Top 5 Giant Gothic Cathedrals LEFT UNFINISHED

[@jeanmichel2642]

it's not obvious from outside, but I can confirm that once you're inside the Beauvais cathedral the sensation of height is astonishing.

[@StoneworkStories]

@@jeanmichel2642 that's the reason I never show the interiors fully in my lectures or here in videos. They are incomprehensible otherwise than experiencing them live

[@MH-ms1dg]

Vertigo!

[@Emperorvalse]

Completely agree. Easy to understand the effect of the worshipper looking up to the vault and see heaven on earth. I went when it was heavily overcast and didn't get bathed in the light that I have seen in photos. In regards to the question about being incomplete. I would love to see these structures completed but the Church will never allow the funding. It would have to be either private benefactors or the State to finish them.

[@Dobuan75]

Agreed! Incredible from the inside looking up. From my limited experience, I count it, spectacle-wise, with La Sagrada Familia, St. Peters, Ulm Minister, Köln Dom, the Duomo in Florence, and the stained glass of Chatres, and Saint Chapelle. But for bonkers ancient structures: Borobodur and Angkor...

[@neongenesis7236]

Gothic is beautiful even unfinished. Truly one of the best designs in history.

[@Xilley1]

I live close to Mechelen and had to go there daily, having to walk right next to the cathedral and already amazed by its height, cant imagine what it would look like with its spire.

[@puertorico3911]

Wauw interessant wi 😴

[@schelfie1986]

Absolutely, In fact, i want to see her finished (but that will never ever happen). It would no doubt be very similar to the tower of the Antwerp cathedral (also a cathedral that was never finished) but then 44 meters higher.

[@AXELVISSERS]

​@@puertorico3911 blijf in puerto rico bro

[@ardevin]

At the begining of 20th century, there were plans to expand the London Parliament building complex by adding the Imperial Monumental Halls, with a massive and intricate neo-gothic spire that would tower over the city at 167m. The plans are available if you look them up.

[@StoneworkStories]

Love that project! A bit absurd, but what an interesting skyline would it create

[@Brais_C137]

I am an atheist but I love all forms of art and Gothic is my favorite style of architecture. I am very much in favor of finishing the projects of those who started a dream that they knew they would never see completed in their lifetime. I hope that those cathedrals will soon rise splendorous to the sky as their designers wished. For religion or for art, it does not matter.

[@AtheistOrphan]

Same here!👍

[@AlexejSvirid]

"Howbeit the Most High dwelleth not in houses made with hands; as saith the prophet, The heaven is my throne, And the earth the footstool of my feet: What manner of house will ye build Me? saith the Lord: Or what is the place of my rest? Did not my hand make all these things?" (Acts 7: 48-50, ASV) Where is the God's House in real? 1Corinthians 3: 16-17: "Know ye not that ye are a temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? If any man destroyeth the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, and such are ye." 2Corinthians 6: 16: "And what agreement hath a temple of God with idols? for we are a temple of the living God; even as God said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people." God's Temple - Christians, but "Christian" leaders call man-made rooms "temple". They even encourage Christians to sacrifice themselves for those idols... The reason why pagans have become so shameless is Devil runs the world. He is liar and murderer. This is the reason why deception and violence are everywhere. This is the reason why Hitler got the power, but Christ was executed as "blasphemer" and "rioter" by denunciation of clergy. This is the reason why the whole world is Sodom. That's why we've got the Gospel about the God's kingdom. Jehovah would put everything in order. He has anointed the king, Jesus Christ. The dead will be resurected and we'll meet our loved ones again! :-)

[@AtheistOrphan]

@ - Comment reported to KZbin for spamming.

[@Brais_C137]

We are only matter that is organized over time because the laws of physics allow that possibility. If we do things wrong it is completely OUR fault for being stupid. @@AlexejSvirid

[@Brais_C137]

@@AtheistOrphan Thank you

[@kal_bewe1837]

As a French, I always wanted to see the Bauvais Cathedral finished.

[@marcusb7446]

Instead you got diversity. So that's good too, right?

