"Cologne Cathedral marks the zenith of cathedral architecture and at the same time its culmination."

Been there, seen that -- and it's amazing.

This is another fascinating Deutsche Welle documentary, and a companion piece of sorts to this recent post at NA Confidential.

Ever wondered how those huge medieval cathedrals were built? Watch this and find out.

"The great cathedrals were the wonders of the medieval world - the tallest buildings since the pyramids and the showpieces of medieval Christianity. Yet they were built at a time when most of us lived in hovels."

At the 34:25 mark of the Kölner Dom (Cologne Cathedral) film, we arrive at a lingering point of dispute: Why wasn't the church bombed during the WWII?

According to DW, it actually was. To learn more, go here.

As the others mentioned, the cathedral wasn't spared deliberately - it was both targeted deliberately (probably not on orders, though, as it wasn't worth the effort) and hit by near misses. You see, the cathedral happened to be built right next to the main train station and repair yards, and the biggest railway bridge across the Rhine - both very important targets.

That it didn't suffer more damage than it did isn't pity by the Allies, nor was it luck - it was due to the ingenuity of the medieval architects and the courage of the air raid wardens.

Here's the video preview.

Cologne Cathedral on the Rhine is one of the tallest churches in the world. Germany's most-visited landmark hosts royalty, politicians and celebrities.

In the course of its history Cologne's majestic cathedral (known in German as 'Der Kölner Dom') has repeatedly been used for political and commercial ends. The documentary shows how the gentle giant has always retained its dignity.

Home to one of the largest church treasuries in Germany, even today the cathedral continues to play an important role in the city's economic life. It attracts 20,000 visitors a day and its silhouette is used to promote the sale of all manner of products and souvenirs, from bottle openers to cookie cutters. As a powerful and distinctive symbol, it is also used to ensure publicity; the cathedral has seen environmental activists chaining themselves to scaffolding around its spires and a feminist protester appearing topless during a Christmas mass, while skaters and buskers also use the cathedral square for performances.

The cathedral provides a backdrop for heads of state, international music stars and party events, but is exposed on a daily basis to wear and tear - from vandalism, street urination and the weather. The maintenance bill alone runs to around €20,000 a day. There have even been break-ins - the most spectacular being the Cathedral treasure robbery in 1975, described in the documentary by former public prosecutor Maria Therese Mösch. And one thing is certain: Cologne Cathedral and its powerful cardinals will always play a key role in Germany’s Catholic church.