Before you rises a tall, multi-story tower with a dark, pointed roof, distinguished by dozens of white figures standing in niches on each level - just look up to spot its characteristic decorative band of sculptures.
Imagine standing now before a place where, for centuries, the stories of rulers, artisans, artists, and saints of Cologne converge - each figure on the Ratsturm is like a silent witness to history, motionlessly guarding the city's secrets. Once, already by the end of the 17th century, the original statues of this tower were almost completely destroyed by rain and frost; no one today knows whom they truly depicted. Only fragments survived - a knight beside the portal and a canopy above the entrance, the last traces of former riches.
However, at the end of the 19th century, Cologne decided to restore the tower's splendor and announced a competition for new figures to adorn the successive floors of the Ratsturm. They were to be arranged in thematic groups - on the ground floor, great princes and archbishops; higher up, the most distinguished citizens; even higher, representatives of guilds; and just below the summit, men of science and art. The highest level of the tower was reserved for the city's patron saints. Local masters undertook the creation of the first sculptures - the result was sandstone sculptures that, by 1902, filled the subsequent levels of the tower. The placement of each was carefully considered to reflect hierarchy and role in Cologne's history.
Years passed, war came like a storm and brought destruction. The tower and Rathaus lay in ruins during bombings, but on the south side, some of the figures survived - as if by chance or merciful fate they were allowed to endure. After years of reconstruction, in the mid-70s, the Ratsturm returned in its familiar form, but temporarily devoid of its entire sculptural procession.
It was not until the 1980s that a new concept emerged - this time, more women were included in the sculptural chronicle of the city to better reflect the diversity of Cologne's history. A total of 124 figures, made of volcanic tuff and partly from preserved old figures, were installed by a host of artists. However, the new preservation technique also proved treacherous - a special resin impregnation led to damage, and a significant portion of the sculptures had to be replaced again.
Since 2008, figures of the third generation have been looking at you - this time made of durable sandstone from France, they depict other distinguished residents of Cologne, artisans, scientists, artists, and saints, arranged in order according to eras and merits. Each of them is a separate story, a separate fragment of this city's memory. Stand for a moment beneath the Ratsturm and try to see Cologne through their eyes, amidst the city's bustle and the passage of years.
