Skyscrapers Threaten Cologne Cathedral

Due to new high-rise projects along the Rhine, UNESCO says the 'visual impact' of the church is under attack. Mayor Fritz Schramma rejected the decision, claiming the right to development in his downtown.

1 minute read

July 9, 2004, 12:00 PM PDT

By Jeffrey Goodman


Begun in 1248 but not completed until 1880, the Cologne Cathedral is not only a masterpiece of Gothic architecture but one of Germany's few links to a pre-World War II past. UNESCO's decision to place the structure on its list of 'In Danger' sites comes as the city around it seeks to modernize. Much like St. Paul's Cathedral in London, Cologne Cathedral is both a gift to the city and a roadblock to progress

Thanks to Jeffrey Goodman

Wednesday, July 7, 2004 in Deutsche Welle

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