During WWII, the Cologne Cathedral was hit by 70 firebombs and 14 highly explosive bombs. Thankfully, its size and recognizable construction saved it from being utterly destroyed as it served as a reference point for pilots flying over the city. By 1948, the choir and the transept were already restored but it took more years for the west wing and the façade to be fully recovered. Luckily the cathedral’s original design was preserved and until nowadays, it remains an excellent amalgam of Gothic architecture and neo-gothic revival of the 19th century
