Agency Report –
Cologne Cathedral will shine in a new, energy-efficient light from Sunday evening, as more than 700 LED lamps replace the halogen lights that previously illuminated the landmark from surrounding rooftops.
The new lighting, most of which is now affixed directly to the iconic cathedral in the western German city, offers several benefits beyond aesthetics.
“These LED lights are more environmentally friendly to produce and consume significantly less energy,” cathedral master builder Peter Füssenich told dpa.
He added that the LEDs provide more precise illumination and better highlight the intricate structure of the cathedral’s architecture.
“We had large black spots that were not illuminated – that is now changing,” he said.
The three-year installation project was funded by Cologne-based energy company RheinEnergie at a cost of €2.3 million ($2.6 million).
The cathedral was first illuminated on September 15, 1836, to mark a visit by Prussian Crown Prince Friedrich Wilhelm. At the time, the cathedral was still under construction and lit using tallow candles, among other methods. The cathedral officially opened in 1880.
In 1929, then-mayor Konrad Adenauer decreed that the cathedral should be regularly illuminated on public holidays and special occasions.
More recently, following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the cathedral went dark in a bid to conserve energy – a change many Cologne residents found sombre. “There was then a small compromise that the spires were illuminated,” Füssenich said, calling it a symbolic glimmer of hope during a difficult time.
