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Romanesque churches in Köln (Cologne)
This page provides an overview of the romanesque churches of the archbishopric city of Cologne in western Germany. Despite heavy damage in the second World War, the total of twelve main romanesque churches spread through the city centre still represents a unique and impressive cultural highlight. The original Rhenan romanesque style is characterized by its western transepts, trefoil choirs in clover-leaf shape and high ranking twin towers dominating the Rhine panorama. The style originates in the 10th century from Ottonan influences and culminates in the 12th century with richly decorated new constructions. Another revival takes place in the first half of the 13th century, just before the Cathedral would be rebuilt in gothic style.
Introduction
Cologne was a major religious centre for centuries
and the biggest medieval town north of the Alps. The town developed
on the site of the roman Colonia Claudia Ara Agrippinensium.
In the 4th century, a first cathedral was built
near the city walls and a bishopric was established that turned
into on of the most important ones around. The 4th century witnessed
the construction of some more churches, such as the remarkable circular
building of S. Gereon outside the city walls and S. Severin which
was established in a roman graveyard on the south side of town.
S. Gereon became the sepulchral church of the Frankish kings. The
cathedral was rebuilt in carolingian style around 800 with a double
transept and double choir, which existed until it burnt down in
1248 and the gothic reconstruction started. Cologne kept on gaining
importance and it's defence walls extended outwards several times
(1106, 1180).
S. APOSTELN
S. GEREON
S. KUNIBERT
S. MARIA IM KAPITOL
GROSS S. MARTIN
S. PANTALEON
S. ANDREAS
S. CAECILIEN (& S. PETER)
S. GEORG
S. MARIA LYSKIRCHEN
S. SEVERIN
S. URSULA
DOM S. PETER & MARIA
KLEIN S. MARTIN
OTHER CHURCHES
PRAETORIUM
CITY WALLS
CIVIL MONUMENTS
Web links Official sites Pages about the churches
of Cologne
Pictures: Eduard, 2011. For any comments or additions feel free to contact me.
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Introduction
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brother of Emperor Otto the Great. The western transept with central
square tower from around 980 is a clear example of an ottonan style
westbau from the imperial tradition. The Gero crucifix in the cathedral
is also from the 10th century and the oldest one in town. The 11th
century was the period when the largest of the romanesque
churches was built : S. Maria im Kapitol. This long church with
it's flat ceilings and huge trefoil choir, the first one in Cologne
and the only one with ambulatories, was completed by 1065 and received
magnificently decorated doors. The basilical church of S. Georg,
with the only columned nave in town, was built in the same period.
The churches of S. Caecilien and S. Ursula with it's three-storied
nave are from the second quarter of the 12th century.
Around 1150, the romanesque art or Cologne reached a culminating
point, greatly influencing architecture in the Rhineland. The westbau
of S. Aposteln and the trefoil choir of Gross S. Martin date from
this period and show a smart decoration with arcading, dwarf galleries
and flanking towers at the apses. Other churches, such as S. Maria
im Kapitol, received vaults replacing the original ceilings. In
1164, the cathedral acquired the relics of the Three Magi, taken
from Milan by Holy Roman Emperor Fredrick Barbarossa. The relics
attracted pilgrims from all over Christianity and the famous relics
shrine, an impressive work of medieval gold craftsmanship started
in 1190, can still be visited in the cathedral. The large westbau
of S. Georg is from the end of the 12th century and the trefoil
choir of S. Aposteln, the third one in town, is another masterpiece
erected around 1200. The first half of the 13th century
delivered the last group of romanesque churches in Cologne, where
rib vaults and pointed arches show the first early gothic elements.
In this group we can place S. Andreas, S. Maria Lyskirchen, S. Severin
and S. Kunibert. The latter was completed in 1247, a year before
the foundation stone was laid for the new cathedral and the gothic
style emerged definitely. Most of these churches have impressive
twin towers flanking the eastern apse. The nave of Gross S. Martin
belongs to the same period and the majestic decagon of S. Gereon,
erected in early gothic style on top of foundations from late antiquity,
is a masterpiece from about 1220. The churches of Cologne also received
important decorations in the 12th and early 13th
centuries, such as mosaics (S. Gereon), murals (S. Maria Lyskirchen),
tombstones (S. Maria im Kapitol), crucifixes (S. Georg) and stained-glass
(S. Kunibert). Still the monumental sculpture of Cologne can be
considered modest for the romanesque period. 
