6 people arrested by police for attempting to climb Cologne Cathedral in Germany

German police said on April 13 that six foreigners were arrested for attempting to climb the famous Cologne Cathedral at night.

According to reports from the Associated Press, the police stated that five French men and one Belgian woman tried to climb the Cologne Cathedral at night. Security personnel at the church noticed these young people with headlamps through surveillance cameras and immediately reported to the authorities.

Police dispatched officers in riot gear to surround the cathedral, with a helicopter hovering over the northern dome, leading to the eventual arrest of the climbers.

Authorities mentioned that the age of the men ranged from 18 to 27 years old, while the woman was 26 years old. Following German privacy regulations, the identities of these individuals were not disclosed by the police.

Police seized a camera, a phone, and a lock-picking tool from the climbers. During the search of the building, they found several apparently damaged doors and backpacks containing climbing equipment.

The twin-spire Cologne Cathedral is not only a tourist spot but also one of the oldest and most significant Catholic pilgrimage sites in Northern Europe, considered one of the most famous cathedrals in Germany.

The Cologne Tourism Board stated on its official website that the Cologne Cathedral is the most popular tourist attraction in Germany, attracting around 20,000 visitors daily. In 1996, it was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

At a height of 157 meters, the Cologne Cathedral is the world’s third tallest Gothic cathedral, built with about 300,000 tons of stone and over 10,000 square meters of windows, taking more than 600 years to complete. Even today, repair works on the structure are ongoing.

Apart from its religious significance, the Cologne Cathedral offers much to intrigue art and culture enthusiasts. Questions like why the construction took so long, how it survived World War II relatively unscathed, how the massive arched ceilings are supported, what’s inside the roof, or if there are hidden chambers or secret spots remain mysteries to explore.

The board mentioned that visiting the cathedral may answer some questions, but to delve deeper, one may need to join various cathedral tours or do some personal research, as the cathedral is filled with numerous stories, legends, and wonders.