in 1248.

Foundations of Cologne Cathedral

In the archaeological zone under Cologne Cathedral, you can see the massive basalt foundations that were connected with tuff and mortar. The 13th-century builders encountered the old foundations of the cathedral’s predecessor and other Roman and early medieval finds. Only where the foundations of the Gothic cathedral had to be laid were existing ones demolished. Thus, a historically significant archaeological treasure was preserved under Cologne Cathedral.

foundations of the Gothic Cathedral led and right in the background. In the foreground you see the stepping stone that led into the Old Cathedral

Cathedral Crane

The medieval Cathedral Crane stood on top of the unfinished Cathedral up until 1868!

The medieval crane of Cologne Cathedral was a massive wooden treadwheel crane installed on the cathedral’s construction site in the 14th century. Standing around 25 meters tall, it was an engineering marvel for its time, powered entirely by human muscle. Workers would walk inside large wheels (similar to hamster wheels), generating the power needed to lift heavy stones, some weighing up to two tons, to significant heights. This crane remained in place for centuries, symbolizing the city’s dedication to completing the cathedral and was one of the last medieval cranes still in use until the 19th century.