[@carine9342]

Je suis strasbourgeoise, et je trouve que la Vieille Dame est très bien comme ça, inachevée. C’est ce qui lui donne son originalité. Chaque fois que je passe devant elle, je lui dis: « Comme tu es belle!! Tu es la plus belle ! » Quand je suis loin, je charge mes proches de lui dire que je l’aime.

[@Enrico-c5v]

Beauvais Cathedral is just stunning. When you are inside, you cannot believe how tall the ceiling is. To think that it is only 5 metres taller than Amiens Cathedral, but it feels like a hundred! I think it is because Beauvais is much narrower, all focused on height. Thanks for this nice video! I would point out that Westminster Abbey, Batalha Monastery, and Leuven's Saint Peter's Church are not cathedrals (as well as San Petronio in Bologna mentioned in the teaser of this video), but they are incredible buildings nonetheless. It would be amazing to see some of them finished at some point.In other cases, like Beauvais Cathedral (but also San Petronio, for example), finishing the building according to the original project would mean bulldozing some other ancient buildings, which are completely integrated into the structure of the city and, in most cases, architectural marvels of their own. So, maybe in these cases, the magic of being unfinished is better :)

[@StoneworkStories]

I always need to sit in Beauvais Cathedral for 10 minutes just to start grasping the scale. Thanks for pointing out the non-Cathedral status of Batalha monastery church, I was wrong about it (and about San Petronio, the classic mistake!) I think I didn't call St Peter's church and Westminster abbey cathedrals directly, except for the flashy headline)

[@AJC508]

I grew up in Beauvais. The sensation of vertigo was even greater before the reinforcing struts were introduced (the ground is marshy and unstable, it’s unclear if there will ever be a permanent way to restore the building’s integrity and remove these defences). To think it could have been the largest gothic cathedral in the world if the local bishop hadn’t wanted to protect his home, which is now the town museum: it would have needed to be demolished to make way for building works. Also of note: the fantastic astronomical clock that sits within the cathedral. Well worth booking a seat for the regular demonstrations. Edit: how wonderful Batalha is. A great place to visit. It’s pronounced ‘bataya’ if you want the best approximation :)

[@kacperwoch4368]

The cathedral in Nysa, Poland has an unfinished freestanding belltower, 43 meters high, no original plans survive but it is believed that when finished it would be 120 meters high. It was modelled after the towers of Wrocław cathedral which are nearly 100 meters high but this unfinished tower in Nysa has a base that is twice as wide, giving you an idea how massive it was going to be.

[@seppehens8459]

loved seeing some local belgian catherdrals, belgium/flanders has some gorgeous gothic cathedrals so thx for showing a couple of them

[@PS-pp7kn]

I like your calm non hectic telling style.

[@v1e1r1g1e1]

Imagine if the Black Death had never occurred... What marvels the world might have seen.

[@StoneworkStories]

yeah, it stopped a number of great projects, and the very "genre" of a huge cathedral hasn't really recovered for the rest of the Gothic period

[@lordloffy9692]

the black death was the reason for industrialisation. the lack of up 2/3 if the workforce was the reason vor the invention of innumerable machines and devices to compensate . without it the steam engine might be invented in a few jears.

[@aati6442]

Black Death collapsed the feudalism, therefore artists instead of continueing gothic, started something new, that we call renaissance. Don't be sad about this, because the missing gothic wonders was contiued in the 19th century like Cathedral of Köln (Cologne) or the Pairlament buildings of Budapest or London.

[@ParlonsAstronomie]

​@@lordloffy9692I pretty doubt of that. The industrial revolution is mid XVIII, while the plague was mid XIV. That's about 4 hundreds of years appart.

[@lordloffy9692]

​@@ParlonsAstronomie i did not say the industrial revolution did i ? armies in antiquity were huge ,the Persians the romans the "greeks" and so on in the medieval period not so much castles could be defended with a view people armies where more efficient better bows ,steel, armor logistics water and wind power were used more industrial centers formed like solingen ,trattenbachtaal ,Damascus guilds formed the lack of people made efficient production a must we see more machines and animals replacing humans there are other factors but the plague was one of them

[@raphgalban2007]

Pretty underrated channel ngl

[@Philiplubert]

I was totally amazed by the cathedral in Portugal. It really brings me the vibe of Bath and York and somewhat Celtic into it! It’s something I’ve never seen before! Nice video btw!

