#59 How to build a Church in Cologne’s Romanesque Century (1150-1250)

Join us on an extraordinary journey back in time as we delve into the fascinating world of Romanesque architecture and the construction of magnificent churches in medieval Cologne. In this episode we reveal the secrets of Cologne’s Romanesque Century, a period from 1150 to 1250 when the city witnessed the rise of awe-inspiring cathedrals. Discover the remarkable craftsmanship, engineering ingenuity and spiritual devotion that went into creating these architectural wonders. Explore the intricate details of construction techniques, the symbolic significance of design elements and the cultural and historical context of the Romanesque period. Immerse yourself in the rich tapestry of Cologne’s sacred heritage as we unravel the hidden stories behind these enduring masterpieces. Whether you’re an architecture enthusiast, a history buff or simply curious about the Middle Ages, this episode will transport you to a bygone era and leave you inspired by the enduring beauty of Romanesque Cologne.

The big Romanesque Churches of Cologne in 1248

Romanesque Architecture

What are the typical architectual features of Romanesque churches? Let’s find out!

Typical Romanesque architecture at Great St. Martin: Massive outer walls, small windows with round arches. Also you can see a part of the cloverleaf choir.

Inside of the clover leaf choir of St. Apostles.

A typical main nave of a Romanesque church in St. George. Between the main nave and the side aisles in the back, the massive walls were broken by bridge arches set on round columns or or on angular pillars. St. George even has both: columns and pillars. So that one can pass between the central nave and the side nave.

St. George is one of the Romanesque churches that got its vaulted ceilings added in later times. Where once the grey pillars ended at the top, there was just a flat wooden ceiling. This style of having just a flat ceiling instead of a vaulted late Romanesque version can still be seen…

…can still be seen in St. Pantaleon where they kept the flat ceiling. Even though the later added windows with the pointed arches close to the ceiling are from the later late-medieval Gothic architectural style.

A so-called triforium in Great St. Martin. This was later also adopted from Gothic cathedrals. Anyone who has taken a guided tour of Cologne Cathedral up to the roof will also have walked along the triforium. If you think to yourself, phew, pretty tight here, it should be clear that these were originally a purely ornamental element. And not to lead groups of curious tourists along here.