A much anticipated study trip to Germany began in Cologne Germany, where we spent the afternoon visiting the Cathedral. We were fortunate to have a private tour of the inner triforium walkway, to get an up-close look at the stained glass windows, followed by an adrenaline inducing ride to the top of the cathedral in a service elevator, which is suspended on the side of the cathedral for ongoing conservation of the windows and stone work. The pictures are worth a thousand words...
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| Cologne Cathedral; 'twas a grey day... |
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| The Tympanum |
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| The main doorway through the west facade. |
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| Medieval Glass follows... |
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| Medieval heraldry surrounds the figurative panel. |
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| Glass painting takes on the look and feel of an oil painting. |
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| A medieval window celebrated for the exquisite painting of the drapery and clothing. Notice the figure on the left, kneeling before of the Virgin Mary and Jesus. The red tunic is painted to look like velvet and covered by a luxurious gold brocade. |
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| Victorian Glass. |
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A controversial modern window uses only squares of color with no lead net.
The glass is attached to clear glass panels with silicone.
Contemporary German artist Gerhard Richter designed the 65-foot-tall work
to replace the original, destroyed by bombs in World War II. |
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| In medieval times, cathedrals would have been full of colorful paintings, altars, and statues. Many more survive in Germany than in England, due to the influence of a politically strong merchant class, who refused to allow destructive iconoclasm to the works of art that they had donated to the churches as family memorials. |
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We ascended to the triforium, which is the walkway that circumscribes the entire
cathedral, at the base of the stained glass windows. |
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| The high altar. |
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| A view of the city through the Richter window. |
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| A wall mosaic. |
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| The ride to the top in the service elevator, suspended on the side of the cathedral. |
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| Catching our breath after the hair-raising ride to the top! |
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| Double flying buttresses. |
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| A view over the city. |
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| Another perspective on stained glass windows, featuring isothermal protective glazing. |
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| The inner roof space, reinforced with Victorian steel. |
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| The Rhine from the bell tower. |
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| Scaffolding suspended from the south tower for stone conservation work. |
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| The highest heights. |
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| Feet firmly planted on solid ground once more. |
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Show me the road to Nuremburg!
This was just the first day of a 7 day journey through the heart of Germany. Stay tuned for visits to Nuremburg, Waldsassen, Regensburg, Augsburg, and Munich! |