[@davecahyo]

Wow your channel is criminally underrated

[@mikefabbi5127]

It never actually crossed my mind that cathedrals weren't all finished. Thanks I subscribed

[@Dogsnark]

I’ve always wondered if Notre Dame Cathedral was ever meant to have twin spires built on the bell towers framing the entrances at the west end of the building. That would’ve been an amazing look for what was already a breathtaking edifice.

[@jamest2401]

I just watched both of your videos. I love what I see, have thusly subscribed, and I bestow the best of wishes for all your future endeavors on KZbin. I’m an American who’s had several Germans in my life, some of with whom I’ve been very close, and from my experience, I’m guessing that your accent is German. But if not, whatever it is, I love it, and personally, I find it very endearing.

[@MarkusHeinz-q4f]

Back in September 2024 I visited the seven cathedrals in the Picardie region, including the one in Beauvais. No words to describe it... the unfinished state of it is especially charming, since one has the possibility to imagine what it could be like. Big recommendation to visit all of them! Thanks for the video!

[@DragonsAndDragons777]

It would be amazing to have a follow up video. I genuinely thought you'd have more subscribers for such quality content so I'm subbing

[@AWaBfantasy]

Thank you for this insightful video. I hope it'll get many views! Good luck!

[@svis6888]

Really interesting video ! I didn't know that unfinished cathedrals were common place

[@antsteradams]

Thanks for the video. I think being incomplete adds to the charm of these buildings. It allows us to study the proposals and imagine what our own changes might mean...

[@Mineno-fx6bi]

I had the chance to visit Beauvais, so I was happy to have correctly guessed it being first place ^^

[@thatoneguy7191]

Fascinating video! (I also love how it cut off at the ending, nice touch 😂)

[@phfen]

I know only the Beauvais cathedral and I was not really aware that quite a few others were unfinished too. Thanks for presenting some of them.

[@jeremysepicrun]

6:42 That 13-storey building is the Council House in my home city, Perth, Western Australia :D It's always nice to see us pop into relevence from time to time

[@flatcapfiddle]

Medieval Gothic St Edmundbury Cathedral in the UK finaly got its bell tower in the 2000s

[@scronx]

Marvelous -- thank you! I once read an article in the Watchtower about this ancient height-topping contest but you've really brought it to life. Yes, I dig incompleteness in some things but really wish they'd finish St. John the Divine in NYC. You remind me of the colonial-era Rosewell Plantation in Virginia. The Page family wanted to top everybody else with this gigantic brick home but it broke them financially and has a sad history including ruin by fire a century ago. What do you play on that keyboard back there? Maybe a few Gabrieli intonations or a Sweelinck fantasy in view of your imagination-firing topic? :)

[@mimamo]

Very interesting video. What would also be very interesting, is all the gothic cathedrals that were completed much later after medieval times. What their sometimes hundreds of years long story was so that we can now see them in full glory. :)

[@StoneworkStories]

@@mimamo should make that one as well, there're some great stories there!

[@FolgoreCZ]

@@StoneworkStories For that video, I would recommend St.Vitus cathedral in Prague. Founded in 1344, finished in 1929.

[@lon3don]

Barcelona does have a still being completed Cathedral. La Sagrada Familia, The huge Gaudi masterpiece that is still work in progress.

[@guido1448]

it is not Gothic tough, which is the subject of this beautiful video.

[@kenboydart]

@@guido1448 interesting point that it is not Gothic but in reality it's roots are in Gothic take another look at the nave exterior and you will see it is Gaudi's impression of Gothic

[@georgebattrick2365]

@@guido1448 Nor is it a cathedral.

[@Valex1612]

La Sagrada Familia is not the Cathedral but the Basilica.

