Roncalliplatz with Papstterrasse
Papsterrasse: The Peter's Fountain at Roncalliplatz (Photo: 2010)
The 5,875 square meter Roncalliplatz connects the cathedral monastery with Am Hof street. Today's Roncalliplatz took over the southern parts of Domhof street and, during the French period, was called Place Charlemagne from January 1, 1813, according to the Itinéraire de Cologne; on the 1815 city map, it was called Kaiser-Karls-Platz, then Domhof. It was renamed Roncalliplatz – after the civil name of Pope John XXIII – in 1971 after the construction of the Domplatte (cathedral square).[20] In 1972, the Cologne Cathedral Construction Administration building at Roncalliplatz 2, which also houses the cathedral workshop, was completed. In 1974, the Romano-Germanic Museum opened at Roncalliplatz 4. In 1984, the 9.80-meter-high Columne pro Caelo, a 68-ton monolith made of Portuguese granite, was erected by Heinz Mack.[21]
The terrace, located directly off the cathedral's side aisle, is known as the Pope's Terrace because two memorial plaques commemorate the three popes: John XXIII, John Paul II, and Benedict XVI. Also on the terrace, in July 2010, was the St. Peter's Fountain, created in 1870 by Richard Voigtel for the park at the foot of the east choir. It is popularly known as "Drüje Pitter" (Dry Peter) because it only spouted a small amount of water due to a defective water pipe.[22]
Source: Wikipedia