Pictures of Gross St. Martin in Cologne, Germany

Groß St. Martin

Informationen

Address An Groß St. Martin, 50667 Köln

Phone 0221/16425650

Business Hours Mon.-Fri. 10.15 -18.00 hrs., Sat. 10.00-12.30 hrs., 13.30-18.00 hrs., Sun. 14.00-16.00 hrs.

Remarks For groups advance booking is necessary

Up until the 19th century, the mighty central tower of "Gross St. Martin", together with the incomplete Cathedral tower, was the emblem of Cologne.

The start of Gothic architectural style is clearly visible in the horizontally structured Romanesque construction forms. Particularly impressive is the nave with a height of 25 metres, and the archeological finds from the first and second centuries A.D. which are to be viewed from the northern side aisle. Also worth seeing are the "Crucifixion and Entombment Group" by T. van de Burch from 1509, the triptych of the Magi dating from 1530, and the almost life-sized "Schmerzensmann" from the 16th century.

Adjacent to St. Martin's is the attractive leisure garden between the Rhine and the Old City, and the Hohenzollernbrücke and Deutzer Brücke.

Founded around 960 on a former island of the Rhine as a collegiate church, later transformed into a Benedectine monastery. Construction of the main building between 1150 and 1250. Clover-leaf choir; characteristic slab frieze and small gallery half-way up the mighty crossing tower. Remains of Roman storehouses in the crypt.

10. Jh Archbishop Bruno set up a foundation of canons, which soon afterwards became a Benedictine monastery.

1172 The consecration of the church was held.

1185-1220 As a result of destruction by fires and storms, the central tower was constructed.

15. Jh The Romanesque church roof of the central tower was replaced by a Gothic cupola.

1802 During the course of secularisation, the monastery buildings were destroyed.

1939-45 The vault and the tower were destroyed in the Second World War by aerial bombardment.

1984 Only now has all construction work been completed.