[@Glenn-n1d]

The Sagrada Familia has it's charms despite its incompletion..But we, like so many millions who have seen this structural marvel by Gaudi are so looking forward to its eventual completion and gape in wonder at it's 18 towers!..❤

[@richardharrisson5250]

Narbonne Cathedral would be worth looking at if you like vast unfinished mediaeval vanity projects...

[@StoneworkStories]

considered including it, but decided to stick with the ones I've seen myself

[@paparas99]

Excellent work!

[@kilian.kns4138]

Fun fact, even though Beauvais cathedral isn't as tall as it used to be, on the inside, it's still the highest cathedral in the world. I've been there and well it looks pretty sad in it's unfinished state, but it's still a mindblowing experience standing inside it! definitely worth visiting.

[@delol2010]

Normally I do not comment on videos. But it is such a nice video. You put much effort in to it! And it shows! Did you just record it in a single take 😮?!? Amazing!

[@StoneworkStories]

thanks a lot! One take for one half, another one for another, and a couple of stiches :)

[@cvb6957]

Very interesting. Thank you.

[@chad_pepe]

The Church of St. Mary of the Snows in Prague was supposed to surpass St. Vitus cathedral in grandeour, but only its presbyterium was completed which stands today.

[@evertkruijt7725]

Also look up the Keldermans brothers. They were the architects of the cathedral in Mechelen, but also of the cathedral in Antwerp (2nd tower unfinished), the Sint Lievens Montens tower in Zierikzee (unfinished) and the tower of the basilica of Oosterhout (NB) (unfinished). Officially, not one of their designed towers has been completed. It is doubted whether they are also the designers of the tower of the Church of Our Lady of Breda. If this is the case, this is the only tower that was completed according to their design.

[@wminion3890]

Thank you so much, so many beautiful things I've never seen.

[@MichaEl-rh1kv]

There is some charm in incompleteness, yes - as the Sagrada Familia in Barcelona also shows. By the way: Work at the Gothic Cathedral of Cologne also stopped in the 16th century, until in the 19th century a art trader and collector from Cologne allegedly discovered the old drawings of the planned facade, started a campaign to finish it and convinced the Prussian king to support it (who ruled over the Rhine Provinces since the Napoleonic wars and saw this as a way to improve its relations with the large number of Catholic subjects it had gained with those provinces). In older city views you can still see the wooden crane on top of one of the tower stumps - it stood there for centuries. After finishing in 1880 Cologne had the tallest church towers in the world, only to loose that title in 1890 to Ulm, where the Protestant citizens also finished their Gothic Minster (also unfinished since the 16th century) with an even taller tower. So competition did not end in the 16th century...

[@romualdandrzejczak4093]

The church in Leuvens used a similar concept to that of the cathedral in Gorzów Wielkopolski, only the Polish one is much, much shorter(40 m). Namely, the facade looks like three towers fused into one and in the middle of that block there is a towerette with a Baroque helmet.

[@tweed0929]

Very good, informative video. Thank you very much!

[@ianoliverbailey6545]

What an interesting presentation... and what a charming presenter!

[@Pawel_Mrozek]

The tower of St. Mary's Church in Gdańsk, which in terms of volume is the largest Gothic hall church in the world, was supposed to be 160 m high, but construction was stopped at 80 m and it stands in this form to this day

[@shouldhavedonebetter]

The spires planned for Notre Dame de Paris by Eugene Violett-le-Duc in the 19th century would have been amazing.

[@musicmaker1026]

I would love to see a video breakdown of the changes to Notre Dame

[@StoneworkStories]

Outside not that much has changed actually! The 19th century restoration has brought much more new stuff in

[@shouldhavedonebetter]

@@StoneworkStories the spires were never built, just the tower supports.

[@taiqidong9841]

You can actually see the tower of St Rombouts cathedral in Mechelen (Malines, like in the doggy) from Leuven (Louvain) on a clear day when driving from the centre of Leuven to Mechelen, just outside the peripheric highway because Its only 25 km and Leuven stands a bit higher than Mechelen. Quite a few smaller Flemish cities are very close to eatchother, something like 20 km is common.

