St. Maria im Kapitol, Cologne, Germany

St. Maria im Kapitol is an 11th-century Romanesque church located in the Kapitol-Viertel in the old town of Cologne. It was dedicated to St. Mary and built between 1040 and 1065. It is one of twelve Romanesque churches built in Cologne during this period.

Measuring 100 m x 40 m and encompassing 4,000 square metres of internal space, St. Maria is the largest of the Romanesque churches in Cologne. Like many of the latter, it has an east end which is trefoil in shape, with three apses. It has a nave and aisles and three towers to the west. It is considered the most important work of German church architecture of the Salian dynasty.

The first Maria im Kapitol church is said to have been built by Plectrudis, wife of Pippin in the 8th century. The foundations of a Roman temple from the late 1st century AD, dedicated to the Capitoline Triad, and those of a church from the year 690 AD, can be visited in the church's crypt.

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User Reviews

April Croes (4 years ago)
This was a hidden spot in Cologne. Very quiet but beautiful. The signs inside said they only have 400 active members so donations from tourists are very helpful with church upkeep. Quite impressive from inside, though not as impressive from the outside.

Tim Croes (4 years ago)
Small but pretty church. Make sure to donate some money when going:).

Stef Leemen (5 years ago)
Beautiful rebuild romanesque church. Most interesting: 1000-year old carved Doors.

Michael Lee (6 years ago)
This was a good visit. This is a quiet place to enjoy the garden in the cloister. The building is well cared for. Please bear in mind that this is a practicing church, and there frequent services. Please just check the signs before going in. Easy access by tram and a short walk.

Shigella deShige (6 years ago)
Wonderful place with long history. Unfortunately it suffered during WWII, but it was rebuilt. Church is located outside strict city centre, but I believe it is worth seeing. Church provides little leaflets describing the important monuments inside

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The beginning of the building of the church was placed to the second half of the 8th century, and it is supposed to have been completed in the 9th century. The Zadar bishop and diplomat Donat (8th and 9th centuries) is credited with the building of the church. He led the representations of the Dalmatian cities to Constantinople and Charles the Great, which is why this church bears slight resemblance to Charlemagne's court chapels, especially the one in Aachen, and also to the Basilica of San Vitale in Ravenna. It belongs to the Pre-Romanesque architectural period.

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