Cologne Cathedral, Germany (98/418)

Begun in 1248, the building of this Gothic masterpiece took place in several stages and was not completed until 1880. Over seven centuries, its successive builders were inspired by the same faith and by a spirit of absolute fidelity to the original plans. Apart from its exceptional intrinsic value and the artistic masterpieces it contains, Cologne cathedral bears witness to the strength and endurance of European Christianity. It was damaged during the Second World War and completely restored in the years that followed.