See & do · Landmarks & architecture
Great St. Martin Church
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Massive Romanesque church with a landmark tower built on top of Roman temple ruins.via Google
A magnificent Romanesque church with a distinctive crossing tower that defines the old town skyline.
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- The crypt contains excavated Roman ruins that can be visited.
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Right around the corner from our hotel, the Great St. Martin Church dates back to at least 960 AD. Its impressive 75-meter tower can be seen from all over Cologne’s Old Town. Located near the riverfront, it’s surrounded by many popular restaurants, making the area lively and fun to explore.
It’s a beautiful and historic church tucked away in the heart of Cologne’s Old Town. Its Romanesque architecture with striking towers and a warm stone facade stands out against the backdrop of the Rhine River. But honestly, it looks pretty ordinary compared to the Cologne Cathedral. It’s worth a quick stop, but don’t expect anything as grand or jaw dropping as the cathedral. The surrounding area, however, is calm and relaxing, with plenty of benches where you can sit and enjoy the view of the Rhine River and the charm of the Old Town.
Another beautiful Romanesque church in central Cologne. It dates back to around 1200 and has a large crypt with ancient Roman excavations, which can be visited (€1).
There are twelve Romanesque churches in Cologne. Most visitors see one — the Cathedral — and call it done. Great St. Martin is what happens when you keep walking. It sits at the edge of the Altstadt where the old city meets the Rhine, and its position is not accidental. This was the church the boatmen and traders looked up to when they came off the water. It was their landmark before landmarks were a concept. The tower is the thing. 75 meters, four corner turrets, visible from across the river. From the Deutzer Brücke at dusk it looks like it’s holding the skyline together. Inside it’s quieter than you’d expect — fewer tourists, more actual silence. The crypt has Roman foundations underneath, which Cologne has a habit of doing: you think you’re standing in a medieval church and there’s a Roman city underneath your feet. Come in the late afternoon when the light changes on the stone.
St. Martin's Church is one of the three most beautiful cathedrals in Cologne. It can be a starting point for a walk along the embankment