CathedralAltstadt-Süd

St. Maria Lyskirchen, Cologne

St. Maria Lyskirchen, Cologne

Roman Catholic parish church

St. Maria in Lyskirchen in Cologne, North Rhine-Westphalia, is a remarkable example of Romanesque architecture, complemented by Gothic elements. It is the smallest of the city's twelve great Romanesque churches and belongs to the Archdiocese of Cologne. Its special feature lies in the exceptionally well-preserved vault frescoes from the 13th century, which are unique in their completeness.

History+

The church's origins date back a long way. A first private Marian chapel, probably a proprietary church of a Lord Lisolvus or Lysolfus, was first documented in 948. His name evolved into the current designation "Lyskirchen". Archbishop Anno II incorporated the building as a parish church into the collegiate church of St. Georg, which he founded in 1067. Due to its location near the Rhine, it primarily served Rhine boatmen as a place of worship. Between 1198 and 1200, construction began on the present-day gallery basilica, which was completed around 1225. In the 16th and 17th centuries, the church underwent several alterations, including the replacement of fan windows with pointed arch windows and a comprehensive redesign of the interior. The devastating flood of 1784 destroyed parts of the furnishings. After the secularization of the collegiate church of St. Georg in 1804, St. Maria in Lyskirchen became an independent parish church.

Location+

The church is located in the Altstadt-Süd (South Old Town) of Cologne, a significant city in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany.

On site+

St. Maria in Lyskirchen is a Roman Catholic parish church and is protected as a historical monument in North Rhine-Westphalia. It is known for its historic vault frescoes and the veneration of the Madonna of the Seafarers.

Nearby+
  • Cologne Cathedral (Sacred building, approx. 981 m away)
  • Fort I (Cologne) (Fortress, approx. 1759 m away)
  • Fort IV (Cologne) (Fortress, approx. 1785 m away)
  • Fort V (Cologne) (Fortress, approx. 1947 m away)

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Source: Wikipedia · Licence: CC BY-SA 4.0 · Image: Johan Bakker / CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons

This description draws on the facts documented in the linked Wikipedia article; Wikipedia content is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Wording and editing: Mobile History.

Location: 50.9330, 6.9627