The grand cathedral

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Geo: 50.8696, 7.276

Today I spent the day in Cologne. The first thing I noticed as the train came into Cologne was the huge twin spires of the cathedral. The Dom (cathedral) is the largest in Germany. It started to be built in 1248, funds ran out and building stopped for 300 years. Then it was completed. Luckily the cathedral was one of the buildings to avoid the bombing raids of WW II. I was feeling active, so I climbed the 509 steps of the Dom's south tower. Half way up I had a break and walked around the 24 tonne Peter Bell, the largest working bell in the world. I had then nearly reached the top, ahead of me was a metal staircase in the middle of the tower. It was at about this point as I was climbing up the metal staircase- that slightly moved, that I began to freak out- the usual thoughts entered my head, how can this very old structure still be standing and be able to hold all this weight? (the heavy bell and tourists), and other scary thoughts and like always I make it to the top, take a few photos and head down again.

Once I was on the ground again, I had a look at the inside of the cathedral. Then went to the Roman Germanic Museum. It was full of sculptures and ruins and many items from everyday life in Roman times. Things that were found in the city, which the Romans found in 38BC!

Walked around the Aldstadt and then went to the EL-DE Haus. A house that the Gestapo (Secret Police) took over in 1935 and set up 10 prison cells. Many people were interrogated, tortured and killed here. The prison cell walls were covered in inscriptions written by the prisoners. This museum was filled with lots of information, all very depressing and hard to comprehend how this was allowed to happen only 80 years ago.

Around the corner I saw the Romerturm (Roman Tower). Then I went to see the Praetorium, an old Roman governor's palace which is below the Renaissance town hall. Then caught the train back to Dusseldorf.

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Photos

01 Bell
The Dom bell tower.

02 Looking out
From out from half way to the top.

03 Staircase
The last staircase I had to climb to reach the top.

04 Spire
Looking out at the church spire and railway bridge.

04 Top
Looking up at the top of the bell tower.

05 Top
The walkway around the top of the bell tower.

06 Other tower
Looking down into the other tower.

07 Inside
Looking towards the alter.

08 Inside
Gothic style arches.

09 Inside
Inside the Dom.

10 Tomb
The top of a tomb.

11 Glittering gold
Religious stuff.

12 Windows
Looking up at the Dom's stained glass windows.

13 Entrance
Part of the entrance's archway.

14 Looking up
The Dom's bell tower.

15 Dom
The grand Dom.

16 Rathaus
Old town hall tower.

17 Building
A building.

18 Fountain
A cute little fountain.

19 Prison cell
One of the 10 prison cells.

20 Door
The cell door.