[@codexfordianus]

I had an art teacher as a child who told us that art is never truly finished; it just stops in interesting places.

[@jaredharris1940]

Fascinating!!!

[@Sullivan-z9z]

So glad I found your channel.

[@douglasstrother6584]

Time to quarry more Ashlars, and get out the Plumb, Square & Level!

[@moatl6945]

Most of the gothic French cathedrals were planed with more towers than built. Chartres, for example, was planed to have eight or nine towers.

[@trulsdirio]

I mean Cologne Cathedral had a huge, wooden building crane stand atop the stump of one of the now imposing towers for around 300 years. So there is still hope somebody at some point feels like completing the original vison. lol

[@JWParkerPhDDDiv]

with the gothic inspiration some of the largest episcopal cathedrals in the United States used more modern building styles to mimic gothic cathedrals. examples are Washington National Cathedral(Washington D.C.), Grace Cathedral(San Francisco CA), Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist(Spokane WA), St. John's Cathedral(Los Angeles CA), Grace Cathedral(Topeka KS)

[@nunomorgado5746]

In the case of the unfinished chapels in the monastery of Batalha church, in Portugal, what is missing is a dome, that was never built.

[@istvangaborvida3992]

I enjoyed your video very much.

[@tadeoguerrero7892]

Great video! And all your others. I hope you get more followers soon 😊

[@jonragnarsson]

Sometimes the algorithm works. I didn't know I needed this information.

[@AtheistOrphan]

I never knew Westminster Abbey was incomplete! An interesting and educational video.

[@miguelrodriguez-kw6je]

AWESOME VIDEO

[@thrustvectoring8120]

How cool is that? Very cool. I've been to the arch of sienna. The view is amazing.

[@Majorfatal1]

Nice!

[@nielsvanderijdt1818]

Maybe another interesting unfinished church: de Oldehoven, situated in Leeuwarden (the Netherlands). This church stopped construction due to prolapse, apparently it's more crooked than the tower of Pisa

[@denisehorner8448]

Great video! 😊

[@miguelguinto5343]

Is there part 2 ? St. Vitus cathedral Czech, Vienna cathedral, etc…

[@iankemp1131]

Apart from unfinished ones, how about ones that were finished but then destroyed? Lincoln Cathedral's mediaeval spire is believed to have been 525 feet / 160 metres (taller than Beauvais) but was destroyed in a storm (not helped by its exposed hilltop position). Looking at Beauvais what surprises me is how short it is, because of the lack of a nave.

[@jonathanstensberg]

Most gothic cathedrals are, sticky speaking, unfinished. Usually, there are small side towers that never received their planned tops. However, because the towers were typically built in aesthetically-coherent levels, it was eventually decided to “call it good”, with only a trained eye being able to spot where something was left unfinished.

[@Zuzuyatts]

I've always had the impression that Notre Dame's towers in Paris are incomplete. One would expect tapering to two peaks or at the least, decorative Gothic finials at the four corners of each tower. Am I crazy, or were there plans that were never carried out?

[@inregionecaecorum]

The Boston stump would be of some height if you added a spire, it would surely be the tallest in England.

[@MrBulky992]

It is odd how there are cathedrals in France I have seen where two matching towers have been completed in an assymetrical way: Rouen, Chartres and Amiens spring to mind. I cannot think of anything similar in England: they always match over here. Scotland has Dunfermline Abbey with unmatched lopsided towers - something to do with the Auld Alliance, maybe? I believe Lincoln Cathedral had the tallest spire, making it the tallest building in the world in medieval times and Old St Paul's in London was high too. Both spires collapsed eventually, I think.

[@Ominous89]

In Zierikzee there is an unfinished tower that was supposed to be over 200 meters high gothic tower, much like that of Mechelen and Antverp. Antverp's cathedral should have had a twin tower. The towers of Notre Dame in Paris should have been twice as high with spires. E.E.Violett-le-Duc restored and completed many of France's towers and cathedrals.

