Churches, Cologne

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St. Maria Himmelfarht (Assumption of Mary Church), the only big Baroque styled church in Cologne was built by Christoph Wamser for the Jesuit order and first completed in 1715. The interior of the church is decorated in Gothic style as appropriate to the Counterreformation. After the Jesuits were dissolved in 1773, the church was used by the French from 1798 as a Temple of Reason.
After demolition in WW II the church was rebuilt in its original Baroque form and with three storey high altair in interiors. The former Jesuit College, conected to the church, is now used for the archiepiscopal trainee curates.

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Sankt Andreas is an 10th century Romanesque church located in the Old Town. It is one of the twelve churches of Cologne built in that style. The church was consecrated in 974 and dedicated to Saint Andrew, although an earlier church at the same site was dedicated to Saint Matthew. The church was rebuilt in the 12th century in Romanesqu style and was completed in 1220 after the great fire in the city.
It is three naves basilica with colonnades, preserving in its crypt 3rd century Roman sarcophagus which holds the remains of St. Albertus Magnus, a 13th century theologian and natural pholosopher.

Apart from the cathedral, the “Rome of the North” has more, and older, interesting treasures of church architecture and art to offer. A full dozen of Romanesque churches is still standing ithin the old town (plus dozens of younger ones). All of them have been rebuilt after the war, some in the original shape, others include modern elements.

The twelve are (address in brackets):
St. Andreas (Komödienstraße)
St. Aposteln (Neumarkt)
St. Caecilien (Cäcilienstraße, now Schnütgen-Museum of medieval religious art)
St. Georg (Georgsplatz)
St. Gereon (Gereonsdriesch)
St. Kunibert (Kunibertsklostergasse)
St. Maria im Kapitol (Marienplatz, erected on the ruins of the ancient Roman capitol)
St. Maria Lyskirchen (An Lyskirchen)
Groß St. Martin (An Groß St. Martin, the one closest to the river bank)
St. Pantaleon (Am Pantaleonsberg)
St. Severin (Im Ferkulum)
St. Ursula (Ursulaplatz)

I have visited them all but that was ages ago, apologies for the lack of photos. My recommendations: St. Gereon, St. Maria im Kapitol, St. Pantaleon.

Another romanic-style church in Cologne, only a short walk away from the Kölner Dom (cathedral). St. Andreas features the splendid "Maccabean Shrine" as a major work of art where scenes from the Old Testament - the fight of the jewish Maccabean rebel leaders against Greek-Macedonian invaders - are depicted.

One of the twelve historic churches of Cologne, built in the Romanic style. Location: A brisk walk northwest from the Cathedral. According to legend, the church was built on the grounds where a great number of roman legionaries who clung to the christian faith were executed by their pagan superiors, and henceforth regarded as martyrs by the catholic church.

One of the oldest romanic churches in Cologne, with a slight pink colour - just opposite the Chocolate museum. St. Maria Lyskirchen is especially remarkable as the ceiling is painted with (now slightly fading) scenes from the Bible, and the church has a few historic glass-stained windows.

This famous example of romanic church architecture is in walking distance of tram station Rudolfplatz. The interior of the church is surprisingly modern, mostly added after the destructions of WW2. An interesting detail are the wooden sculptures of the Twelve Apostles in the wing of the basilica.

Cologne is not only famous for its Gothic Cathedral but also for twelve churches built in the romanic architectural style. Romanic architecture dominated Western Europe from 750 to 1200, mainly in the form of churches and sacral art. Some of the best-known romanic churches in Cologne are St. Pantaleon, St. Martin, St. Gereon ans St. Aposteln.

This church was built from about 1190 with a gothic choir hall and chapels on the sides. Before that there was a different building from the 10th century. Holy Albertus Magnus is buried in the crypta of the 11th century.

Grab the free leaflet about the Roman churches of Cologne from the tourist office which shows you the opening times of the churches.

Gross St. Martin church was built on a former Rhine island from 1150. The tower is one of the highlights of the city's panorama.

Grab the leaflet of Cologne's Roman churches from the tourist information which gives you the opening times of the various churches.