Cologne, Germany. 1895
From "Around The World" Published in 1897. This is the largest town in the Rheinish province of Prussia,and is a fortress of the first class. Cologne has a population of 291,000, and is reached by steamer in about four hours from our last stopping place, (Rheinstein Castle}. The city is situated on the left bank of the Rhine and is connected with its suburb, Deutz, on the opposite bank, by an iron bridge and a bridge of boats. From a distance and more especially when approached by steamer, the town with its numerous towers presents an imposing appearance ; but most of the streets are old and gloomy, ill paved and ill drained. Many of the houses date back to the 13th and 14th centuries. The area of the town was nearly doubled in 1881, when the fortifications were extended.
The Cathedral of Cologne justly excites the admiration of every beholder, and is probably the most magnificent Gothic building in the world. It stands on a slight eminence about 60ft above the Rhine. The foundations were laid in 1248, but the rate of progress was phenomenally slow, owing to sundry bickerings that arose between the Archbishop and the citizens.
In 1796 this Cathedral was converted into a hay magazine by the French, who also stripped the lead from the roof. The work of renovation was commenced in 1823, and between 1842 and 1880 no less than £900,000 was spent on the edifice.
Cologne Cathedral is 444ft long and 201 ft broad ; length of trancept, 282ft ; height of walls, 150ft. The tower is 512ft high-the loftiest church tower in Europe. Twenty eight men are required to ring the 25-ton bell in the south tower. The interior area of the cathedral is 7,399 square yards. Between the Cathedral and the Museum begins the Hoch-Strasse, the chief thoroughfare of Cologne. A series of boulevards, three and a half miles long, collectively known as the Ring-Strasse, have been laid out on the site of the old fortifications at a cost of £590,000.
Cologne, Germany. 1895
From "Around The World" Published in 1897. This is the largest town in the Rheinish province of Prussia,and is a fortress of the first class. Cologne has a population of 291,000, and is reached by steamer in about four hours from our last stopping place, (Rheinstein Castle}. The city is situated on the left bank of the Rhine and is connected with its suburb, Deutz, on the opposite bank, by an iron bridge and a bridge of boats. From a distance and more especially when approached by steamer, the town with its numerous towers presents an imposing appearance ; but most of the streets are old and gloomy, ill paved and ill drained. Many of the houses date back to the 13th and 14th centuries. The area of the town was nearly doubled in 1881, when the fortifications were extended.
The Cathedral of Cologne justly excites the admiration of every beholder, and is probably the most magnificent Gothic building in the world. It stands on a slight eminence about 60ft above the Rhine. The foundations were laid in 1248, but the rate of progress was phenomenally slow, owing to sundry bickerings that arose between the Archbishop and the citizens.
In 1796 this Cathedral was converted into a hay magazine by the French, who also stripped the lead from the roof. The work of renovation was commenced in 1823, and between 1842 and 1880 no less than £900,000 was spent on the edifice.
Cologne Cathedral is 444ft long and 201 ft broad ; length of trancept, 282ft ; height of walls, 150ft. The tower is 512ft high-the loftiest church tower in Europe. Twenty eight men are required to ring the 25-ton bell in the south tower. The interior area of the cathedral is 7,399 square yards. Between the Cathedral and the Museum begins the Hoch-Strasse, the chief thoroughfare of Cologne. A series of boulevards, three and a half miles long, collectively known as the Ring-Strasse, have been laid out on the site of the old fortifications at a cost of £590,000.