St. Maria im Kapitol (St. Mary's in the Capitol), Cologne
Saint Maria im Kapitol (english: Saint Mary's in the Capitol) is a magnificent 11th-century Romanesque church located in the Kapitol-Viertel. Its name 鈥渋m Kapitol鈥� refers to the Roman temple for the Capitoline Triad that was built on today鈥檚 site of the church in the first century. The church was dedicated to Saint Mary and built between 1040 and 1065, based on the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem.
The church is one of twelve Romanesque churches built in Cologne during this period, and it is considered the most important work of German church architecture of the Salian dynasty. Saint Mary's in the Capitol is the largest of the Romanesque churches in Cologne. It has a nave and aisles and three towers to the west. The east end of the church is trefoil in shape, with three apses.
Saint Mary's in the Capitol's foundation was built on the walls of the Roman temple, which measured 33 m x 29.5 m and was surrounded by a 97 m x 69 m courtyard. Inside of the temple, three cellae 鈥� one for each of the worshipped gods 鈥� were built. After the Franks conquered Cologne in the fifth century, the Frankish mayors of the palace resided around the Capitoline hill, and Pepin of Herstal lived in Cologne for a period of time. His wife Plectrude had a proprietary church built on the ruins of the capitol before her death, and she was buried in this aisleless church.
In the middle of the eleventh century, the archbishop of Cologne Hermann II and his sister Ida, abbess of Saint Maria im Kapitol, initiated construction of a new church. The altar and the nave were consecrated by Pope Leo IX. During World War II, the church was heavily damaged, and until 1956, only the closed-off western part of the church could be used. In 1984, the eastern part was reopened and could also be used.
The church is one of twelve Romanesque churches built in Cologne during this period, and it is considered the most important work of German church architecture of the Salian dynasty. Saint Mary's in the Capitol is the largest of the Romanesque churches in Cologne. It has a nave and aisles and three towers to the west. The east end of the church is trefoil in shape, with three apses.
Saint Mary's in the Capitol's foundation was built on the walls of the Roman temple, which measured 33 m x 29.5 m and was surrounded by a 97 m x 69 m courtyard. Inside of the temple, three cellae 鈥� one for each of the worshipped gods 鈥� were built. After the Franks conquered Cologne in the fifth century, the Frankish mayors of the palace resided around the Capitoline hill, and Pepin of Herstal lived in Cologne for a period of time. His wife Plectrude had a proprietary church built on the ruins of the capitol before her death, and she was buried in this aisleless church.
In the middle of the eleventh century, the archbishop of Cologne Hermann II and his sister Ida, abbess of Saint Maria im Kapitol, initiated construction of a new church. The altar and the nave were consecrated by Pope Leo IX. During World War II, the church was heavily damaged, and until 1956, only the closed-off western part of the church could be used. In 1984, the eastern part was reopened and could also be used.
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St. Maria im Kapitol (St. Mary's in the Capitol) on Map
Sight Name: St. Maria im Kapitol (St. Mary's in the Capitol)
Sight Location: Cologne, Germany (See walking tours in Cologne)
Sight Type: Religious
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
Sight Location: Cologne, Germany (See walking tours in Cologne)
Sight Type: Religious
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
Walking Tours in Cologne, Germany
Create Your Own Walk in Cologne
Creating your own self-guided walk in Cologne is easy and fun. Choose the city attractions that you want to see and a walk route map will be created just for you. You can even set your hotel as the start point of the walk.
Cologne's Historical Churches Walking Tour
The beautiful and historically rich city of Cologne has been around for over 2,000 years. For centuries, it has been regarded as a very important religious center.
The K枚lner Dom (Cologne Cathedral), one of its biggest attractions, is renowned as a symbol of Christianity and 鈥渁 masterpiece of exceptional intrinsic value鈥� (UNESCO World Heritage Site). The twelve Romanesque churches of... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.9 Km or 2.4 Miles
The K枚lner Dom (Cologne Cathedral), one of its biggest attractions, is renowned as a symbol of Christianity and 鈥渁 masterpiece of exceptional intrinsic value鈥� (UNESCO World Heritage Site). The twelve Romanesque churches of... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.9 Km or 2.4 Miles
Beer House Walking Tour
In Cologne they say, "K枚lsch is the only language you can drink." Brewed only here and nowhere else, K枚lsch 鈥� a light beer, slightly bitter, bright yellow in color, and made of top-fermented yeast 鈥� is forbidden for production in any other part of Germany.
Each licensed brewery in the city makes its own variation of K枚lsch, served traditionally in a tall, thin, cylindrical... view more
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.8 Km or 1.1 Miles
Each licensed brewery in the city makes its own variation of K枚lsch, served traditionally in a tall, thin, cylindrical... view more
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.8 Km or 1.1 Miles
Cologne's Architectural Landmarks Walking Tour
Around 75% of Cologne was destroyed by Allied bombing during World War II. Following such devastation, it meant that most of what was built immediately after the war came from the so-called 鈥淎s quickly and cheaply as possible鈥� school of architecture. Eventually, as the things settled, the architects were given the chance to build something that would really stand out.
Decades later, the... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.4 Km or 2.1 Miles
Decades later, the... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.4 Km or 2.1 Miles
Cologne Introduction Walking Tour
Cologne is one of Germany's oldest cities. It was founded as a Roman settlement on the Rhine in the first century, then known as the Colonia Claudia Ara Agrippinensium.
The name came from Agrippina the Younger, wife of Roman Emperor Claudius. She came from the area and petitioned the emperor to raise the status of her home to a Colonia--a city under Roman law. During the Roman period, it... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 4.1 Km or 2.5 Miles
The name came from Agrippina the Younger, wife of Roman Emperor Claudius. She came from the area and petitioned the emperor to raise the status of her home to a Colonia--a city under Roman law. During the Roman period, it... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 4.1 Km or 2.5 Miles
Cologne Shopping Tour
Calling the shops, whilst in Cologne, is the thing you definitely should not miss! One of the most popular shopping destinations in Germany, this 鈥渃athedral鈥� city abounds in malls, designer stores and various national and international brand outlets fit to impress anyone and let you shop till you drop! Some people even make special trips to Cologne just to stroll and buy things to their... view more
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.5 Km or 0.9 Miles
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.5 Km or 0.9 Miles