[@greybeardcanadian1036]

I've been to Siena and Beauvais, you did a good job with them, and I very much enjoyed seeing the others, which I had not heard of. Is there charm in being incomplete? Absolutely. I come from Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, which is home to St Boniface Basilica, which was the largest church in western Canada. It burned in the 1960s, and now is the most spectacular ruin. Not many ruins in North America, and this one is European quality! Seriously, though, the unfinshed nature captures it in time. Would Siena be just as interesting if they had finished their cathedral? I doubt it.

[@AXELVISSERS]

The cathedral in Antwerp in Belgium was also never finished. Still a gorgeous church tho.

[@calhutch3185]

Haven't heard of any of them. Would have loved to see the pics of them longer, it was too fast too really understand any of them

[@MarceloAlmeida1]

I dare to ask about the two front towers of Notre Dame Cathedral. Are not missing the final top? It makes me feel that it is still unfinished.

[@StoneworkStories]

As far as I know, there was an idea to finish them with spires around the 13th century but it was never fulfilled despite having funds to do other major works. Then in the 19th century Viollet-le-Duc was considering topping it with spires as well (that's where the spire image on the thumbnail comes from). Anyway, both plain and spired towers were widespread

[@RayWihak-nw3sv]

You forgot Strasbourg Cathedral.

[@adri1712]

I love the commitment

[@Daniel_Froschauer]

Very interesting. Greetings from Bavaria.

[@krzysztofj1993]

Good job. Thank you 👍.

[@musicmaker1026]

Came from instagram, great video

[@StoneworkStories]

Appreciate it!!

[@Theodisc]

Cool, immersive upload: *subbed!* Please make us more. 🧿💙

[@StoneworkStories]

@@Theodisc sure will!

[@roelantverhoeven371]

close to mechelen is Antwerp with it's cathedral, the largest of the low countries and the second largest gothic in the world in terms of capacity (after milano)! it was meant to be rebuilt even larger, the main reason why the southern tower was never completed.

[@Johannes_Brahms65]

Apart from "classical gothic" I found this a nice and entertaining presentation. Thanks. I prefer art that leaves something to the imagination, so, like unfinished cathedrals. Also love ruins and eroded cathedrals. It's a pitty that you cannot restore without damaging the beautyful decay!

[@SteveR-nl8dl]

Possibly earlier than all of these is Dol de Bretagne, Brittany, France . The local joke is that there are still some skeletons atop the southern ( unfinished ) tower awaiting a delivery from the local builder's merchants !!!

[@HiJk_cy]

i think the most impressive gothic cathedral is cologne cathedrale

[@debranchelowtone]

Beauvais old church can not be destroyed because it is classified as landmark. The wooden beams in the cathedral are there because XXth century architects removed the iron bars that were holding the structure, huge mistake.

[@fabricioparedescollcardena4618]

Otra catedral sin terminar es la de Reims, usada para las coronaciones de los reyes de Francia. En las torres se pueden ver las bases de las agujas. En las fachadas laterales hay bases de torres. Violet Le Duc propuso un proyecto monumental para acabarla.

[@m_lies]

The abrupt end lol

[@keinname629]

Incomplete ... like the cathedrals

[@sjoerdvangeuns5773]

Toren van Zierikzee (NL) , 1454 ~ 1531. Origineel ontwerp in museum. Architecten Keldermans/Mechelen (B).

[@pianoconcertono2]

Very interesting

[@JanDaenen]

It is not a cathedral but another unfinished large structure is the main church of Oudenarde Belgium. Is is primarily a pretty strange one

[@vetex007]

I personally think there is no charm being incomplete. The Ajuda palace in Lisbon was incomplete for many centuries but was recently completed although not following its original plans which involved demolition of previous structures. The solution was to complete it with a modern structure which still reminds that it was incomplete but not that building can be completely used.

[@Gutheable]

I really wish, that in the very next future, all of these sadly unsatisfactory cathedral-torsos might be completed in accordance to their original intended aesthetical harmony and beauty!

[@robertozeladarodriguez5321]

Great topic. There are many unfinished projects, and I believe at least a couple of them should and could be completed. I don't like the current mindset of leaving monuments frozen in time, as they are also part of our present. We have several examples of projects that took generations to complete, so why should it be different with ours?

