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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. The page is completed by some of the main romanesque churches in the surroundings of Cologne, where monasteries and smaller towns provide more highlights of the Rhenan style influenced by the regional capital.
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
BONN, S. CASSIUS
MUNSTER
SCHWARZRHEINDORF (BEUEL), S.CLEMENS
BERGHEIM, S. REMIGIUS
KNECHTSTEDEN (DORMAGEN), S. ANDREAS KLOSTER
NEUSS, S. QUIRINUS MUNSTER
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.
In middle of the 11th century the Munster in Bonn is built, with
the choir and crypt remaining from this 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, the trefoil choir of Gross S. Martin and the east choir
of the Bonn Munster 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. Outside the city, the opposing apses of the
Knechtsteden monastery church and the elegant two-storey double
church at Schwarzrheindorf mark other highly original constructions
from this period. 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 and the transept of the Bonn Munster
are 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. From this period we can also mention
the nave of the Bonn Munster and the Quirinus Munster at Neuss with
its impressive westbau and opposing trefoil choir.
