From 2021, there are 51 official UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Germany and everything started in 1978 with one of the oldest cathedrals in Europe, the magnificent Aachen Cathedral or in German Aachener Dom.
A World Heritage Site is a landmark or area with legal protection by an international convention administered by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). World Heritage Sites are designated by UNESCO for having cultural, historical, scientific, or other form of significance. The sites are judged to contain “cultural and natural heritage around the world considered to be of outstanding value to humanity”.
Cologne Cathedral or officially High Cathedral of Saints Peter and Mary is a magnificent cathedral located in the center of Cologne. It is Germany’s most visited monument, attracting an average of 20,000 visitors every day.
The Cologne Cathedral is a grand architectural masterpiece that has attracted people from all over the world for centuries. With its enormous size, Cologne Cathedral is not only a breathtaking architectural marvel but also a harmonious combination of styles. It is 144 meters long and 86 meters wide and combines Gothic, Romanesque, and Renaissance styles.
It is regarded as one of the cathedral’s most valuable and significant objects. The Shrine is said to house the relics of the Biblical Magi, or the Three Wise Men, who came to visit the newborn Jesus in Bethlehem.
The Holy Three Kings Shrine draws a large number of pilgrims and visitors who come to admire its beauty and pay homage to the Magi. It is located on the cathedral’s main altar and is only visible to the public on rare occasions and during the Epiphany season.
