Neuss - Quirinus-Münster

A settlement developed around a Roman miltary camp, built up 16BC and named "Novaesium". Where the church is now was a Roman graveyard in the early times. When the Normans raided Neuss in 866 a convent existed already in Neuss.

A church is mentioned here in 1043, legends tell, that Abbess Gepa, the sister of Pope Leo IX, brought the relics of Saint Quirinus (now "Saint Quirinus of Neuss") a 2nd century-martyr, from Rome to Neuss, what brought pilgrims to the growing town.

The monastery, now under the patronage of Saint Quirinus, was a house of noble canonesses mid 12th century.

The construction of today´s church started in 1209 in late Romanesque style. There was clear influence from nearby Cologne, as just like the older St. Maria im Kapitol ("St. Mary in the Capitol") this church has a trefoil choir ("triconchos"). The church was completed already in 1230 - and then the tower grew up to nearly 100 metres.

In 1741, the church was badly damaged by lightning and The gothic helmets of the west and east towers over the crossing. Instead, the building got a Baroque dome with the statue of Quirinus and a flat pyramid roof on the main tower.

After the French Revolution the church goot looted and then served as a storage room. The monastery buildings were demolished at that time.

In 1944 the church got damaged by a bomb attack. Meanwhile the building is in good condition.

The golden shrine holding the relics of Saint Quirinus was created in the 19th century. It replaced one, that mow is kept in the museum. Since 2009 the Quirinus-Münster is a "Basilica minor". The symbol for this honor is the umbraculum, the umbrella behind the shrine.