Groß St. Martin

With its distinctive crossing tower and trefoil choir, Groß St. Martin has shaped the skyline of Cologne’s historic Old Town since the Middle Ages. In Roman times, the site was located on an island in the Rhine and contained several warehouses. The church was built on top of these warehouses and incorporated their remains. The dimensions of the church were based on those of the southeastern part of the ancient storage complex.

After Groß St. Martin was severely damaged in World War II, impressive archaeological excavations were made underneath the choir. As a result, the smooth transition from the foundations of a Roman warehouse to the walls of the church aisles can still be clearly seen. The upper parts of the church were reconstructed after World War II and are a typical example of Rhenish architecture from between 1150 and 1250. Today the interior of this former Benedictine church is characterized, on the one hand, by its imposing architecture and, on the other, by its minimalist furnishings.

Useful Information

Eligibility

  • Bad Weather Offer

  • for Groups

  • for Class

  • for families

  • for individual guests

Openings

Dayoff: Monday

Payment methods

Entrance Free

Parking facilities

The walk from Cologne main station takes about 7 minutes.

Our recommendations

Ein hoher, mit unterschiedlich farbigen Steinen verkleideter Pfeiler steht auf einem gepflasterten Platz vor einer Kirche. Umgeben von Bäumen und einem Gebäude mit roten Fensterrahmen.A tall pillar clad with differently colored stones stands on a paved square in front of a church. It is surrounded by trees and a building with red window frames.
© KölnTourismus, Foto: Jesse von Laufenberg
Schmitz Column
Monument

Nearby