Who we are

Who does Cologne Cathedral belong to? He belongs to himself!

It was the honourable Cologne citizens who had congregated in order to found the Zentral-Dombau-Verein zu Köln (Central Cathedral-building Society of Cologne) in 1842. Goal of the society was the completion of the Cathedral. Today there are about 13.000 members worldwide, who have joined this citizens' initiative rich in tradition in order to make their contribution to the preservation of this unique house of God as well as unparalleled cultural monument.

More than 60 per cent of the yearly construction costs for the preservation of Cologne Cathedral are raised annually by the ZDV, which is organised independently and interdenominational. The society invests the members' money thereby exclusively in the expenses of renovation and preservation of Cologne's landmark.

Since 1996 Cologne Cathedral is recorded in the catalogue of the UNESCO World Heritage Sites as masterpiece of Gothic architecture. A prominent title, which is however not – like assumed often times – accompanied by financial benefits

Structural preservation of Cologne Cathedral will always remain very complex and elaborate – and therefore Cologne Cathedral needs many friends, in order to secure the financial basis for this endeavour. Even with 20 Euro annually you can become a member of the ZDV, adolescents, students and undergraduates already with 15 Euro.

Cologne Cathedral needs YOU...

… so that Cologne Cathedral stays with us!

"And yet it will be finished still!"
watercolour painting by V. Statz, 1861
(Wallraf-Richartz-Museum, Cologne)


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