[@dresden_slowjog]

"the one-armed one", la Manqueta, a huge cathedral in Malaga, has got only one of its towers built then they ran out of money or manpower or will...

[@thierrypauwels]

While you are mentioning two Belgian churches, what about the Nieuwerck in Antwerp ? Probably the most ambitious plan for a cathedral ever. Not just 3 or 5 naves, but 11 naves. Two big towers, where the present tower (still the highest church tower in Belgium) would look like a buttress against the main tower. They did start to build it, and on Google Earth you can still see where the chancel intended to be.

[@AXELVISSERS]

He's talking about Onze lieve vrouwen cathedral in Antwerp for anybody not finding any info about nieuwerck.

[@marccheban194]

This is an EXTREMELY important channel....The geometry involved in the construction of these buildings could not -- as I understand -- be replicated today. Congratulations on shedding light on all these buildings -- and others -- that are stonework marvels!

[@Nikioko]

The construction of Cologne Cathedral started in 1248 and ended in 1880. So, it took more than 600 years until completion. The history of the cathedral is closely related to the city's history. In 1248, Cologne was a powerful member of the Hanseatic League, and by far the largest city in modern day Germany. The city acquired a relic, the remains of the Three Magi, which attracted many pilgrims and thus brought a lot of wealth. So, the citizens decided to build a new cathedral. But with the downfall of the Hanseatic League, the city's wealth vanished, and the construction of the cathedral finally stalled due to lack of funds in 1528. For almost three centuries, the cathedral stood unfinished. A mediaeval construction crane on the trunk of the southern tower was the common sight. But after the Napoleonic Wars, on the Congress of Vienna, Cologne became Prussian. And the Protestant Prussian kings were eager to complete the Catholic cathedral. After a long search, which even led to Prague, the original plans of the western facade were recovered, and construction restarted in 1823. In those last 50 years of completion, modern building techniques were used. The roof got an iron truss, rather than one from timber. This probable saved the church from destruction by incendiary bombs in WWII. Die construction was finally finished in 1880. The 157 m tall spires made it the tallest building in the world for four years, when it was superseded by the Washington Monument.

[@lkrnpk]

To be frank though most of the time the building site was just abandoned, it is not like they built it for hundreds of years...

[@con.tziakouris]

It would be really amazing of you covered the saint Sophia and saint Nicholas cathedrals of Cyprus. They are the only original gothic churches that were converted into mosques sadly (converted in 1571). That means that they lost all of their interiors and parts of the exterior in some cases. But still it's a very interesting crossover that you don't get to see anywhere else in the world

[@giovannimoriggi5833]

Actually the cathedral of Palermo use to be a mosque also, so no, you're informations are wrong, and I guess maybe there are more.

[@dlevi67]

@@giovannimoriggi5833 I don't think the cathedral of Palermo converted to a mosque in the 9th century was Gothic in style... It may still be the only mosque that was rebuilt as a Gothic church in the 12th century.

[@giovannimoriggi5833]

​@@dlevi67 To me is still impressive how such buildings can be found on a island. Also interesting (and weird) the final results from a far view: In both structures the two forms look incomplete, both the cathedral and the mosque, as if they were built haphazardly.

[@dlevi67]

@@giovannimoriggi5833 Totally impressive - then again, it's Sicily, not just 'an island'. From Agrigento to Palermo, treasure after treasure.

[@giovannimoriggi5833]

@@dlevi67 but Sicily is the biggest island in the Mediterranean Sea, and is basically connected to the rest of Italy. Maybe the cathedrals you mentioned in Cyprus are also special for their geographical location, they seems so eastern to me

[@tensaibr]

There is no charm in such projects staying incomplete. Such monuments become a lighthouse of fail. Cathedrals were never meant to be built in one go, instead they often took centuries to achieve that. It was a long, rewarding process. The fact, that we stopped starting such projects or even finish them, just shows our actual mentality, which shifted from being able to start arduous projects and not lose the focus, into a "Oh it is ok to fail and give up" society.