Deutz Abbey Church, Cologne, Germany

Deutz Abbey was founded in 1003 on the site of a Roman fort by the future Saint Heribert, Archbishop of Cologne, close adviser of Emperor Otto III. Heribert died in 1021 and was buried in the Romanesque church he had had built here. The theologian Rupert of Deutz was abbot during the 1120s.

The abbey had extensive properties, but its strategic position by the Rhine exposed it to involvement in fighting, and it was destroyed in the 14th century and again in the 16th century. It was dissolved during the secularisation of the Napoleonic era, but the abbey church, now known as Alt St. Heribert, became a parish church in 1804.

In World War II it was heavily damaged and only the ground floor and remnants of the Romanesque cellar were preserved. Reconstruction took place in the 1970s. Today the former abbey accommodates an old people's home run by Caritas. Notable are the mural paintings by the artist Werner Weber. The former abbey church of Alt St. Heribert is now used by the Greek Orthodox community of Cologne, and has been superseded as a Roman Catholic parish church by Neu St. Heribert, which now houses the shrine of Saint Heribert.

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User Reviews

Monika Kautz (3 years ago)
The original building was consecrated in 1020. The current church was built in 1659-63. Was formerly the monastery church of the former Deutz Abbey and housed the bones of St. Heribert. Has been used by Cologne's Greek Orthodox community since 1994.

Walter Freiherr von dem Bussche Streithorst (4 years ago)
The church was built in 1020 and the 1000th anniversary would be celebrated in 2020.

Bergisch P (5 years ago)
It is always a surprise to immerse yourself in a (Greek) Orthodox environment in the middle of hilly Cologne. Interested in discovering history and belief?

Robert Wysocki (6 years ago)
Amazing architecture, clean and beautiful panorama around, view of the Rhine and the left side of the city.

Roswitha Bludau (6 years ago)
My girlfriend and I had the great pleasure to visit Alt St. Heribert during Easter preparation. We were very impressed by this beautiful church!

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