The Heart of the City Cologne Cathedral is not only one of the most beautiful works of Gothic architecture and a World Heritage site – it is also the heart of the city. The numerous photographs in this book show one of the world’s largest churches as the lively centre of a vibrant metropolis. We see the cathedral among the people of Cologne as the seasons of the year pass, experience it as a never-ending building site, at holy festivals and during Cologne’s carnival. We sense the atmosphere when the »star singers« go out to commemorate the Three Magi, we are there when a light show illuminates the cathedral, and go up to the roof of this architectural masterpiece. The images show that almost everything in Cologne revolves around its great church. The accompanying text analyses the fascination generated by this building, tells the story of construction work over more than 700 years, and reveals its artistic treasures. Here the photographer Csaba Peter Rakoczy and the author Rainer Rudolph, who have reported for many years for the local newspaper Kölner Stadt-Anzeiger, present their personal view of the cathedral.