Jewish tablets

Embedded in the interior wall of the cathedral is a pair of tablets on which are carved the provisions worked out by Archbishop Englebert II (1262 to 1267) under which Jews were permitted to live in Cologne.

Bells

The cologne cathedral has eleven church bells, and four of which are medieval. The first bell was the 3.8-ton Dreikönigsglocke or also known as the “Bell of the Three Kings”), cast in the year 1417, installed in the year 1437 and recast in 1880. Two other church bells, known as the Pretiosa (10.5 tons; that was considered as the largest bell in the Western world at that time) and the Speciosa (5.6 tons) were installed in the year 1448 and remain in place today.

Dreikönigsglocke or Bell of the Three Kings

During the 19th century, as the Cologne Cathedral neared its completion, there was a desire to extend the number of church bells. This was organized by Kaiser Wilhelm I who gave French bronze cannon, capture in the year 1870 to 1871, for this purpose. The 22 pieces of artillery were displayed outside the Cathedral on May 11, 1872. Andreas Hamm in Frankenthal used them to cast a church bell of over 27,000 kilos on August 19, 1873. The tone of the bell was not harmonious and another attempt was made on November 13, 1873. The Central Cathedral Association, which had agreed to take over the costs, did not want this bell either. However, another attempt took place on October 3, 1874. The colossal bell was shopped to Cologne, Germanyand installed in the Cathedral on May 13, 1875. The bell named Kaiserglocke was eventually dismantled in the year 1918 to support the German war effort.

While the 24-ton Saint Petersglocke or also known as the “Belle of St. Peter,” “Dicke Pitter” in the Kolsch dialect, was cast in the year 1922 and is considered as the largest free-swinging church bell in the world.

Bells of the ridge turret:

• Consecration Bell also known as the Wandlungsglocke – 0.425 tons
• Vespers Bell also known as the Mettglocke – 0.28 tons
• Angelus Bell also known as the Angelusglocke – 0.763 tons

Aveglocke or the Hail Bell

Bells of the main bell cage in the south spire:

• Hail Bell also known as the Aveglocke – 0.83 tons
• Chapter Bell also known as the Kapitelsglocke – 1.4 tons
• St Joseph’s Bell also known as the Josephglocke – 2.2 tons
• St Ursula’s Bell also known as the Ursulaglocke – 2.55 tons
• Bell of the Three Kings also known as the Dreikönigsglocke – 3.8 tons
• Pretiosa – 10.5 tons
• Speciosa – 5.6 tons
• St Peter’s Bell also known as the St. Petersglocke – 24 tons

Visiting the Cologne Cathedral in Germany

For locals and international tourists who wish to visit the Cologne Cathedral in Germany, a number of flight services are readily available from the Cologne Boon Airport in Germany. You can also take train services that are available from the Cologne railway station. In addition, cars, a tram and public services are also available.