Koln, Cologne Cathedral - Several Postcards

Koln
am Rhein
Germany
This Postcard of the Cologne Cathedral is postmarked in 2008 with 2 Deutschland (Germany) stamps

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Cologne Cathedral is a Roman Catholic church in Cologne, Germany. It is the seat of the Archbishop of Cologne, and is under the administration of the Archdiocese of Cologne. It is dedicated to Saint Peter and the Blessed Virgin Mary. The cathedral is a World Heritage Site and one of the best-known architectural monuments in Germany, and Cologne's most famous landmark.  It is Germany's most visited landmark, attracting an average of 20,000 people a day.

Construction of Cologne Cathedral began in 1248 and took, with interruptions, until 1880 to complete. It is 144.5 metres (474 ft) long, 86.5 m (284 ft) wide and its towers are approximately 157 m (515 ft) tall. The cathedral is one of the world's largest churches and the largest Gothic church in Northern Europe. For four years, 1880–84, it was the tallest structure in the world, until the completion of the Washington Monument.

The cathedral suffered seventy hits by aerial bombs during World War II. It did not collapse, but stood tall in an otherwise flattened city. The great twin spires are said to have been used as an easily recognizable navigational landmark by Allied aircraft raiding deeper into Germany in the later years of the war, which may be a reason that the cathedral was not destroyed.

The repairs to the building were completed in 1956.

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Here is a postcard of the interior of the Cathedral with a music Cd inside the card .....

 Ein klangvoller GruB vom Kolner Dom mit Glockengelaut
und Orgelmusik - Bild: Robert Boecker, Bergheim
Verlag - Kolner Dom

P.S.  Viel Spass mit der CD!  Reiben, riechen - Duft geniessen!

Translation:
A melodious greeting from Cologne Cathedral bells
and organ music - Picture: Robert Tyler, Bergheim
Publisher - Kolner Dom

P.S. Have fun with the CD! Rub smell - scent enjoy!  (Maybe there is a scratch and sniff inside?)

(The back has a pull tab, rip it open and there is a CD inside the postcard)

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Here is a set of three postcards that when put together, make up the Dom ..

Kolner Dom, oben, Mittle, unten
Cologne Cathedral Top, Middle, Bottom

Foto: J. Sackermann
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Two reproduction cards of the Dom being built at the end of the 1880's ...

Card 1: Ansicht von Sudosten (View from the Southeast)Theodor Creifelds, 1880 (I think he was the photographer)

Card 2: Foto: Lambertin

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A few cards from World War 2  ...

card 1: Kurz vor Kriegsend 1945; Alliierte Soldaten in der zerstorten Stadt.
In 1945, just before the end of the war: soldiers of the allied forces in the destroyed city.

card 2: Koln, end of World War 2 in 1945

card 3: Germany - Koln - Hohenzollernbrucke und Dom - Photo: Hans Hartz  - I wish it was in better condition - postmarked with German 20 Bundespost stamp - I can't make out the date, but "Germany around 1950" was written on the back by the message.  With a magnifying glass you can still see some of the buildings are not 100 percent repaired yet.
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On the interior postcard above in the lower center is this .......

Der Dreikonigenschrein im Kolner Dom

The Shrine of the Three Magi in the Cologne Cathedral

unused, bought in 2011 in Koln Germany

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The Shrine of the Three Kings is a reliquary (container for relics) said to contain the bones of the Biblical Magi, also known as the Three Kings or the Three Wise Men. The shrine is a large gilded and decorated triple sarcophagus placed above and behind the high altar of Cologne Cathedral. 

The "relics of the Magi" were originally situated at Constantinople, but brought to Milan by Eustorgius I, the city's bishop, in 344. The relics of the Magi were taken from Milan by Holy Roman Emperor Fredrick Barbarossa and given to the Archbishop of Cologne, Rainald of Dassel in 1164. The Three Kings have since attracted a constant stream of pilgrims to Cologne.

Parts of the shrine were designed by the famous medieval goldsmith Nicholas of Verdun, who began work on it in 1180 or 1181. It has elaborate gold sculptures of the prophets and apostles, and scenes from the life of Christ. The shrine was completed circa 1225.

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a few more just for fun....

Collefrnia Dreaming (take off of California Dreaming)

back reads:

Schone user Kilma. Tipp: Nimm mal das Fahrrad

Save our Climate. Advice: Take your bike once in while.

and 

Pop Art Dom

Domato Soup - Made with Beef Stock

Thierhoff Verlag, Germany

I bought this by the Cologne Cathedral (Dom - in the Domato Soup)

This is a take off of Andy Warhol's Campbell's Tomato Soup art  :D

both are unused and bought in 2011