The Dom Cathedral in Cologne, Germany is the grandest gothic church we've every seen. And dare we say, it's even better than the Notre Dame in Paris...
I can't explain in words the feeling you get when you look up at this massive creation, but it will take your breath away. You’ll walk around with your mouth wide open and stare in amazement and all the details.
It’s hard to imagine a time when there was no cranes or large machinery to help create buildings. This church was built using the most basic tools and is a true masterpiece of art and beauty…we just had to climb to the top!
“The Dom Cathedral in Cologne is Germany’s most visited landmark and it’s pretty obvious why.”
Climbing The Dom Cathedral
After visiting the top of St. Peters Basilica at the Vatican, we were drawn to climb the top of one of the Spires at the Dom. We wanted the view and after drinking so many large beers a little exercise seemed in order. Im not afraid of heights, it’s the climb that scares the sh*t out of me. I get shaky, sweaty palms, slightly dizzy and nervous. Add small tight spaces to the mix and Im a nervous wreck! Luckily Chris keeps his cool and eventually we make it to the top.
The entire climb to the top pretty much consists of walking up a, very tight spiral staircase. Luckily you do get breaks in between, whether it’s waiting for a bunch of kids to race past you, or waiting for people to walk back down and pass you. Once you’re about half way through, you can take a detour and check out the bell tower, where there are little benches and some great views. Also, be sure to look directly up into the spire, the details up there are incredible!
“Once you get to the top, the views are spectacular. If you are lucky enough to go on a clear day you can see over much of the city, and it will make the climb so much more rewarding. ”
One aspect of the visit that we didn't like was how many children there were there running up and down the stairs that lead up the cathedral. I understand that this is a family activity but as I am in the middle of an anxiety attack, climbing up the tight spiral staircase, I don't want to compete with rambunctious 8 year olds. Our suggestion would be that they hold an "adults-only" day where they serve you local beer and pretzels at the top of the bell tower. Yeah we would pay extra for that!