Cologne Cathedral: when does the light look like the photo?
Short answer: 6 Nov 2026: The coloured-square pattern reaches deep inside from 10:00 to 15:20, strongest around 11:55; book the 10:30 slot.
Gerhard Richter's 2007 window in the south transept is made of 11,263 glass squares in 72 colours. When the sun is close to due south it scatters a mosaic of coloured squares over the floor and pillars of the transept.
Fri 6 November 2026 · open 10:00–17:45
Book 10:30
The coloured-square pattern reaches deep inside from 10:00 to 15:20, strongest around 11:55; book the 10:30 slot.
| Richter window (south transept) a pixel field of 72 colours | Strong: colour deep inside | 10:00–15:20 Book 10:30 |
|---|
Hour by hour
| Time | Sun | Richter window |
|---|---|---|
| 10:00 | 17° south-east | |
| 10:30 | 19° south-east | |
| 11:00 | 21° south | |
| 11:30 | 22° south | |
| 12:00 | 23° south | |
| 12:30 | 23° south | |
| 13:00 | 22° south | |
| 13:30 | 21° south | |
| 14:00 | 19° south-west | |
| 14:30 | 17° south-west | |
| 15:00 | 14° south-west | |
| 15:30 | 11° south-west | |
| 16:00 | 7° south-west | |
| 16:30 | 3° south-west | |
| 17:00 | -1° south-west | |
| 17:30 | -5° west |
Tickets
Since 1 July 2026 tourist visits need a ticket (€12). Visits stop during services.
Through the year
| Month (15th) | Richter window |
|---|---|
| January | 10:30–14:55 · book 11:00 |
| February | 10:00–16:15 · book 11:30 |
| March | 10:00–15:20 · book 10:30 |
| April | 11:05–15:00 · book 12:00 |
| May | 11:25–14:45 · book 12:00 |
| June | 11:35–14:40 · book 12:00 |
| July | 11:40–14:50 · book 12:00 |
| August | 13:30–15:00 · book 13:30 |
| September | 11:05–14:45 · book 11:30 |
| October | 10:00–17:05 · book 12:00 |
| November | 13:30–15:00 · book 13:30 |
| December | 10:45–14:15 · book 11:00 |
Cologne Cathedral light by month
Questions
What is the best time to see the light inside Cologne Cathedral?
The coloured-square pattern reaches deep inside from 10:00 to 15:20, strongest around 11:55; book the 10:30 slot. That is for 6 November 2026; the time changes through the year, so pick your own date above.
Which months are best for the stained-glass light at Cologne Cathedral?
For the richter window (south transept), December, January, February give the deepest, strongest colour; May, July, June the weakest. Low sun facing the windows throws colour furthest.
Why does the time of day matter so much?
You may read that light only reaches the middle of a church when the sun is between about 18° and 32° high. The idea behind it is right: the lower the sun, the further its light travels across the floor. The exact band depends on how high the windows are and which way they face, so we work it out for each building instead of using one rule.
What if it is cloudy?
Then there are no coloured patches on the floor or columns, only a soft glow in the glass. Check the forecast the day before and keep a flexible ticket if you can.
Calculated from the sun's position for Cologne, Germany and the building's orientation measured from OpenStreetMap outlines. Light levels are a geometric estimate: they assume a clear sky and do not model every pillar or neighbouring roof. Opening hours can change for services and events; times are local (Europe/Berlin).