Cologne Cathedral

The twin spires of Cologne Cathedral rise over five hundred feet, their dark, weathered stone looming above the city. Construction began in twelve forty-eight to house the relics of the Three Magi, drawing throngs of pilgrims across Europe. Work stalled for centuries, leaving a massive crane perched atop the unfinished south tower for decades. When builders finally resumed in the nineteenth century, they followed the original medieval plans exactly, sealing the massive Gothic structure into the skyline of modern Cologne.